Superior National Forest

Permits are needed to visit the Boundary Waters in May through September. The Superior National Forest encourages planning your backcountry trip and only reserving permits you can use.

The area is located in the Rainy River Watershed, next to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and contains deposits of copper, nickel and cobalt.

The U.S. Forest Service will maintain its rules restricting how food, food containers and other attractants are stored in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The Eagle Mountain trail in the Superior National Forest will be closed to the public for two weeks in January 2026 for the safety of the dogs and Forest Service personnel.

Plus: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture announced it has $11 million to expand its innovative irrigation program; MnDOT staff will host an open house in Cloquet ahead of a planned 2028 project Thursday, Oct. 2; and Kootasca Community Action is gathering gently used costumes for Grand Rapids and I-Falls trick-or-treaters.

Superior National Forest permits will be available beginning Oct. 6, 2025, for property owners and members of the public impacted by the spring's Brimson wildfire.

The program is designed to estimate how many people recreate on national forests and grasslands, what activities they do and how satisfied people were with their visit.

Forest staff and partners are reimagining the future of the Isabella Section House, a historic railroad building. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 30, 2025.

Prescribed burning will begin in the eastern portion of the forest in the Gunflint and Tofte ranger districts, with burns in the western part slated when weather conditions allow.

Toxic algae threaten protected lakes in the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Northern Minnesota. Sediment may have the answer.