Although this could change for 2026, in 2025, the Forest Service will not be issuing permits at the following locations this season:

- Gunflint Ranger District (Grand Marais, MN)
- Kawishiwi Ranger District (Ely, MN)

If you had booked a permit with pick up at these location or are used to using these locations in the past, you will need to pickup your permit from the various cooperators/outfitters in the area. You can view the outfitter map to gauge alternatives.

The following Forest Service offices are still issuing permits:

- Laurentian District (Aurora, MN)
- LaCroix District (Cook, MN)
- Tofte District (Tofte, MN)
- Duluth Headquarters

Check on hours as they are likely limited at these locations.

As many people will be picking up permits at outfitters, please be aware that this is increasing their workload. Please be patient. Commercial issue stations may charge a service fee (up to $2) for issuing overnight permits. This small fee does not cover their labor costs. Consider purchasing some extra items some items in their store to help make up for it. Most outfitters sell gear, bait, fishing lures, and other great BWCA items.

Speaking for Rockwood we look forward to the extra traffic. It's sad that the forest service is not getting the support it needs; until we get that resolved we are glad to issue permits.

The easiest way is to log in to your rec.gov account and look for modify, there should be a list of issuing stations to include retailers and outfitters. Good news is that you can modify your pickup location up to and including the day of your permit! Either use the website or the smartphone app.

Parking will be very tight by the outfitting building so please feel free to park at the lodge and walk to outfitting. We request that all members of the party be present for the video and the Q&A session.

List of all the available locations to pick up your permit:
https://www.recreation.gov/permits/233396/cooperators

Got this via email today:

Dear Permit Holder,

Superior National Forest ‘open to the public’ office hours for the LaCroix Ranger District for the 2026 BWCAW quota permit season (May 1 through September 30) will be as follows

LaCroix Ranger Station (Cook, MN) will be open 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. five days a week Monday – Friday. Contact us during office hours at (218) 666-0020 or SM.FS.lacroix@usda.gov if you have any questions.
Due to reduced staffing, and to maintain good customer service, increase efficiency and uphold wilderness character, the Forest will provide the option to issue permits via email for the Day Use Motor – Trout Lake Entry Point the same as last year. This remote issuing service will be offered to assist permit holders who would normally pick up their BWCAW permits on a Saturday or Sunday at the LaCroix Ranger Station. Permit holders who are not impacted by the reduction in office hours are encouraged to continue to pick up their permits in person. This virtual issuance of Day Use Motor permits is only being offered for the Trout Lake Entry Point at this time and only with the LaCroix Ranger Station listed as your permit issuing station. To participate in the remote issuing permit program, please call the LaCroix Ranger Station at the number listed above no earlier than Monday, April 28 for entry date of May 1. You must be able to print a hard copy and sign your permit for valid entry into the BWCA Wilderness. Digital permit copies stored on mobile devices will not be accepted.

Follow these steps to participate in the virtual issuance of permits for Trout Lake Day Use Motor only:

Step One:
Before contacting the LaCroix Ranger Station, log into your account or use the recreation.gov app to easily update your group members, watercraft number and type, and fill in your license plate information to expedite the issuance process!

Step Two:
Watch the Leave No Trace video series on YouTube:
Part 1: Trip Planning youtube.com/watch?v=nen7lRqEjm8
Part 2: Plan Ahead and Prepare youtube.com/watch?v=GA4-yvVKu48
Part 3: Know Before YouGo youtube.com/watch?v=PmoP3rGdmek

Step Three:
Call the LaCroix Ranger Station during office hours (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday) within three (3) business days of your intended entry date. For consecutive entry dates, speak to District staff and virtual permit issuance may be possible beyond the three (3) business day window. Be ready to provide the phone number in your recreation.gov account so LaCroix District staff can quickly access your reservation(s).

Step Four:
Forest Service staff will verify your permit details over the phone. If it’s your first trip of the season, please allow a few extra minutes to take the Leave No Trace user education quiz over the phone and review the BWCAW Regulations and Rules. If it’s not your first trip of the season, District staff will see that you have already completed the Leave No Trace user education quiz.

Step Five:
Forest Service staff will E-mail the permit to the permit holders email address.

Step Six:
Print Permit and Rules and regulations. You must have a signed hard permit copy in each watercraft.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know, I can be reached at 218-666-0046 or sunny.l.lucas@usda.gov. For virtual permit issuance call the LaCroix Ranger Station front desk at 218-666-0020.


Sincerely,

SUNNY LUCAS
District Ranger




For the latest alerts prior to travel, please check the forest website at: fs.usda.gov/r09/superior

FAQs Section

Q. Who is eligible for a 2026 remote permit issuance via email?
A. This program is limited to permit holders with Trout Lake Day Use Motor reservations who have selected the LaCroix Ranger Station as their issue station.

Q. How will Day Use Motor – Trout Lake permits be issued remotely?
A. Eligible permit holders will be emailed their Day Use Motor permit(s) for Trout Lake by the LaCroix Ranger Station up to three business days before their entry date.

Q. Will Trout Lake Day Use Motor permits be issued more than one day in advance?
A. Yes. An exception to the rule, “permits must be picked up on the entry date or one day prior, will be limited to Day Use Motor on Trout Lake permits issued from the LaCroix Ranger Station as your permit issuing station. Permit holders not impacted by the reduction in office hours are encouraged to pick up their permits in person as per normal.

Q. Do the Leave No Trace education requirements apply to remotely issued permits?
A. Yes. Protecting the wilderness by maintaining the continuity and integrity of the BWCAW Leave No Trace (LNT) user education program is a high priority. Permit holders will be required to watch and share the Leave No Trave video series with their group via YouTube and review the BWCAW Regulations and Rules over the phone with Forest Service staff prior to receiving their permit(s). Forest Service Wilderness Rangers will be monitoring the Trout Lake area to ensure that virtual issuance of day use permits is not negatively impacting wilderness character.

Q. What happens if a permit is placed with the LaCroix Ranger Station at the last minute?
A. Permits will not be emailed after hours or when the LaCroix Ranger Station is closed on weekends. Plan to pick up permits for any last-minute reservations in person from an issue station that is open. See times and locations under the “Issue Stations” tab at www.recreation.gov/permits/233396.

Q. I’ve listed LaCroix Ranger Station as my issue station and want to make a change or listed another issue station and would like to change to LaCroix Ranger Station:
A. Starting in 2025, permit holders will be able to change issue stations by logging into their recreation.gov account or by using the recreation.gov app. The contact center can change the issue station on all BWCAW permits from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. CST 7/days a week at 877-444-6777.

Q. If I’m going into Trout Lake on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, could I call on the Wednesday before to be issued consecutive day use permits virtually?
A. Yes, because your first day of entry is Sunday and you are calling the LaCroix Ranger Station three (3) business days prior to the day you intend to use your first Trout Lake Day Use permit. Ensure the LaCroix Ranger Station is listed as your permit issuing station before calling and you are able to print and sign your permits.

Q. Is the LaCroix Ranger Station going to be open on holiday Mondays during the permit season for in person permit pick-up, to answer phone calls, and issue virtual permits?
A. Yes, the only days that the office will be closed through the permit season are Saturdays and Sundays.







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Corinne Saumer
Support Service Specialist
Forest Service
Superior National Forest, LaCroix Ranger District
p: 218-666-0050
corinne.saumer@usda.gov
320 N. Hwy 53
Cook, MN 55723