More than 1,500 BWCAW campsites open Thursday as phased reopening continues

Additional campsites within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will reopen starting Thursday, Aug. 13, marking Phase 7 of the reopening process, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

As of Thursday, the Superior National Forest will have opened over 1,500 of the more than 2,000 campsites throughout the one-million-acre wilderness area. Phase 7 brings 73% of the BWCAW back into public use.

The areas set to reopen on Thursday are in the Kawishiwi and LaCroix Districts, including Big Lake, Big Moose Trail, Norway Trail, and others.

Closer to Cook County and the Gunflint Ranger District, outfitters received welcomed news this week as areas surrounding the Little Knife Fire near the end of the Gunflint Trail would reopen starting Tuesday, Aug. 11.

The Forest Service announced it would reopen 40 campsites near Hanson Lake, Ester Lake, South Arm Lake, and Ottertrack Lake, among others.

Superior NF BWCAW Reopening Phase 7 and Outside BW Closure Map Exhibit B | U.S. Forest Service

A select area remains closed for safety purposes, the Forest Service said, which includes campsites on Gijikki Lake, Cherry Lake, Topaz Lake, and Amoeber Lake.

“Visitors should be aware portages, campsites, and latrines within the wildfire perimeter may have snag trees that could fall,” the Forest Service said.

The Little Knife Fire originated from a lightning strike in Canada before crossing the border in mid-July. The fire burned 4,815 acres in the U.S. The Forest Service announced that the fire had reached 90% containment on Aug. 3 and that there has been minimal fire activity in recent weeks. As of Monday, 12 fire personnel remain on the ground conducting suppression and monitoring efforts.

With visitors returning to the BWCAW and outfitters resuming operations, the Forest Service said it wants to remind the public that if wildfire activity increases, reopening plans may be adjusted.

Portions of the Superior National Forest and BWCAW remain closed along the Echo Trail near Ely and in the LaCroix Ranger District due to ongoing wildfire operations. The northern portions of the Echo Trail remain closed to use. Areas between the Cloquet Line Road and the BWCAW boundary also remain closed.

BWCAW permit reservations for entry point #9 Little Indian Sioux River South remain canceled through Aug. 17. The Forest Service said the BWCAW permit reservations for entry point # 16 Moose/Portage River North will be canceled throughout the remainder of the quota permit season.

On the western edge of the BWCAW, fire crews continue fire operations on the Camp Fire, Sioux Fire, Wolfpack Fire, Bear Trap Fire, and Thumb Fire. On Monday, the Forest Service said crews were nearing completion of containment lines on the east side of the Sioux Fire heading into Ramshead Lake.

In total, the wildfires that resulted from the July lightning incident have burned nearly 74,000 acres, the majority of which is within the U.S.

Kalli Hawkins August 11, 2026