A Boundary Waters Compendium

BWCA Resources

General Resources
Links Pages
Natural History
Outfitters & Suppliers
Public Policy
Trip Planning

• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a fine site from Steve Nguyen
• Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness, the GORP page with links
• BWCA.CC, news, information, and more, from Erik W. L. Anderson
• The BWCAW, A Historical Perspective, by Bruce Barnard
• BWCA Forum, at boreal.org; the place for questions and discussion
• BWCA Online, a cooperative effort of some area outfitters
• History of the BWCAW
• An Introduction to Ojibway Culture and History, Kevin L. Callahan, U of MN
• The History of the Ojibwe People
• Ojibwe Culture, oral tradition, artists, literature, and music
• Ojibwe Customs and Beliefs,
• Ojibwe History, an extensive and detailed description of the Ojibwe, from Lee Sultzman
• Ojibwe Language and Culture, by Nancy Vogt 
• Upper Midwest Rock Art Research Association, petroglyph and pictograph research
• Kamala's BWCA Page, links, photos, and stories
• Kekekabic Trail Club, dedicated to maintaining the hiking trails of the BWCA
• Minnesota Forest Fire Information System, keep tabs on the fires with the DNR
• Minnesota's Superior National Forest, with photos by Martha Decker
• North Country Information, from Piragis Northwoods Company
• The Popkes Family, At Home on the Gunflint Trail, telecommuting from the northwoods!
• The Superior National Forest, the GORP (Great Outdoor Recreation Page)
• The Superior National Forest, the USFS home page

• Ely Home Page, from the Ely, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Natural History of the North Woods

• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Natural History, a summary from GORP
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wildlife, a general article also from GORP
• Wildlife on the Gunflint Trail, numerous photos and links from the Popkes

Birds

• Minnesota Ornithologists' Union, for professionals and amateurs alike
• Rare Bird Alert, Duluth and the North Shore, including inland sightings

Beasts

• Moose on the Loose, an article with photos by Roger Hahn of Seagull Outfitters
• North American Bear Center, Ely, Minnesota
• The International Wolf Center, Ely, Minnesota

Environments

• Boreal Forest
• The Boreal Forest Ecoregion, a Sierra Club conservation page

Plants

• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Plants, a list of common plants from GORP
• North Woods Plant Profiles
• Aquatic Plants, emergent, floating, and submerged
• Ferns and Fern Allies, the Ferns, Horsetails, and Clubmosses
• Terrestrial Herbs, the plants of the forest floor
• Shrubs, from tiny shrublet to small trees
• Trees, Aspen, Birch, and Cedar; Spruce, Pine, and Fir

Sky

• Northern Lights on the Web, Aurora Borealis links from Daryl & Laura

• The Boundary Waters Catalog, from Piragis Northwoods Company, Ely
• Canadian Border Outfitters, Ely, with Fishing Tips
• Canadian Waters Outfitters, Ely
• Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters, three generations on the Gunflint Trail
• North Country Canoe Outfitters, Ely, with Fishing Tips page
• Seagull Outfitters, Gunflint Trail, on Seagull Lake, one of the very best
• Northeastern Minnesota Businesses for Wilderness, let's support these people!!
• Hungry Jack Outfitters, Gunflint Trail
• Piragis Northwoods Company, Ely
• Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, Tofte, on Sawbill Lake, one of the very best
• Tom & Woods' Moose Lake Wilderness Canoe Trips
• Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters, on Round Lake
• Voyageur North Outfitters, BWCAW and Quetico Canoe Expeditions, Ely

• BWCAW Updates, legislation and more; mailing list option available
• Friends of the Boundary Waters, including the Preservation History of the BWCAW
• Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness
• Stand by Your Land, America's Ten Most Endangered Wild Places, from the Wilderness Society
• Wilderness Act of 1964, full text

Recommended Reading

• Lost Portage Bookstore, links to Amazon Books, from Bruce Barnard
• BWCAW Library, an off-season reading list
• Cat's-paw Press, publisher of Roughing It Elegantly and The Paddler's Planner  by Pat Bell
• Reference Shelf

Route Planning

• Entry Points
• Maps
• BWCAW Storm Damage Assessment, an interactive map site combining satellite images with an overlay showing damage estimates and portage and campsite status.
• Lake Finder, from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Map of the Boundary Waters, in three parts, East, West, and Central
• Maps by McKenzie, the McKenzie Map home page
• Primitive Management Areas
• Primitive Management Areas, backpacking with canoes
• Primitive Management Areas, a summary with map
• Routes
• Lakes, tables and commentaries
• Portages, comparative distance tables
• Regional Indices, entry points, lakes, PMAs, and streams by region
• Trails
• The Trails of the BWCAW, maps from the Kekekabic Trail Club

Rules and Regulations

• BWCAW Permit Reservation System, check availability and reserve permits
• State of Minnesota Rules, Parts 6140.0100 - 6140.1500
• Fishing Regulations, from the Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources

Stories and Photos

• Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Jon Nelson's excellent photos and story
• BWCA Fine Art Cards, by
• Ken Harmon's Arrowhead Photography, a gallery
• Our Trips into the BWCAW, from Bill and Pat Hines
• Richard Hart's BWCAW Page, with photos of past trips
• Tahoe's BWCAW Picture Pages, trip photos and commentary
• Tales of the BWCA, 20 years of stories from Kamala's BWCA Page

Tips

• Ask About, with an excellent calendar of travel density and natural events
• Avoiding Crowds, an article by Jim Colten
• Insects
• Leave No Trace, Wilderness Ethics
• Nuisance Bears
• Weather and Climate Information
• What to Bring
• Canadian Border Outfitters
• Steve's List
• The "Ultimate" Canoe Trip Checklist, from Roger Hahn of Seagull Outfitters