The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is divided into roughly 70 numbered entry points, and the one you choose shapes everything about your trip: how far you paddle, how many portages you grind through, and how many other canoes you see. Each overnight entry point has a daily quota, so picking the right one early is the single most important planning decision you will make.
How the entry point quota system works
Every overnight paddle entry point releases a fixed number of permits per day. During the busy stretch from late May through September those permits are reserved through Recreation.gov, and the most popular ones near Ely sell out within hours of the late-January release. A few things to know before you book:
- One permit covers your whole group, up to nine people and four watercraft.
- Your permit is tied to a specific entry point and entry date, but once inside you can paddle and camp anywhere you like.
- You can pick up the printed permit at a Forest Service office or a cooperating outfitter the day before or day of your trip.
If your first choice is gone, watch for cancellations or shift your entry date a day or two. Midweek entries (Tuesday through Thursday) are far easier to land than a Saturday.
Entry points near Ely
Ely is the classic gateway and home to the busiest corridors. Entry Point 25 (Moose Lake) is the most famous, offering a fast tow-boat or paddle route toward Basswood Lake, Knife Lake, and the Canadian border. It is scenic and deep, but expect company. For a quieter start nearby, look at Entry Point 30 (Lake One) on the Kawishiwi chain, which threads through Lakes One, Two, Three, and Four with relatively short portages, or Entry Point 6 (Slim Lake), a small, low-quota launch that empties into the rugged country toward the Little Indian Sioux.
Entry points off the Gunflint Trail
On the eastern side, the Gunflint Trail out of Grand Marais opens a completely different landscape of bigger lakes and high ridges. Entry Point 55 (Saganaga Lake) gives you a huge border lake with island camping and lake-trout fishing, while Entry Point 54 (Seagull Lake) is a popular family launch with quick access to good campsites. For solitude, Entry Point 47 (Lizz and Swamp Lakes) sees far less traffic and rewards paddlers willing to portage.
Entry points off the Sawbill and Tofte areas
The Tofte and Sawbill Trail region in the south-central BWCAW is ideal for first-timers. Entry Point 38 (Sawbill Lake) has a full-service outfitter and campground right at the put-in, plus an easy loop through Alton and Kelso Lakes that you can do in two or three nights without brutal portages. Entry Point 37 (Kawishiwi Lake) nearby links north into a chain of small, quiet lakes loaded with smallmouth bass.
Matching the entry point to your trip
Think about three variables before you commit:
- Portage tolerance. If you are new to carrying a canoe, choose chains like Lake One or Sawbill with short, well-maintained portages.
- Crowds versus solitude. Low-quota entries such as Slim Lake or Lizz Lake trade convenience for empty campsites.
- Fishing goals. Big border lakes like Saganaga and Basswood are best for lake trout and walleye, while interior lakes favor smallmouth.
Once you have settled on an entry point and a few nights of camping, the rest of the planning falls into place. For a full day-by-day route built around exactly these decisions, see our 4-day Boundary Waters canoe itinerary, which walks through permits, packing, and a paddle-and-portage loop you can adapt to your chosen launch.
Booking tips that actually help
Set a calendar reminder for the late-January reservation opening and log in to Recreation.gov a few minutes early with your entry point and backup dates ready. If you are using a local outfitter in Ely, Tofte, or Grand Marais, ask them to reserve the permit for you; they know which entry points clear out first and can suggest equally good alternatives just one lake over.
