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Permits
& Quotas
The
first thing you should know about visiting the Boundary Waters is that
you must always have a permit to enter, even if just for an afternoon
of paddling. If you are entering from May 1st through September 30th for
an overnight trip you are required to have a Forest Service issued permit,
typically one reserved months in advance. The availability of these overnight
permits is limited by a quota system controlling exactly where and when
you may enter the Boundary Waters. The quota system was implemented in
an effort to preserve the wilderness qualities of the Boundary Waters,
and has undergone various changes over the years.
If you
are entering before May 1st or after September 30th you do not need to
get an advance permit issued by the Forest Service, but can issue your
own at each entry to the Wilderness. Similarly, from May 1 to September
30th, if you are on a day trip that does not involve overnight camping,
and won't have a motor, you can issue your own permit when you enter the
Wilderness. If you will have a motor from May 1 to September 30th, you
must still have a Forest Service issued permit even for day trip.
These rules
are summarized below.
Type
of Trip |
Entering
May 1 - Sept. 30 |
Entering
Oct. 1 - April 30 |
Overnight
paddle |
Quota
permit, picked up at Forest Service or Permit Issuing Station, typically
reserved in advance |
Self
issuing permit obtained by visitor at the entry point kiosk |
Overnight
motor |
Quota
permit, picked up at Forest Service or Permit Issuing Station, typically
reserved in advance |
Self
issuing permit obtained by visitor at the entry point kiosk |
Day
use paddle |
Self
issuing permit obtained by visitor at the entry point kiosk |
Self
issuing permit obtained by visitor at the entry point kiosk |
Day
use motor |
Quota
permit, picked up at Forest Service or Permit Issuing Station, typically
reserved in advance |
Self
issuing permit obtained by visitor at the entry point kiosk |
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