Within Minnesota's Superior National Forest lies the renowned Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). This labyrinth of lakes and rock has been specifically protected as a true American wilderness; no roads, powerlines, or motorized craft may enter its borders, so the Boundary Waters has changed little since its unveiling when the glaciers melted 10,000 years ago. Over 1 million acres in size, the BWCAW extends nearly 150 miles along the Canadian border adjacent to Quetico Provincial Park.
Both areas offer breathtaking beauty. Waterfalls, sheer rock cliffs, and deep, crystal-clear lakes abound. Moose, deer, beaver, and otter are just a few of the mammals you may encounter during your travels. The BWCAW is also one of the largest bald eagle nesting areas in the lower forty-eight states. Ospreys, loons, ducks, and songbirds fill the woods and waterways with their enchanting songs and calls.
The Boundary Waters area contains several thousand portage-linked lakes and streams, interspersed with islands, forests, and crags. It has no piped water, prepared shelters, or signs to point the way. Within these borders, then, you can canoe, portage and camp in the spirit of the French-Canadian Voyageurs of 200 years ago. The Boundary Waters' 1,200 miles of paddling routes offer outstanding opportunities for solitude, remoteness, reflection, and spiritual renewal.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, over 1 million pristine acres of lakes, rivers, and forests in northeastern Minnesota, is no less than paradise for the wilderness canoeist. Stretching nearly 200 miles along the Canadian border, this magnificent wilderness offers over 1,200 miles of canoe routes through the beautiful Superior National Forest. Within its domain, you will find the timber wolf and the black bear, the Canadian lynx and the wolverine, bald eagles and great blue heron, a dense population of moose and beaver, and a panoply of fish, including walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and lake trout.
