Proposed BWCAW policy change aims to curb permit cancellations and no-shows
Superior National Forest officials this week announced a proposal to change the permit cancellation policy for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
The proposal comes as officials point to a trend that has emerged in recent years, of increased permit reservations on the annual Go Live day in January, followed by a high rate of cancellations or no-shows.
“That trend has really changed since 2019, or about 2020 – we started to see a big uptick in cancellations and to some degree, no shows too,” said Cathy Quinn, the Superior National Forest assistant wilderness program manager.
Forest Service data released in April shows cancellations continued to rise in 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases. Quinn noted that while overall use of the wilderness has remained relatively steady for decades—about 25,000 to 26,000 permits issued annually out of roughly 47,000 available—the timing and behavior around reservations has shifted significantly in recent years.
Quinn said the pattern is driven in part by a “scarcity mindset” around securing BWCAW permits, particularly on Go Live day, when the reservation system opens, and high-demand entry points and summer dates are quickly booked.
At that time, she said, individuals often reserve multiple permits across different locations and dates to improve their chances of securing access, even before travel plans are finalized.
As trip dates approach, some permits are canceled in the days or weeks leading up to entry, while others become no-shows. Canceled permits return to the reservation system for others to book, but no-shows are considered “a wasted permit that no one has a chance of using,” Quinn said.
Quinn said the proposed changes to the cancellation policy are intended to address that behavior.
“We’re trying to encourage people to not book more permits than they ever intend to use and cancel early,” she said.
BWCAW Entry Point | Photo by Kalli Hawkins
She added that the pattern is not unique to the Boundary Waters. “This is not a unique pattern to the Boundary Waters… we’re seeing it in our campgrounds too. It’s just that the Boundary Waters is so beloved and gets so much attention in its high use,” Quinn said. “People really are very familiar with it, and I think it kind of gets exacerbated here.”
Currently, permit holders who cancel at least 48 hours prior to their entry date receive a full refund of the permit fees, which are $16 per adult and $8 per child. Those who cancel within a day of their entry are charged a $32 penalty, the equivalent of two adult fees. No-shows permit holders forfeit all payments.
The proposed BWCAW cancellation permit policy:
· Cancel any time prior to 28 days of entry: Retain 50% of the deposit.
· Cancel 28–3 days before entry: Retain 25% of the deposit.
· Cancel within 2 days of entry: Deposit forfeited.
*(Minimum deposit remains equal to two adult recreation user fees.)
The public is invited to comment on the proposed policy change. The public comment period runs from June 22 to July 22, 2026. Learn how to submit comments below.
Visit the proposal page on the Superior National Forest website to submit a comment.
· Or email your comment to: sm.fs.bwcawsurvey@usda.gov
· Mail your comment to: Superior National Forest, Attn: BWCAW Cancellation Policy, 8901 Grand Ave Place, Duluth, MN 55808.
After the comment window closes, the forest will review the input. If approved, the update will be posted to Recreation.gov and take effect in January 2027 for the 2027 summer season.
WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins sat down with Cathy Quinn, the Superior National Forest assistant wilderness program manager, to talk about the proposed cancellation policy change, the Go Live structure in January, BWCAW user trends and patterns, permit fee increases in January 2027, access to the BWCAW, and the public comment period. Audio of the interview is below.
Kalli Hawkins June 26, 2026
