Officials at the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota are announcing closures in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness effective Saturday (7/17), due to wildfires in Quetico Provincial Park along the international border in Ontario. Fire managers have identified two blazes that could spread across the border. The closure order will remain in effect for at least seven days, or until it’s safe to open the area again.
The BWCAW closure area includes:
o Tick Pristine Management Area
o Sundial Pristine Management Area – Zones 1, 2, and 5
o #22 Mudro-Restricted Entry Point – No BWCAW entry.
o #23 Mudro Entry Point – No BWCAW entry.
o Iron Lake travel zone closure -From Bottle Portage/Bottle Rapids to Iron Lake and adjoining bays and islands of Iron Lake including Peterson bay and Three Island. Adjoining portages include the 320-rod portage west of Iron Lake from Lac La Croix, the 72-rod Dark Lake portage south of Iron Lake, the 110-rod Bear Trap River portage Southeast of Iron Lake, and the 140-rod portage to Curtain Falls.
o Crooked Lake travel zone closure – All campsites on Crooked Lake and adjoining bays from Curtain Falls to Lower Basswood Falls including Sunday Bay, Saturday Bay, Friday Bay, Thursday Bay, and Wednesday Bay. This includes the portage at Lower Basswood Falls.
Campsites North of Gun Lake – Closure begins at the 300-rod portage Northeast of Gun Lake and includes campsites on Wagosh Lake, Niki Lake and Chippewa Lake.