BWCAW Phased Re-opening: What Is Open, What Stays Closed, and How to Travel Fire Country Safely

TL;DR: Effective October 1, 2026, Forest Closure Order 09-09-00-26-11 reopened BWCAW entry points 11, 16, 20 and 21 for day and overnight use, while entry points 14, 15 and 19 and portions of National Forest System land north along the Echo Trail remain closed through April 1, 2027.

October 1 Order Sets the Current Map

The Superior National Forest’s new Forest Closure Order 09-09-00-26-11 is in effect starting October 1, 2026, according to the Forest Service release titled New Wildfire Impacted Area Forest Closure Order. The order covers the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounding National Forest System lands. It lists reopening changes for day and overnight use in Exhibit A–List and Exhibit B–Map. Those exhibits are available on the Superior National Forest’s Alert website. The Alert website address is https://fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts. The October order follows the emergency closure that began after wildfires from a lightning storm on July 7, 2026, as described on the Forest Service page titled BWCAW Phased Re-opening. That earlier action closed all BWCAW access under Forest Order 09-09-06-26-07 Emergency Closure Order. The phased re-opening page lists Alert Start Date July 12, 2026 and Alert End Date October 1, 2026. The October 1 order runs through April 1, 2027 or until rescinded, according to the Forest Service page titled Post Wildfire Closures, Effective October 1, 2026.

Four Entry Points Reopened on Kawishiwi and LaCroix Districts

The October 1 reopening returns four BWCAW entry points to day and overnight use on the Kawishiwi and LaCroix Ranger Districts. The reopened sites are 11–Blandin Trail, 16–Moose/Portage River North, 20–Angleworm Lake, and 21–Angleworm Trail. For the Angleworm Trail entry points, the Forest Service specifies no travel north of Home–Gull Portage. The September 30 Forest Service news release adds that North Hegman and Angleworm portages are also opened. The same release states there are no fire affected sites on Ramshead, Nina Moose and Agnes Lakes. Continued work by forest staff and volunteers has allowed for access into these reopened areas. Visitors should remain diligent about entering fire-impacted areas. The detailed reopening changes are listed in Exhibit A–List and shown in Exhibit B–Map.

Three Entry Points Closed for the Season

Three BWCAW entry points are closed for the season under the October order. The closed entries are 14–Little Indian Sioux River North, 15–Sioux-Hustler Trail, and 19–Stuart River. The Forest Service states these areas were directly impacted by the wildfires. The agency states these areas need maintenance and rehabilitation to ensure they are accessible to visitors. The closure exhibits and maps identify the described areas. The October order prohibits going into or being upon the Described Area. It also prohibits being on Described Trails and camping on Described Areas. The purpose stated for the October order is to provide for public health and safety due to long-term impacts from wildfire activity.

Phase 10 Reopened Six More Entries on September 8

The reopening has proceeded in phases since July. Under Phase 10, six BWCAW entry points reopened on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, for day and overnight use, according to the Forest Service release titled Closure Orders Exhibits Adjusted to Reopen Recreation Areas. On the LaCroix Ranger District, Phase 10 reopened entry points 12–Little Vermilion Lake, 12A–Lac La Croix Only and 13–Herriman Lake Trail. On the Kawishiwi Ranger District, Phase 10 reopened entry points 22–Mudro Lake Restricted, 23–Mudro Lake and 24–Fall Lake. The Phase 10 lists and maps are in Exhibit A Lists and Exhibit B Maps on the Superior National Forest’s Alert website. That Alert website includes the BWCAW Phased Re-opening notice and the Wildfire Emergency Closure Issued for Affected Recreation Sites notice. The Phase 10 map also displays closed portages, campsites, lakes, wilderness travel zones, and primitive management travel areas.

Echo Trail Recreation Sites Returned in Phase 10

Phase 10 also reopened recreation areas along the Echo Trail. The reopened facilities included Ed Shave Road and boat launch. They also included Meander Lake picnic area, fishing pier and backcountry sites. They also included the Fire and Ice Interpretive Trail. Portions of National Forest System land north along the Echo Trail remain closed to use. The Forest Service notes the Echo Trail itself is open. Travelers are reminded to use caution and expect delays as wildfire operations continue along the corridor. That caution appears in both the September 2 Phase 10 release and the September 30 release. The October exhibits continue to define which lands north of the corridor remain in the Described Area.

Earlier Phases Restored the Eastern Wilderness

Earlier phases had already restored broad access on the eastern side of the forest. A Forest Service Exhibit A list updated August 18, 2026, for Order 09-09-06-26-07 shows Gunflint Ranger District entry points opened to overnight use in previous phases. Those Gunflint entries include 43 Bower Trout Lake, 44 Ram Lake, 45 Morgan Lake, 47 Lizz and Swamp Lakes, 48 Meeds Lake, and 49 Skipper and Portage Lakes. They also include 50 Cross River, 51 Missing Link Lake, 52 Brant Lake, 54 Seagull Lake, 55 Saganaga Lake, 56 Kekekabic Trail-East, and 57 Magnetic Lake. They also include 58 South Lake, 59 Partridge/South Lake Trail, 60 Duncan Lake, 61 Daniels Lake, 62 Clearwater Lake, and 64 East Bearskin Lake. They also include 66 Crocodile River, 68 Pine Lake, 69 John Lake, 70 North Fowl Lake, 78 Brule Lake Trail, and 79 Eagle Mountain Trail. They also include 80 Larch Creek, 81 Border Route Trail west, 82 Border Route Trail center, 83 Border Route Trail east, and 90 North Country Trail East. Day-use motor entries J Saganaga Lake, K Sea Gull Lake, L Clearwater Lake and M East Bearskin were also listed as opened.

