Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA) is a vast wilderness in the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota. Its address is in Crystal Bay Township. It goes back to 1964.
A park & preserve inside Crystal Bay Township
Winters are cold
January nights drop to -2°, with about 94" of snow a year. When to go ↓
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Fall Lake Township, 16 miles northwest. Where to stay ↓
Best months: Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
June, July, August and September are the mild months, with highs of 64–75°. When to go ↓
Established in 1964
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness dates from 1964. About ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Warm months and cold ones
A visit to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness can follow the seasons below.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW or BWCA) is a vast wilderness in the Superior National Forest of northeastern Minnesota. It comprises 1,090,000 acres (440,000 ha) of pristine forests, glacial lakes, and streams. Located at the Boundary Waters, it is administered by the United States Forest Service.
Efforts to preserve the primitive landscape began in the early 20th century and culminated in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act of 1978. The area is a popular destination for canoeing, hiking, and fishing, and is the most visited wilderness in the United States.
- Type
- Park & preserve
- Established
- 1964
- Area
- 1,703 square miles
- Wikipedia readers
- 29K a year
Hotels and campgrounds near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The first towns with rooms are Crystal Bay Township (3) and Fall Lake Township (23).
Fall Lake Township
639 people · 71% vacation homes
16 mi northwest of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Tofte Township
270 people · 58% vacation homes
17 mi east of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Stony River Township
176 people · 74% vacation homes
17 mi southwest of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Compare 6 towns
| Town | From Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Bay Township 29% vacation homes | in town | — | 3 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 450 | $221K |
| Fall Lake Township 71% vacation homes | 16 mi northwest | 25 min | 23 5 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 10 lodges & cabins · 7 campgrounds | 639 | $431K |
| Tofte Township 58% vacation homes | 17 mi east | 25 min | 10 6 hotels · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 campground | 270 | $286K |
| Stony River Township 74% vacation homes | 17 mi southwest | 25 min | 7 5 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 176 | $213K |
| Schroeder Township 54% vacation homes | 14 mi southeast | 20 min | 4 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins · 2 campgrounds | 177 | $406K |
| Lutsen Township 70% vacation homes | 23 mi east | 35 min | 13 5 hotels · 6 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds | 536 | $441K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Make a day of it near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Every place here is under 64 miles away.
30 mi MountainEagle Mountain
53 mi State parkJudge C. R. Magney State Park
115 mi National forestSuperior National Forest
43 mi LighthouseSplit Rock Lighthouse
33 mi State parkTettegouche State Park
64 mi National LakeshoreApostle Islands National Lakeshore261K visitors a year225 mi Ski areaLutsen Mountains76 runs · 787 ft vertical
48 mi State parkGooseberry Falls State ParkPhoto credits
Eagle Mountain: Skye Marthaler, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Judge C. R. Magney State Park: Chris857, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Superior National Forest: No machine-readable author provided. MisterSquirrel~commonswiki assumed (based o, Public domain · Split Rock Lighthouse: Jim Sorbie, CC BY 2.0 · Tettegouche State Park: Desertson67 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Apostle Islands National Lakeshore: NPS Photo, Public domain · Gooseberry Falls State Park: Chuck Kochmann, Copyrighted free use
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Asked about Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Is Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Crystal Bay Township?
Yes. It’s inside Crystal Bay Township, MN.
When is the best time to visit Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
June, July, August and September, with highs of 64–75°.
What is the closest airport to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
Range Regional (HIB), about 82 miles away. The nearest big hub is Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP), about 225 miles.
Where should I stay near Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?
Fall Lake Township (16 mi, 23 places to stay), Crystal Bay Township (in town, 3 places to stay) and Tofte Township (17 mi, 10 places to stay).
Questions for Crystal Bay Township
Share what you know in Crystal Bay Township’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.