Entry into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area | Photo: WDIO WDIO Created: July 15, 2021 06:08 PM
The Superior National Forest is announcing closures within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness effective Friday, July 17. According to a press release, the closures are due to wildfires in Quetico Provincial Park along the international border in Canada.
The closures include Mudro entry points #22/#23 and the Iron and Crooked Lake Corridors. Anyone heading into the BWCA should be aware of very high fire dangers.
Fire managers have identified two fires that have the potential to spread across the border. Officials say the closures in the BWCAW will remain in effect for at least seven days or until it is safe to open the area again.
#22 Mudro restricted entry point - no BWCAW entry.
#23 Mudro entry point - no BWCAW entry.
Iron Lake travel zone closure from Bottle Portage/Bottle Rapids to Iron Lake and adjoining bays and island of Iron Lake including Peterson Bay and Three Island. Adjoining portages include the 320-rod portage west of Iron Lake from Lac La Croix, the 72-rod Dark Lake portage south of Iron Lake, the 110-rod Bear Trap River portage southeast of Iron Lake and the 140-rod portage to Curtain Falls.
Crooked Lake travel zone closure - all campsites on Crooked Lake and adjoining bays from Curtain Falls to Lower Basswood Falls including Sunday Bay, Saturday Bay, Friday Bay, Thursday Bay and Wednesday Bay. This includes the portage at Lower Basswood Falls.
Officials with the US Forest Service announced Thursday afternoon that a portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will be closed starting this weekend due to fires across the border in Canada.
The notice details a series of closures near the Canadian border, all in response to fires in Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario near the Iron Lake and Crooked Lake area on the border.
The emergency closure order from the USFS explains that these closures are being put in place out of consideration for the public s health and safety due to wildland fires in the vicinity . Due to the difficult nature of finding/contacting those in the BWCAW, the measure is being considered preventative in the event the fire spreads across the international border.