Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Closing

The ongoing battle with the coronavirus seems to be affecting just about every part of Minnesota-- including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

The list of places that are closed (temporarily, hopefully) due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the ongoing battle to contain that virus seems to be growing every day here in Minnesota.

One of the few places, though, that were remaining open throughout the pandemic, are Minnesota's incredible state parks and recreation areas. (Not everything is open at Minnesota's state parks, though-- you can read more about which programs are closed HERE.)

But the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), located just south of Minnesota's border with Canada, are part of the Superior National Forest, which is managed by the US Forest Service, a division of the US Agriculture Department. And they just announced that the BWCAW will be closed-- temporarily-- through May 4th due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to a release on the Forest Service website,

"In order to help lessen impacts to local communities while the state’s Stay at Home order is in place, and to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) will be closed for both day and overnight use from April 15 through May 4. Reservations made through May 4 will receive a full refund, including reservations fees," the site noted.

Even though it's on my list of things to do, I haven't been to the BWCAW yet. But, seeing as we just set two records here in Rochester for record-cold overnight lows, I'm guessing that it's still pretty nippy up there too-- and that waiting until after May 4th to plan that trip to Minnesota's northern wilderness won't be too much of a hardship for most of us!

Listen to Curt St. John mornings from 6 to 10 a.m. on Quick Country 96.5
and afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m. on 103.9 The Doc