Gran Portage Bike Tour
Sign up for an epic bike tour linking Twin Cities waterways and benefitting Friends of the Boundary Waters this October!…
Since 1976
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Plan Your Boundary
Waters Adventure
From a searchable route library with BWCA maps to information on permits, we have the resources you need to explore the Boundary Waters. With more than 1,100 lakes, 1,200 miles of canoe routes, a dozen rugged hiking trails and over 1.1 million acres, the BWCA offers endless opportunities for adventure.
Stop Toxic Mining near the Boundary Waters
Two proposed copper-sulfide mines — PolyMet and Twin Metals — risk contaminating some of the cleanest water on earth and permanently polluting the BWCA. If these mines open, they would produce acid mine drainage and cause irreparable harm to our beloved wilderness. Learn more about how we are beating back these toxic mines and how you can join a movement.
Wilderness education that promotes equity in the wild
Young people who grow up in our hyper-connected, digital world need the wilderness more than ever. Through our No Boundaries to the Boundary Waters program, we introduce students from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities to the splendors of the wilderness, both in the classroom and through week-long trips into the BWCA.
Thriving Communities
The future of the BWCA is deeply tied to the economic prosperity and wellbeing of the communities that surround the Boundary Waters. We work with local businesses, organizations, and individuals on projects that build thriving communities to ensure people have a stable and viable livelihood.
Upcoming Events
Friends of the Boundary Waters’ Northwoods Gala
Join wilderness supporters, staff, board members and advocates as we celebrate the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Get your tickets…
Explore Our Blog
Breaking news, in-depth stories, tips for wilderness travel, and insights into America’s most popular Wilderness Area.
How to Enjoy Fall in the Boundary Waters
Let’s talk about why fall in the Boundary Waters is basically the best thing since double-stuffed Oreos. Seriously, if you…
Understanding School Trust Land in the Boundary Waters
In June, the Federal Government announced plans to purchase approximately 80,000 acres of School Trust Land within the Boundary Waters.
1999 BWCA Blowdown – A Storm Like No Other
Revisit the 1999 BWCA Blowdown in Cary Griffith’s “Gunflint Falling,” with fascinating survivor stories, rescues and a forest’s recovery.
How To Help
The wilderness needs people. It needs you.
Learn more about how you can give back to the Boundary Waters.
Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness acknowledges that the land and water we are dedicated to protecting is on the traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe people, who continue to live in the area and exercise treaty rights on this land and water. We humbly work to honor this living history and learn how the Anishinaabe relationship with this land and water continues to grow and evolve. Together, we strive to build mutual respect, trust and understanding around what it means to protect the Boundary Waters.