Tofte, Kawishiwi and LaCroix Entries Opened in August

The same August 18 Exhibit A list documents restored access on the Tofte, Kawishiwi and LaCroix districts. Tofte Ranger District entries opened to use in previous phases include 34 Island River, 35 Isabella Lake, 36 Hog Creek, 37 Kawishiwi Lake, 38 Sawbill Lake, and 39 Baker Lake. They also include 40 Homer Lake, 41 Brule Lake, 67 Bog Lake, 75 Little Isabella River, 84 Snake River and 86 Pow Wow Trail. Kawishiwi entries opened in previous phases include 6 Slim Lake, 7 From Big Lake, 25 Moose Lake with no paddle travel beyond Lewis Narrows and Upper Basswood Falls, 26 Wood Lake, 27 Snowbank Lake, and 28 Snowbank Lake Only. They also include 29 North Kawishiwi River, 30 Lake One, 31 Farm Lake, 32 South Kawishiwi River, 33 Little Gabbro Lake, 74 Kekekabic Trail West/Snowbank and 91 North Country Trail West. Additional Kawishiwi access opened as of August 15 included C Fall Lake Day Use Motor and 24 Fall Lake Day Use Paddle only, while 77 South Hegman Lake opened as of August 25. On the LaCroix side, 9 Little Indian Sioux River South opened as of August 25, while 1 Trout Lake, 4 Crab Lake and Cummings Lake, A Trout Lake Day Use Motor, 8 Moose River South, 10 Norway Trail and 76 Big Moose Trail were listed as opened in previous phases.

Why Some Campsites and Portages Stay Closed

Even where an entry point is open, not every campsite or portage is open. The Forest Service states some campsites and portages in newly reopened areas remained closed due to direct wildfire impacts. The Exhibit B maps display closed portages and campsites. The September 30 release states the map will display closed portages and campsites. The Phase 10 release states visitors should plan extra time to find a campsite if traveling through these areas with campsite and portage closures. The October release repeats that visitors should plan extra time to find a campsite in areas with closures. Continued work by forest staff and volunteers has allowed access into reopened areas, but the agency directs visitors to check Exhibit A Lists and Exhibit B Maps before travel. Press releases for the phased reopenings are available on the website’s Newsroom and in the Previous Press Releases document under Associated Documents.

Fire-Weakened Trees and Burn Hazards Remain

The Forest Service directs visitors entering fire-impacted areas to watch for wildfire hazards like fire-weakened hazard trees and burnt stump holes. That warning appears in the Phase 10 release and the October 1 release. Visitors should remain diligent about entering fire-impacted areas. As summer transitions to fall, the September Phase 10 release also directs visitors to plan ahead for reduced daylight and cooler air and water temperatures. The Incident Information System reference provided for the July 2026 Superior National Forest wildfires is InciWeb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires. The July lightning event fire information contact listed in the Phase 10 release is 218-881-2091 and [email protected]. The secondary public affairs contact for that release was Christine Kolinski at [email protected].

Order Dates, Penalties and Exemptions

The October order’s implementation period is October 1, 2026 through April 1, 2027 or until rescinded. The earlier emergency order’s restrictions remained in effect from 12:01 pm CT on July 11, 2026, to 12:01 pm CT on October 1, 2026, or until rescinded, whichever occurred first. A violation of the prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. The cited authorities include 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581. Exemptions apply to persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 specifically exempting them from the order or a written determination by an authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2). Exemptions also apply to any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in performance of an official duty. The October order was signed in Duluth on September 30, 2026, by Drew Stroberg, Acting Forest Supervisor for the Superior National Forest.

Contacts and Official Map Sources

The public affairs contact for the October action is Joy VanDrie, Public Affairs Staff Officer, at [email protected]. The Superior National Forest Supervisor’s Office is at 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808, phone 218-626-4300. District offices listed for more information are Gunflint District Office in Grand Marais at 218-387-1750, Kawishiwi District Office in Ely at 218-365-7600, and LaCroix District Office in Cook at 218-666-0020. For Forest Order exhibits and maps, the Forest Service directs visitors to https://fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts. The BWCAW Phased Re-opening alert page lists Associated Documents including the NEPA Memorandum, Forest Order, Civil Rights Implementation and Enforcement Plan, press releases, Phase 10 Exhibit A-List effective September 8, Phase 10 Exhibit B–Landscape Map effective September 8, Phase 10 Exhibit B–WZ Detail Map effective September 8, and Phase 10 Exhibit B-Series Maps effective September 8. The Post Wildfire Closures alert lists Order 09-09-00-26-11, Exhibit A–Described Areas, Exhibit B–Full Landscape Map, Exhibit B–West Zone Focused Map, the press release, civil rights memorandum, and implementation and enforcement plan.

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