I have spent the past many years traveling to Quetico multiple times every year. Our new environment makes getting into Quetico more challenging so I am planning on four trips to the BW.
I am wondering how to best secure the BW permits for my desired dates and entry points. I have three different trips to book and may finalize a fourth by next week.
I wonder if I will have any problems booking all three trips successfully if I log on when it opens. Or if there are any tips I should be aware of to insure success.
Thanks in advance.

Your success will depend on demand for your specific entries, but also on your ability to quickly and efficiently navigate the website that morning.

Get logged in to recreation.gov now, make sure your info and emergency contacts are all up-to-date. If you are getting overnight paddle permits, bookmark the specific page (there is a separate page for overnight motor and day motor). Get familiar with the way the calendar is set up ahead of time. Know exactly which ranger station or outfitter you plan to use for each separate permit. If you plan to list alternate trip leaders, have their names, numbers, and emails all at the ready. Pickup location and alternates can’t be modified after your reservation is made.

I plan out my permits in order of most to least in-demand. EP and time of year will factor in, it’s not an exact science but rank them to the best of your knowledge. Secure the highest-demand permits first and work your way down the list. Or, if there is one trip that is more important to you than the rest, you might opt to secure that permit first regardless of perceived demand.

Basically I plan out every detail ahead of time. I pretend I’m an outfitter with a stack of customers that I want to satisfy.

Good luck!

Be sure you know your desired entry point names (Kawishiwi Lake) and number (37) as sometimes they only list one or the other in certain places. You'll have to pick overnight paddle for each one if that's the type of permit you're after.

But with the above comment, be ready at the opening bell and go for your most popular one first as those have the chance of filling first. So if one trip is Mudro in June book that first compared to say the same thing in mid Sept. If one is a Moose Lake entry w/ a ton of daily permits leave it for last vs say a permit with only 2 per day.

But in reality you'll be fine. Login this weekend once to make sure your username and password and all that are still correct.

If you are competent at using a computer you should have no issue. If you want a Mudro EP thats going to be the one that goes first I guarantee. (Besides Motor Permits)

I am planning my first trip to the BWAC for this year. Wednesday is the big day to get the entry permit. I have created my account at recreation.gov. What is the specific page that I need to go to to make the reservation. I clinked on the link for recreation.gov and it took me to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness page. Is this the page where the reservations are made? If so do I click on the paddling tab to go to make the reservation? If this is not the correct page what page is the correct page? I want to make sure I am in the correct place and know what I am doing.
Any information would be great.

Thanks
Roger L

rogerl123: "I am planning my first trip to the BWAC for this year. Wednesday is the big day to get the entry permit. I have created my account at recreation.gov. What is the specific page that I need to go to to make the reservation. I clinked on the link for recreation.gov and it took me to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness page. Is this the page where the reservations are made? If so do I click on the paddling tab to go to make the reservation? If this is not the correct page what page is the correct page? I want to make sure I am in the correct place and know what I am doing.
Any information would be great.


Thanks
Roger L"

Try the link below. You can search for EPs now but everything comes up as 0 available.

BWCA detailed availability

Jan 26, permits will open.

Plander:
Thank you VERY MUCH for that link. I was able to go in and see just what I needed to do. I have the link set up and ready to go. This forum is amazing.

Thanks Again

Roger L

Me2012: "Jan 26, permits will open."

9:00 am CST

I still am not sure how many guys in my group will be able to come along. Could be anywhere from 2 to 5 based on who can get off work and what not. Is it okay to make changes on the number of guys/canoes after I get a permit on Wednesday? Do I need the numbers/emails for everyone in the group or just an alternate group leader?

I've done nothing but solos up to this point. Dont know how this group stuff works!!

reserve for 2, and adjust when you pick up permit.

schweady: "

Me2012: "Jan 26, permits will open."

9:00 am CST
"

10:00 AM EST

Our family has decided to give Stuart River a try this year - I know there is only one permit per day, how quickly are they typically snatched up?

scotttimm: "Our family has decided to give Stuart River a try this year - I know there is only one permit per day, how quickly are they typically snatched up?"

My impression is it's gotten a lot busier than it used to be a few years ago.

Do you think the fact that it may be 20 below in bwcaw will help or hinder permit registration?

pswith5: "Do you think the fact that it may be 20 below in bwcaw will help or hinder permit registration? "

Yes

tbro16: "I still am not sure how many guys in my group will be able to come along. Could be anywhere from 2 to 5 based on who can get off work and what not. Is it okay to make changes on the number of guys/canoes after I get a permit on Wednesday? Do I need the numbers/emails for everyone in the group or just an alternate group leader?


