I've been avoiding summer trips since covid as the amount of users seems to have sky rocketed during covid. I figured stuff might be slowing down now a days though but was just looking through August and there are almost zero remaining slots available.

I don't stay up to date too much on the changes but I think they reduced the amount of permits which I think is good. If that is true I still find it crazy that almost all of August is taken. During the height of covid and Quetico being closed for so long made sense but currently it just seems odd to me.

Not a big deal I can just move my trip into Sept or something. I wouldn't want to go during such a busy time either so even if one opened up I would probably pass.
Just an observation, I don't recall ever having an issue in the past for last minute trips.

I find that surprising as well for the 2nd half of August. In the past, it would slow down some after MN high school fall sports started practices in the middle of August. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. I’m also surprised by it with people being able to go to Quetico again.

x2

Keep an eye on the canceled permits link. If you would like to take an August trip, I would encourage you to check that link out and sign up for notices. You can identify the EP or month that you are looking for and get notices when permits become available. Saves the hassle of constantly checking. I did that for June and was astonished at how many permits sucked up during the lottery were later let go.

ducks: "...In the past, it would slow down some after MN high school fall sports started practices in the middle of August..."

Then, for sure after Labor Day...
Then, absolutely by mid-September...
Now, it feels pretty steady up until the last week of September...

Ah, well, the fall colors are often best that first week of October...

I hope it is actually people getting permits and going in, and not the PoS's that order up 15 permits, and just cancel all but 14 of them once they pick a weekend and entry point. Man, that infuriates me!

RT: "I hope it is actually people getting permits and going in, and not the PoS's that order up 15 permits, and just cancel all but 14 of them once they pick a weekend and entry point. Man, that infuriates me!"

I've had two separate FS campground hosts in different states make the claim that environmental groups are reserving entry permits and campsites and not using them. This is pure speculation but it was the reason given to me when a popular lakeside SNF campground was empty last year over a summer weekend. We were the only ones with a lakeside site, all the others were reserved but remained empty. Odd. This also happened at a popular campground outside of Yellowstone in 2021, and I was given the same answer from the host. Both hosts claimed this was because campground reservations were put on Recreation.gov during covid. So previously un-reservable sites became reservable. Previously you had to physically be at the site to reserve it, now it can be done from anywhere in the world.

What would the benefit of that be YaMarVa? Seems like an expensive thing to do and for what? I wouldn't put it past a group to do such a thing as people can be crazy I just don't see the reason as to why.

x2jmorris: "What would the benefit of that be YaMarVa? Seems like an expensive thing to do and for what? I wouldn't put it past a group to do such a thing as people can be crazy I just don't see the reason as to why."

I don't know, I'm not the one doing it, but I'm guessing its their desire to reduce the human impact on these places.

Its also not that expensive, for $20k you could reserve thousands of campsites and permits during the busy season to reduce human impact on wilderness places. $20k wouldn't cover a part-time employee.

I'm guessing though this is just a rumor, cause if there were thousands of permits/campsites going un-used the FS would eventually catch-on. Then again, maybe this is why two separate FS hosts mentioned this to me.

Yes, people can certainly be crazy.

JimmyJustice: "x2


Keep an eye on the canceled permits link. If you would like to take an August trip, I would encourage you to check that link out and sign up for notices. You can identify the EP or month that you are looking for and get notices when permits become available. Saves the hassle of constantly checking. I did that for June and was astonished at how many permits sucked up during the lottery were later let go. "

+1 check here and Facebook too. A lot of people will announce they are cancelling a permit. I've seen dozens get cancelled over the last few weeks, and not just because of the spice lake fire.
Personal opinion is that they make permit day too early in the year. Stir crazy, ambitious folks have been cooped up inside. Everyone's dreaming of a trip over the summer, but many can't predict their schedules that far out. I think making it in April would still give people plenty of time to modify their trip if they need to. January is just too early.

I cancelled a Mudro permit for August 21st last night.