US Forest Service Closes Large Section of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Due to Wildfires

The U.S. Forest Service issued an emergency order closing public access to a substantial portion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northern Minnesota. The closure, effective July 11, 2026, targets areas surrounding the Bear Trap, Thumb and Wolfpack fires in the LaCroix and Kawishiwi districts of the Superior National Forest. Entry points, recreation sites and trails such as Angleworm Lake, Blandin Trail, Herriman Trail and several others are barred to protect public safety and firefighting operations.

At the time of the order, 16 active wildfires were burning on the Superior National Forest, four of them within the BWCAW. The fires range from a 0.25‑acre Newton Fire to a 20‑acre Thumb Fire. In addition to the access restrictions, an emergency camp‑fire ban was imposed across the BWCAW, prohibiting wood‑burning grills, charcoal fires and similar ignition sources, while gas or propane stoves remain allowed. The Forest Service provided maps and ongoing updates through its alerts page and social media channels.