4/14/2020 –

1. The USFS is going to cancel and refund BWCA Permits for the period of May 1 – May 4 (apparently to align with Minnesota’s stay at home order). The quota permit season will begin on May 5. We have been told there is a press release with more detail on this topic forthcoming.
2. “Cooperator” businesses, such as ours, who issue permits on behalf of the Forest Service, have received guidance on a modified permit issuing procedure. This modified procedure allows for the permit paperwork and viewing of the educational video to be done virtually and in advance of arrival.This procedure is designed to support continued social distancing efforts once businesses begin to re-open. (We will likely have additional procedures in place to support that effort.)
3. Reading between the lines, the Forest Service is aligning their policy with the Governors stay at home order. With the provision of these modified permit issuing procedures, it is implied that the Boundary Waters will be open this summer. We are grateful for all the hard work by the local and regional Forest Service personnel for creating a mechanism to keep the Boundary Waters open this season!
4. No additional news on the campgrounds outside of the Wilderness (Sawbill Lake, Crescent, etc). They continue to be closed until May 1.
5. Boat launches at Forest campgrounds are planned to be open, however, the associated outhouses will likely be closed (at least in the short term).

There are still about 30 inches of snow on the ground here and likely about 20 inches of ice on the lake, so everything is effectively closed due to conditions. We’ll start our annual ice-out countdown with regular ice measurements, soon!

-Dan