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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Quetico Forum :: Do you need BWCA permit to paddle through on way to Quetico?

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Lailoken

01/25/2023 11:51AM

Thank you both. My travelling partner got a entry permit this am too, so all set. Thanks for the advise.

Fishman53

01/25/2023 03:15PM

Lailoken: "Do you need BWCA permit if not staying the night?”

You're required to obtain a Self Issued Permit when you enter. Self Issued Permits are available from kiosks at BWCAW entry points and Forest Service offices (no reservation required and no use fees).

tumblehome

01/25/2023 06:30PM

You will also need a permit on your way out. You can either write yourself a day use permit on your exit day and paddle out or get the permit “Entry from Canada” if you intend to stay a night in the BWCA on your way home.
Tom

portagedog09

01/27/2023 05:10PM

tumblehome: "I didn’t know they closed the Ely customs office. Honestly, maybe the Gubment figured out that every single person they interviewed was returning from a fishing trip. Really not much of a threat when a person enters the US from the woods and a canoe.

Yeah, grab two day use permits for your trip. Fill them out ahead of time if you want.

I’ll be up in the Q in early June myself. Already thinking of it.
Tom"

The 'gub'ment' doesn't figure those things out.....it was all about the budget - as nearly everything g'ment is. I spoke with the CBP guy that just happened to be there and he confirmed that....$$$ cuts.

pd

Lailoken

01/24/2023 08:26PM

Hi, All my trips are post season, so always have self permited in BWCA for trip to Quetico, but planning on Summer trip. Do you need BWCA permit if not staying the night? Thanks

Wables

01/24/2023 08:29PM

If you are worried about it you can fill out a day use permit on your way in and grab and extra and fill it out on your day out. I have purchased BWCA permits for the same time as my Quetico trips on the border in case we need to stay on the US side due to weather, etc. That saved my trip in 2020 as Canada closed for Covid and permits were scarce.

plander

01/24/2023 09:11PM

Yes.

Link

From the above link:

Permit & Season Information

A permit is always required to enter the BWCA Wilderness:

Visitors taking an overnight paddle, motor or hiking trip, or a motorized day trip into the BWCAW from May 1 – September 30 are required to obtain a quota permit through Recreation.gov. Walk-up permits may be obtained at any permit issuing station on the entry date or one day prior when available, however, reservations are recommended since there are a limited number of quota permits for each entry point.

Self Issued permits are required for non-motorized day use visitors year-round and for all overnight visitors entering the BWCAW from October 1 – April 30. Self Issued permits are also required for Day Use Motor visitors from October 1 - April 30. Self Issued permits are available from kiosks at BWCAW entry points and Forest Service offices (no reservation required and no recreation fees).

tumblehome

01/26/2023 06:50PM

I didn’t know they closed the Ely customs office. Honestly, maybe the Gubment figured out that every single person they interviewed was returning from a fishing trip. Really not much of a threat when a person enters the US from the woods and a canoe.

Yeah, grab two day use permits for your trip. Fill them out ahead of time if you want.

I’ll be up in the Q in early June myself. Already thinking of it.
Tom

Fishman53

01/26/2023 01:43PM

tumblehome: "You will also need a permit on your way out."

As noted above, if entering Quetico via BWCA and you are not camping in BWCA then you simply need a Self Issued Permit. However I am confused about the permit needed to exit. No camping in BWCA on exit. So we would need another Self Issued Permit? Thanks for clarifying. We are planning our first Quetico trip for this July.

tumblehome

01/26/2023 02:13PM

Yes, just like on the way in, write yourself a day use permit for your exit.
The day use permit you wrote yourself for your entry into Quetico is no longer valid on the way out.

You need an RABC too as well as the Quetico permit. You also need an outdoors card before the fishing license can be purchased. Canadians are very good at extracting money from our pockets. And….. you get to visit customs when you get home.

Tom

portagedog09

01/26/2023 03:30PM

Regarding visiting US Customs on your return - the Ely CBP office is no longer staffed - couple of 4-5 years or so now already. The alternative and much easier is to register and use the CBP ROAM app or Reporting Offsite Arrival - Mobile. You can even pre-load your info ahead of time. This app allows you to check that US Customs box and be 'legal' all from your mobile device and not have to stop anywhere.

pd

Fishman53

01/26/2023 04:13PM

Thanks Tom.
Silly question, but I suppose we just grab 2 Self Issued Permits - one for entry the other for exit?

sns

01/26/2023 04:23PM

Yes, grab one for your exit & you are all set.

If you decide to get a tow to/from the border from an outfitter then you can forgo the BWCA day-use permit entirely.