Superior National Forest to close area within the BWCA

Forest Supervisor Tom Hall, with the Superior National Forest, is closing a portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) due to the Wood Lake Wildfire. The restrictions went into effect Thursday, September 12.

As per hall, the following closures will occur:

• All campsites, portages, rivers, and lakes within the closure area, including but not limited to 19 locations as noted.

BWCAW points of entry:
#26 Wood Lake

Lakes:
Wood Lake
Hula Lake
Good Lake
Indiana Lake
Wind Bay (Basswood Lake)
Wind Lake
Washte Lake
Portages:
Wood Lake Entry Point Parking Lot to Wood Lake
Wood Lake to Hula Lake
Hula Lake to Good Lake
Good Lake to Good Creek
Good Lake to Hoist Bay (Basswood Lake)
Good Lake to Indiana Lake
Indiana Lake to Basswood Lake
Indiana Lake to Wind Bay Creek (Wind Bay, Basswood Lake)
Wind Bay to Wind Lake
Wind Lake to Washte Lake
Wind Lake to Moose Lake

• The Forest Service has notified permit holders, cooperators and outfitters and is encouraging permit holders to seek an alternate area of the BWCAW or consider non-wilderness areas of the SNF for similar experiences. At this time overnight paddle and day use is not permitted in the closure area.

Hall states the emergency closure is necessary for the safety of visitors, rangers, and fire-fighters.

He also stated that, with the exception of the closures for the Wood Lake Fire, the Superior National Forest is open to the public and no other restrictions apply.