BWCAW permit cancellations rise for fourth straight year

Cancellations for Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness permits rose in 2025 for the fourth consecutive year, according to data released by the U.S. Forest Service.

Of the 105,000 people who purchased quota permits last year, more than 12,000 canceled. The Forest Service reported that more than 40% of reservations made when permits went on sale were never used. Cancellations and no-shows increased, while the number of quota permits issued remained unchanged, since a brief spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of cancellations has risen steadily since 2021, when about 9,000 permits were canceled.

While canceled permits are made available for purchase again, no-show permits go unused. The data also shows that nearly 4,000 cancellations occurred fewer than five days before the scheduled entry date, limiting the likelihood they could be rebooked.

The BWCAW has a no-refund policy. Refunds are granted only in cases of official forest closures, such as wildfires. However, recreation fees are refunded for cancellations made more than two days in advance. Those who cancel within two days forfeit $32 of the recreation fee, with any remaining balance refunded.

BWCAW quota permits are released each year on the last Wednesday in January. Mandatory quota permits are required from May 1 through Sept. 30 for overnight paddle, overnight hiking, overnight motorboat and day-use motorboat trips.

Josh Hinke April 30, 2026