Congratulations to all who successfully reserved their permits.

I successfully made mine for EP 14 LIS(N) in early June at 9:00. I checked again at 9:05 and all others had been reserved for my date and most dates several days before and after. A lot of competition for small entry points again this year.

Snagged a Snowbank for 8/29 at 9:03, 5 were already gone.

Still need a permit for solo trip in May but I haven't even planned that out so I guess I'll get what I get whenever I figure it out.

I scored S Kawishiwi River, looks like a few are still left there. What is going on with Little Gabbro Lake? It was gone for basically all of August at 9:02.

Got my Snowbank for July and E Bearskin solo in August.

Tried to grab a Aug 30 permit for LIS North (EP14) at 9:03...all 4 were gone. Switched to another area I want to explore, Crab lake (EP4) and grabbed one for there.

I blame the fact I had to reset my password...that added few minutes cost me.

Basswood Lake...all permits gone in less than 7 minutes.

Grabbed the permits for a July and September trip off of the Gunflint Trail through small entry points right at 9 (was checked out by 9:07). Just looked at availability and there are zeroes across the board. Looks like it may be another busy year in the BWCAW.
Congratulations to those individuals and group leaders who were able to secure their preferred entry point.

exemplaria: "I scored S Kawishiwi River, looks like a few are still left there. What is going on with Little Gabbro Lake? It was gone for basically all of August at 9:02. "

Little Gabbro only has 2 permits a day, its close to Ely, 1 portage in. It's a nice spot for beginners and kids. It's more of a BWCA lite spot in my opinion.

Clearwater on June 18th. All other Clearwater permits were gone.

Wood Lake June 6th at 9 AM - 1 of 2. By 9:06 most were gone for that week.

OMGitsKa: "

exemplaria: "I scored S Kawishiwi River, looks like a few are still left there. What is going on with Little Gabbro Lake? It was gone for basically all of August at 9:02. "

Little Gabbro only has 2 permits a day, its close to Ely, 1 portage in. It's a nice spot for beginners and kids. It's more of a BWCA lite spot in my opinion. "

Yeah I think it's only 1 per day, was just surprised it went SO fast when S Kawishiwi is basically the same. It's probably sticking out to me because the specific date I wanted was gone immediately - probably could have gotten a different date, but not after 9:02 am!

Another LIS North. Going in July 16th. First time in BWCA in 15 years, now with kids!

I got mine

-Cross Bay, August
-Brant Lake, May

Was done by 9:03~ and then immediately looked at Cross Bay EP and they were all gone.

Seems like they go faster every year.

Indeed the key permits went fast, got ours for 24 June LIS EP 14. Seems there will be plenty going in to 14 this year again.

dogwoodgirl: "Got my Snowbank for July and E Bearskin solo in August."

I ended up E. Bearskin solo in May, and Snowbank in August. Samesies, but different.

I got a Moose River South permit for May 17th right when the reservations opened. Most were gone for that entry before 9:30 AM. Only one permit every other day but it sure seems like lots of permits were gone in a short period of time.

Yup....Little G was one of our back-up options. Gone immediately. It's funny though...I was in Bald Eagle July 4th last year and barely saw anyone. Everyone must go up the river or stay right there.

OMGitsKa: "

exemplaria: "I scored S Kawishiwi River, looks like a few are still left there. What is going on with Little Gabbro Lake? It was gone for basically all of August at 9:02. "

Little Gabbro only has 2 permits a day, its close to Ely, 1 portage in. It's a nice spot for beginners and kids. It's more of a BWCA lite spot in my opinion. "

Was sitting in front of my computer ready to go and someone stopped in and talked for an hour. By 9:27 mine were long gone. Guess I'll try another area this spring.

Little Gabbro and S. Kawish book out fast every year.

I snagged one of the little Gabbros as well as the other EP's and dates. I wanted. The Little Gabbro was the first one I booked and then went down my list in order of priority (likely to disappear and least flexible from a planning standpoint)

Got ours for EP24 early May and in the less than 5 minutes it took me to finish paying, all for that day and 2 days following were sold out. Seems much busier this year with permits selling out than last year, maybe the area and timing?

So glad I was able to juggle and get on at 9:00. Got my first choice of
South Kawishiwi River on my first date of choice in August. My 5 year old is doing his first trip and wanted to see Bruin Lake because his name is Bruin. LOL.

When I was done I went back at like 9:05 and all of Little Gabbro was gone for August. At 9:30 all 13 of my possible dates for South Kawishiwi were gone so I would have already had to move on to my 3rd choice of EP.

So glad I figured out a way to be on there on time. At 10:40 which would have been my first chance to get on today I would have had to choose between EP choice number 3 with date choice number 10 or EP choice number 4 with date choice number 4.

I'll planning on LIZZ one of the next 2 years with my little guy and I'll for sure have to be on at 9:00 for that one. When I finished getting my permit I saw that at 9:05 Lizz was already booked for all of August and 1/2 of July.

