Forest Service Closes Entire Boundary Waters Due to Wildfires and Extreme Heat

14 July 2026 · Source balance: Centre

The U.S. Forest Service closed the entire Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness starting July 14th due to multiple wildfires and extreme heat conditions in northeastern Minnesota. More than twenty fires have ignited across the Superior National Forest, with three major fires inside the Boundary Waters burning over nine thousand acres combined. Temperatures reached the mid-nineties with some areas approaching triple digits, while a red flag warning indicated extreme fire danger. Forest officials cite public safety as the primary reason, noting that remote terrain makes emergency response difficult and smoke poses health risks. This is only the third complete closure in the wilderness's history and the first since 2021. The Forest Service is evacuating campsites by canoe and estimates full evacuation will take a week. Officials expect some fires to burn until snow falls in autumn. All overnight and day-use permits through July seventeenth are canceled with full refunds processed.