I've done nothing but solos up to this point. Dont know how this group stuff works!! "

You can change the number of other people at any time once you have the reservation.

scotttimm: "Our family has decided to give Stuart River a try this year - I know there is only one permit per day, how quickly are they typically snatched up?"

Within the first 2 weeks after reservations open, most of the Saturday entries will be gone and a lot of June will be filled in. August fills in next, then July.

schweady: "

scotttimm: "Our family has decided to give Stuart River a try this year - I know there is only one permit per day, how quickly are they typically snatched up?"

Within the first 2 weeks after reservations open, most of the Saturday entries will be gone and a lot of June will be filled in. August fills in next, then July.
"

Schweady, If Saturday is the first, do you know which day of the week is generally the last day to be reserved?

Thanks,
Fritty

Heyfritty: "

schweady: "

scotttimm: "Our family has decided to give Stuart River a try this year - I know there is only one permit per day, how quickly are they typically snatched up?"

Within the first 2 weeks after reservations open, most of the Saturday entries will be gone and a lot of June will be filled in. August fills in next, then July.
"

Schweady, If Saturday is the first, do you know which day of the week is generally the last day to be reserved?


Thanks,
Fritty "

Not necessarily first, but popular enough to fill in early. Is the last one Sunday? Wednesday? Thursday? Depends on the week, I suppose. Here is the data (from early in the 2019 reservation period) I was using for my comment:

OMGitsKa: "If you are competent at using a computer you should have no issue. If you want a Mudro EP thats going to be the one that goes first I guarantee. (Besides Motor Permits) "

Competency is necessary but not sufficient. The contractor who provides the service has a history of being unable to meet the demand from a technical perspective. It has been common for competent people to fail miserably at getting their permit applications accepted the first few times they attempt it.

Plander:
How did you get to the reservation / detailed availability page? I do not see a path from the BWAC page to get there. Can I start my reservation from the link you listed or do I need to start from the BWAC page? Sorry to ask so many questions. I just do not want to screw this up.

Thanks
Roger

I just logged onto rec.gov.
The only thing I see is a box that says registration is closed.

rogerl123: "Plander:
How did you get to the reservation / detailed availability page? I do not see a path from the BWAC page to get there. Can I start my reservation from the link you listed or do I need to start from the BWAC page? Sorry to ask so many questions. I just do not want to screw this up.


Thanks
Roger"

Google "BWCA recreation.gov" and your search should yield something like the image below. Then click on "Detailed Availability". I'm not sure why its accessible this way and not via access on the website before registration opens. That's how I got to it previously.

I'm guessing it will be accessible tomorrow morning via the normal BWCA recreation.gov page. That said, and if I recall correctly, in the past one had to scroll towards the bottom of that page find the place to make the reservations...or something like that. It seemed like it wasn't at the top of the page.

yogi59weedr: "I just logged onto rec.gov.
The only thing I see is a box that says registration is closed."

You've got an email from me.

Adam, thank you very helpful.

rogerl123: "Plander:
How did you get to the reservation / detailed availability page? I do not see a path from the BWAC page to get there. Can I start my reservation from the link you listed or do I need to start from the BWAC page? Sorry to ask so many questions. I just do not want to screw this up.


Thanks
Roger"

Roger, here is the link to the permits page. Registration is closed until it opens tomorrow at 9 AM CST (10 AM EST) and no permits are available until then. When it opens you'll see availability. In the meantime you can check your account information and read the Overview, Need to Know, etc. You may want to bookmark the page for quick access tomorrow.

One more word to the wise. I've never been able to access the permits page via the mobile app published by recreation.gov, despite being competent and having obtained several permits and campsite reservations via the Web link. YMMV, but it's not a chance I would take tomorrow.

Any thoughts on how busy ep 25, Moose Lake is during the first week of June? Looks like a lot of permits per day, we’re considering this as a backup. Any concern about not getting one for that time? Assuming we do, we’re open to going North to Sucker or Birch or heading to the lakes to the East. We like to bring a lot of gear and base camp. We prefer camping, eating and fishing over paddling a multi day loop but a portage or two isn’t bad. Of course this sometimes leaves us in the crowds, but how crowded would it be? We read all about “motor boat tows” and “boat parades”. Is it really that busy? Thanks and good luck with the permits tomorrow.

Went without a hitch.

AmarilloJim: "Went without a hitch."

+1. 2 permits.

AmarilloJim: "Went without a hitch."

Same here. Looking forward to a LIS North expedition!

I get logged in, click book now, and get redirected to log back in, and nothing. Like it’s froze up

Got Mudro for early summer and Lake One for early September. Wow, are permits going fast! I have never seen it like this.

Got Mudro for early summer and Lake One for early September. Wow, are permits going fast! I have never seen it like this.

plander: "

AmarilloJim: "Went without a hitch."

+1. 2 permits."

