Boundary Waters Canoe Area planning
Boundary Waters Canoe Area trip packet
Print this. The checklist, the hazards, the emergency plan and the rules of the corridor in one place.
Packing checklist
Paddling & portaging
- PFD per person
- Lightweight canoe with yoke
- Spare paddle
- Portage packs
- Map and compass
Camp & safety
- Water filter
- Bear hang kit or canister
- First aid kit
- Rain gear
Personal
- Synthetic layers
- Sturdy boots for portages
- Insect repellent and head net
- Sun protection
Known hazards
- Cold water — hypothermia risk at ice-out and in fall
- Black bears at camps with poor food discipline
- Portage injuries: slips on wet rock and root tangles
- Sudden severe thunderstorms on big water
- Ticks and Lyme disease
- Giardia in untreated lake water
Water notes
Treat every drop from lakes and streams — boil at least one minute, filter, or purify chemically. Wind, not current, is the force that sets your schedule on the big lakes.
Emergency plan
Cell service is effectively nonexistent. Carry a satellite communicator, leave a detailed route with your entry point and dates, and know that help is measured in hours-to-days, not minutes.
Leave No Trace
Group size is capped at 9 people and 4 watercraft. Cans and glass bottles are banned in the wilderness — repackage food before you drive up. Camp only at designated sites with fire grates.