See when weekend permits typically disappear for BWCA entry points in August. Set up free alerts to get notified when permits become available.
| Entry Point | When it sells out | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Angleworm Lake | Usually gone by August | Set Alert |
| Baker Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Bog Lake | Often available all season | Set Alert |
| Bower Trout Lake | Usually gone by February | Set Alert |
| Brant Lake | Usually gone by April | Set Alert |
| Brule Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Clearwater Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Crab Lake & Cummings Lake | Usually gone by May | Set Alert |
| Crocodile River | Usually gone by April | Set Alert |
| Cross Bay Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Daniels Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Duncan Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| East Bearskin | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Fall Lake | Usually gone by March | Set Alert |
| Farm Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| From Big Lake | Often available all season | Set Alert |
| Hog Creek | Usually gone by April | Set Alert |
| Homer Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Isabella Lake | Usually gone by February | Set Alert |
| Island River | Usually gone by March | Set Alert |
| John Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Kawishiwi Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Lac LaCroix Only | Often available all season | Set Alert |
| Lake One | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Larch Creek | Usually gone by April | Set Alert |
| Little Gabbro Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Little Indian Sioux North | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Little Indian Sioux SOUTH | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Little Isabella River | Usually gone by March | Set Alert |
| Little Vermilion Lake | Often available all season | Set Alert |
| Lizz and Swamp Lakes | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Magnetic Lake | Usually gone by May | Set Alert |
| Meeds Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Missing Link Lake | Usually gone by May | Set Alert |
| Moose Lake | Usually gone by April | Set Alert |
| Moose River South | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Moose/Portage River North | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Morgan Lake | Usually gone by May | Set Alert |
| Mudro Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Mudro Lake Restricted | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| North Fowl Lake | Usually gone by April | Set Alert |
| North Kawishiwi River | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Pine Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Ram Lake | Usually gone by March | Set Alert |
| Saganaga Lake | Usually gone by June | Set Alert |
| Sawbill Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Seagull Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Skipper & Portage Lakes | Usually gone by May | Set Alert |
| Slim Lake | Usually gone by February | Set Alert |
| Snake River | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Snowbank Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Snowbank Lake Restricted | Usually gone by March | Set Alert |
| South Hegman Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| South Kawishiwi River | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| South Lake | Usually gone by April | Set Alert |
| Stuart River | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
| Trout Lake | Often available all season | Set Alert |
| Wood Lake | Usually gone by late January | Set Alert |
Based on the 2026 permit season tracked on Recreation.gov. For each entry point we follow its most popular weekend entry dates (Thursday-Saturday) and estimate when they typically reach about 80% booked. 'Usually gone by March' means you generally need to book by then; 'Often available all season' means weekend dates usually stay open. Cancellations free up permits all season too, so set a free alert to catch them.
Plans change! Set up alerts to catch permits when others cancel their reservations.
Track multiple entry points. Less popular ones often have more availability.
Set up free alerts and be first in line when permits become available.
Start Tracking for FreeIt depends on the entry point and your exact dates. Popular weekends in August sell out early, but cancellations open up all season. The table above shows the typical pattern — set an alert to catch openings.
BWCA quota permits go on sale on Recreation.gov a few months before the season, and the best dates get reserved within minutes of release.
Pick an entry point and date, and we'll watch Recreation.gov around the clock. The second a permit frees up, you get an email. It's free to start.
Check permit availability for peak BWCA paddling season.
Explore permit alerts for every entry point in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Built by paddlers from Minnesota. We monitor Recreation.gov 24/7 so you don't have to.