I grabbed one of those Lizz permits for late July by logging in right at 9am. They go so fast! Taking my wife on her first BWCA trip. Can't wait, and thankfully, neither can she!
Keep watching - Maybe you'll catch a cancellation when you're ready to make the trip.

Got Little Gabbro but a week earlier than I wanted. Luckily I'm flexible with vacation time. Lesson learned - trying to secure a permit on your laptop under the desk at the same time as your work zoom meeting is starting is not the best arrangement!

I was able to get on right at 9 and got all of my first choice EPs and dates. Sawbill for mid June group solo, Meeds for 4th of July weekend solo, and Moose for a longer solo in August solo combining time in both the BWCA and Quetico. Looking forward to all three trips!

Frustration! I am not very techy,so I had my son try at 9am on his Android phone. It was not good. At907 or so I went on the iPad and our first and second choices were depleted to zilch! I finally got our fourth choice. Not on opener but close. I miss pre Covid, it seemed like it was easier to book. Just venting, Marc

I also snagged Lizz for July 15 at 9:00:00

dirtlawyer: "I grabbed one of those Lizz permits for late July by logging in right at 9am. They go so fast! Taking my wife on her first BWCA trip. Can't wait, and thankfully, neither can she!
Keep watching - Maybe you'll catch a cancellation when you're ready to make the trip."

Sawbill on June 18. Looking at doing the Lujenida-Zenith on day one and spending a few days wandering around the area between the rivers. Just our second trip, but if we do this it'll be relaxing compared to last year.

Happy paddling to all!

BuckeyeVol: "Got Little Gabbro but a week earlier than I wanted. Luckily I'm flexible with vacation time. Lesson learned - trying to secure a permit on your laptop under the desk at the same time as your work zoom meeting is starting is not the best arrangement!"

Too funny!!!

I was on and logged in prior to 9am, Hit the refresh button at 9am and nothing happened, still closed. Tried it again and permits were open. Got my May 19 permit for John Lake, an area I used to go to long long ago. Excited to go back and check it out. Hoping one of the John sites are available, don't really want to head to East Pike. Rather do that on a daytrip than to find a campsite.

Scored a LISN EP14 permit for 8/13, 4 were available at 8 AM MST (Colorado). Haven't been in the BWCA in 8 or 9 years. I'm 67 now, but think I'm up to it. Taking some grandkids!

The boys were contemplating one of the last two weeks in July for Brule Lake. The oldest sent me a text today saying which week they'd prefer. I thought we shouldn't need to rush because it's a big windy lake, but when I got back home from camping at my local state park and checked the website, there were only 2 permits of 7 left. Got the permit, and then got the campsite reserved for the night before we enter. Don't know if it's my older MacBook Pro, my old brain or if recreation.gov was slammed and glitchy, but it was a bit of a chore getting it all together.
We've camped on the west end of Brule 10 years ago on our way to South and North Temperance. It'll be interesting to see this end of the lake and beyond.

Sag in June. Kawishawi Lake in July. Cross Bay Lake in August
. Also will head in in October, but obviously no permit necessary then.

We were working our way through security at the airport when it opened (hint, be prepared to have them search your bag if you have a ziplock baggie of dirt). Luckily we planned ahead and my son was able to book ep 51 for mid May, and his fiancé booked our Aug ep 50.

We were not able to reserve the entry point we wanted on opening day. So I tried signing up for the permit notification system and it worked. We got a permit for ep 16 on the day we planned on thanks to the notification system.

MrEarl56: "Scored a LISN EP14 permit for 8/13, 4 were available at 8 AM MST (Colorado). Haven't been in the BWCA in 8 or 9 years. I'm 67 now, but think I'm up to it. Taking some grandkids!"

I snagged one for the 18th. When I was on right at 10 am EST all 4 were still there!

wxce1260: "Sag in June. Kawishawi Lake in July. Cross Bay Lake in August
. Also will head in in October, but obviously no permit necessary then."

Overachiever! I need to up my game!

wxce1260: "Sag in June. Kawishawi Lake in July. Cross Bay Lake in August
. Also will head in in October, but obviously no permit necessary then."

Also hoping for a possible October trip as our usual September dates are covered by a trip to Italy this year. :-( and :-)

I suppose that 40s in both February and October would be a bit too much to ask...

schweady: "

wxce1260: "Sag in June. Kawishawi Lake in July. Cross Bay Lake in August
. Also will head in in October, but obviously no permit necessary then."

Also hoping for a possible October trip as our usual September dates are covered by a trip to Italy this year. :-( and :-)


I suppose that 40s in both February and October would be a bit too much to ask...
"

Not to worry. Especially if you have flexibility in when you go. Last year I went mid October and it was 50 during the day and the lowest overnight was 36. In 2022 I exited on Halloween and daytime temperatures were 60 each day and sunny and overnight lows were 32.