There's always talk about the paddling into Canada but never do I see a discussion of the corollary that is your eventual return paddle to the USA.

Is there any enforcement of border crossing procedures on the American side? Has anyone ever been pinched for not reporting in (or whatever the procedure is after crossing)?

I recall something long ago about a Customs officer stationed in Ely where returning paddlers were to self-report. But surely this office isn't covering the entire swath of the BWCAW?

Are you people all rogue???????

Not all of us are rogue. In the late '70s and early '80s US Customs and Border Patrol had an office in Ely. If returning after hours, they left forms in a box on the porch---fill it out and keep a copy. In recent years a CBP office was in the Superior National Forest building in Ely; the last two times we went through it we checked in via computer in the small lobby of the CBP office. Per US CBP , the ROAM app can also be used to report returns.

TZ

If one was rogue…maybe they forgot to check in after crossing…probably shouldn’t put it on the internet…maybe I am the paranoid type though:) I am sure it has happened unintentionally.

Self check in at Ely, last time it was on an iPad, now you can download the ROAM app yourself and check in, check in at Grand Marais—assume they do the ROAM app/iPad as well now, Crane Lake has a customs station so checkin there as well. When we did it in person they looked over our passport cards and the kids birth certificates—-I don’t remember the ROAM/IPad but assume I had to enter that info.

Last time we chekced in at Crane I gave my Dad a long speech about not joking with the customs/border agent and just answering their questions. The agent was all business and stern to each group ahead of us, then we get up there and he asks if we have anything to declare, my Dad smiles “just sunburns and mosquito bites!” As the agent starts looking more stern I jab him in the gut (my Dad not the agent) and tell him “I said no joking”…the agent laughs and waves us through…there lies the conundrum…my Dad thinks his joke got us waved through and I think it was the stomach punch I gave him :)

T

Did exactly that, enter the USA from paddling Quetico in 2017. EP 71 is the Entry Point for the Canadian border. It is a day permit only but you can get an additional EP for overnight multi days. I discussed this with the Ranger Station at Grand Marais and got such. Original plan was to be picked up at Cache Bay on exiting, new plan put me out at Prairie Portage after 6 days in Quetico, up the Falls Chain down thru Agnes, then send 6 days in BWCA making my way back to Seagull. US customs contact after getting out, a phone call and a few questions. The Ely Customs office is the only one near the BWCA, I called the Duluth office to check in.

butthead

timatkn: "Last time we checked in at Crane I gave my Dad a long speech about not joking with the customs/border agent and just answering their questions. The agent was all business and stern to each group ahead of us, then we get up there and he asks if we have anything to declare, my Dad smiles “just sunburns and mosquito bites!”

As the agent starts looking more stern, I jab him in the gut (my Dad, not the agent) and tell him, “I said no joking”…the agent laughs and waves us through…there lies the conundrum…my Dad thinks his joke got us waved through and I think it was the stomach punch I gave him. :) "

LOL Tim... similar story with our Boy Scout crew. We had gone through the Northern Tier base on Moose Lake and spent a week in Quetico. When we returned and left the base to head home, we were driving the 20 miles back to Ely and would be checking in at the Customs office.

We had one kid who was a wise cracker... big at engaging mouth before engaging brain. He was our neighbor kid and my son's buddy. Everyone in my van got to hear my "no shenanigans at the Customs office" speech, but I was really giving it to ONE KID. "No screwing around or smart remarks at the Customs office. This is serious stuff! You screw up, I will personally kick your ass." He kept his mouth shut and we were done in five minutes. We got back in the van, I said thanks to the guys, then bought ice cream at Dairy Queen. :)

Crane has been a little better in later years. For a while they were kinda snarley. Haha. Back when it was housed closer to the lake it could be an ordeal. My cousin has never forgave them for taking a perfectly legal fish from us years ago.