We are nearly a month in since permits were made available for camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Although what’s the outlook this spring for people wanting to explore the BWCA? The U.S. Forest Service is currently monitoring whether snow melting this spring could impact the BWCA’s wildfire outlook.

With over a million acres of natural beauty, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area is a destination for thousands of people. Thomas Hall, the Supervisor with the Superior National Forest office says they are tracking weather conditions. If the Northland continues seeing snow and rain over the next few months it will determine the level of spring wildfire risks.

“One thing to be aware of is weather changes and you should be aware of what you need in any sort of weather circumstances. This is kind of the preparation season,” Hall said. “We have what we call a bimodal fire season in northern Minnesota. Before green up, we will have melting and it will get dry. If we get rain or we get more snow, that will impact it. But it’s very typical that we’ll get a drying trend and have some level of fire season this spring. Then it’ll start raining, which is typical. It’ll dry, back out in the later fall and potentially have another fire season”

There are certain times during the summer, where it’s more ideal to camp in the Boundary Waters. Due to wildfire risks, weather and several other factors determine when people have their BWCA permit. Richard Roser with frost river trading company and Grant DeMars from Duluth Pack both recommend to research the wildfire risks as you get closer to your camping trip. That can impact whether or not you can have gas stoves or campfires in the boundary waters.

“There’s more snow, more snow melt. So we’re hoping that things aren’t going to be as dry,” DeMars said. “There’s not going to be as big of a fire risk this year. But it’s hard to tell. Nature is unpredictable.”

“You’ll see June is going to be a really, really high traffic. In early June, before things start getting too terribly hot and the bugs start getting super bad,” Roser said. “The end of season is kind of when things start trailing off in that closer to September end of August. It’s really high traffic areas, Moose Lake and early in the season that we’re definitely getting those reservations coming out in into our system.”

Nearly 85% of wildfires in the United States are caused by humans, according to the National Park Service. The Superior National Forest and the BWCA will continue to update the public on any fire restrictions the closer we get to summer.

For more stories happening with the Boundary Waters you can read more here. Also for more details about getting your BWCAW permit you can read more here.