+2. 2 permits.

plander: "

AmarilloJim: "Went without a hitch."

+1. 2 permits."

+2. 2 permits.

I got my reservation. Thanks to all who helped and gave assistance. Looking forward to the first trip to BWAC.

Roger L

I got my reservation. Thanks to all who helped and gave assistance. Looking forward to the first trip to BWAC.

Roger L

Got a backup permit in case Canada is closed. Snagged a Mudro permit. Wow...I didn't realize how popular that EP is. Maybe I didn't want that EP... Hope not everyone is headed to the border lakes (Crooked/Iron)... Oh well. It's a backup plan. Still hoping to get to the Q and miss most of the crowds we experienced last year on Knife/SAK.

Good luck everyone!

Ahhh, got my desired dates this year!
Now all we need is the weather to get here.

Ahhh, got my desired dates this year!
Now all we need is the weather to get here.

Thing went very quickly this year! I was lucky enough to snag a Mudro permit for labor day weekend. By the time I went on to reserve a second permit for earlier in the summer, Mudro was completely gone for that weekend (4 minutes into the open reservation period). Hopefully everyone was able to book an EP that they wanted.

Love this site!!! Thanks for all the info, as always. Got our 2 permits for the year!!

countrybois: "Got a backup permit in case Canada is closed. Snagged a Mudro permit. Wow...I didn't realize how popular that EP is. Maybe I didn't want that EP... Hope not everyone is headed to the border lakes (Crooked/Iron)... Oh well. It's a backup plan. Still hoping to get to the Q and miss most of the crowds we experienced last year on Knife/SAK. "

I hesitated trying to figure out how to select the permit and hit "book now". Maybe a minute and Mudro went from 5 (and 2 restricted access) to 0 on June 9th. Had to grab the last permit for the next day and hope everybody in my group can be flexible. Same thoughts here. Knew Mudro would be popular, but wow. Having 2nd thoughts as well.

countrybois: "Got a backup permit in case Canada is closed. Snagged a Mudro permit. Wow...I didn't realize how popular that EP is. Maybe I didn't want that EP... Hope not everyone is headed to the border lakes (Crooked/Iron)... Oh well. It's a backup plan. Still hoping to get to the Q and miss most of the crowds we experienced last year on Knife/SAK.


Good luck everyone!"

I had the same thought, snagged a Mudro permit for 5/29, it looks like it'll be a crowded trip again this year, ugh. Hopefully RABC's start back.

Matt

Got my permits without a problem. Even managed to get a day use motor permit for Basswood through Moose!

I logged on. Picked up two permits. Now I have to figure out who to go with.

I logged on. Picked up two permits. Now I have to figure out who to go with.

Reserving my 3 planned permits, I had only snag: for one trip, we'll have to enter one day later than planned.

After those were secured, I took a look around. By my math, Little Gabbro Lake started the day with 229 available permits (alternating 1 permit one day, 2 permits the next). At 9:20 am, there were only 27 permits available. There were 202 grabbed up in 20 minutes! Two lone permits left between May 11 and September 4...

Scored an EP8 (Mudro Restricted) for June 8th. Super excited as its my first trip to Crooked. Sounds like it might be busy. Hope we can find a campsite!!

Mudro restricted also. July 1. Yes they went fast!

Going in Sept 13th. Kawashiwi River fishing trip. Tried for a Little Gabbro EP, and it said there werent any left for that day so we went with EP 32. I could prly do this route blindfolded, but least we are going and on dates we wanted?

Thank You plander for this link!! Took me right there, and I was done in 5 minutes!!

EP #12 on Saturday, June 4th. Let the planning commence!

gravelroad: "One more word to the wise. I've never been able to access the permits page via the mobile app published by recreation.gov, despite being competent and having obtained several permits and campsite reservations via the Web link. YMMV, but it's not a chance I would take tomorrow."

"BWCAW permit reservations cannot be made in the Recreation.gov mobile app" was in the notifications on the website.

walleyejunky: "Scored an EP8 (Mudro Restricted) for June 8th. Super excited as its my first trip to Crooked. Sounds like it might be busy. Hope we can find a campsite!!"

I hope that's a typo - EP8 is Moose River South, Mudro restricted is EP22

I logged on at 9 - Booked my permits. No issues. Just checked back - Wow! Crazy how many are already booked.

I remember 20 years ago, booking a permit for a June trip in May (5 weeks prior to entry), and having pretty much our pick of EP's.

Pretty sure I don’t want to be anywhere in proximity to Sawbill this August …

Happy that I was able to book all of my planned trips for the entry point and day desired. All finished in the 1st 15 minutes because I had to get to a 9:15 meeting! I've got one trip per month planned this summer provided there are no closures this time around. Reading the comments, I am sure glad I decided against a Mudro permit this summer! Crazy!