Boundary Waters

The drop is despite the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reporting record high bear encounters elsewhere in the state.

The annual Boundary Waters report shows off-season growth, a quota season drop and record permit cancellations. Plan ahead for 2025 permits, available Jan. 29.

Three fires burn in the Boundary Waters amid dry fall conditions. Elevated fire risk prompted burning restrictions in the Superior National Forest and much of the Arrowhead.

Fire danger is very high in much of the state and extreme in some areas, with the National Weather Service signaling a Red Flag Warning in 39 Minnesota counties on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.

Revenue generated on school trust land from mining or logging goes back to Minnesota's public schools, but parcels in the Boundary Waters are protected from these activities.

The Superior National Forest has closed one BWCA entry point and 22 forest roads. Twelve entry points were inaccessible late last week.

Updating the management direction would help to preserve the wilderness character and protect valuable features there, according to officials, and the current plan is more than 30 years old.

Lizz, Mulligan and Jap (Paulson) lakes are all located in the Boundary Waters area. All now have large northern pike populations, making stocking trout ineffective.

The lake is near the shuttered Dunka taconite mining site. The site was closed almost 30 years ago and has long been a source of concern for water quality advocates.

While the trails are maintained by volunteers with the organization, an integral contact for the organization is the Forest Service’s assistant district ranger. Since 2008, Jon Benson has filled this role at the Tofte Ranger District.