Our List of What Not To Bring Into the BWCAW–and a Few Weird Things We’ve Seen

Venturing into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) requires careful planning. There are many lists online about what you need for an excellent wilderness experience. Our list is comprehensive, and you can find it here. 

But knowing what not to bring is just as important as knowing what to pack. BWCAW regulations prohibit certain things to protect the wilderness character, minimize your impact on the environment, and ensure the safety and enjoyment of all. After reviewing that, we’ll take a look at some common-sense recommendations.

What not to bring – Prohibited Items

With minimal exceptions (fuel, insect repellent, medicine, and personal toiletries), cans and glass bottles are prohibited. Food and drinks should be in reusable plastic containers.  

All types of fireworks are illegal in the BWCAW due to the fire risk and noise disturbance to wildlife and other visitors. Leave your Black Cats, bottle rockets, and Roman Candles at home. To prevent the spread of invasive species and diseases, firewood from outside the immediate area of the Superior National Forest should not be brought to the BWCAW. 

Also, to stop the spread of invasive species, if you bring live bait, Minnesota DNR regulations require you to drain bait buckets (minnows, leeches) as you leave one lake to portage to the next. Minnesota law prohibits disposing of unused live bait into BWCAW waters. Dumping bait on the ground is considered littering. Unused bait should be packed out. Joe Friedrichs of Paddle and Portage points out that if your trip plans include entering Quetico, live bait is banned there.

Metal detectors are not permitted to protect archaeological and historical sites. 

Operating drones is explicitly forbidden, and this rule is enforced under federal law. Violations may result in significant penalties, like fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months. Drones are considered both “motorized equipment” and “mechanical transport,” which are both generally prohibited in designated areas according to the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Some Things Our Experts Suggest You Leave Behind  

Paddle and Portage’s Joe Friedrichs said he avoids a few things when packing for the BWCAW. 

“I would not bring coolers, ice, radios/speakers for music (headphones only), jeans, wrappers on fishing lures (unpack and put in tackle box), styrofoam, and lighter fluid,” he said.

Our lead outfitter here at Rockwood, co-owner Mike Seim, says that external frame backpacks should be avoided. “The frames get caught on everything trying to get in and out of the canoes, don’t bend around thwart bars, and can actually poke through the side of the canoe,” he said.

He discourages plastic bins. “Take the gear out of the bin and put it in a pack. The bin is a huge pain to portage and won’t fit nicely into the canoe. Remember, soft sides form to the canoe, hard-sided things don’t. And they can throw off the canoe’s center of gravity,” he explains.

Solid coolers are discouraged, too. “They’re not bear proof, are a pain to portage, and hard to hang in a tree (watch part 2 of the forest service videos from 1:14 to 1:20 for some great infomercial acting).” He recommends soft-sided backpack coolers to solve these problems.

Mike discourages putting things in garbage bags. He sees sleeping bags packed this way a lot. “The bag will tear on a branch, rock, or the canoe, and your sleeping bag will get wet,” he said. If you want, use plastic garbage bags to line the inside of your pack, but not out in the open.

Mike said, “We see more injuries from axes and hatchets than from any other items. If you bring them, please be careful.” A small folding saw is generally sufficient for processing firewood. 

He also discourages bear spray. “It sounds kinda weird, but you’re more likely to spray yourself (and cut your trip short) than actually use it on a bear,” he said. “Especially if you wear the can on your hip. A random branch on a portage can pull the trigger and leave you in a lot of pain (yes, this has happened). Keep it inside a pack if you need it,” he added.

Items Discouraged or That Can Cause Issues

Remember, everything you bring in must be paddled and portaged. Overpacking makes the trip more difficult and increases your impact. Aim for reusable items to minimize waste. 

While personal music players with headphones or earbuds are generally acceptable, avoid bringing speakers that will disturb the natural quiet of the wilderness and annoy other wilderness users.

Even biodegradable soaps impact water quality. Wash well away (at least 200 feet) from water sources using minimal amounts, if necessary. It’s often better to rinse without soap. 

The BWCAW is a place for quiet solitude. Avoid bringing anything that creates significant noise pollution, like a generator.

Avoid Items that create excessive trash. Plan meals carefully to minimize packaging and leftovers. All trash must be packed out.

To save weight and space, avoid packing unnecessary clothing. Pack layers of quick-drying, versatile clothing suitable for the season, but avoid bringing too many changes of clothes. 

Cotton absorbs moisture and stays wet, making it unsuitable for layering in a wilderness environment where weather conditions can change rapidly. Opt for wool or synthetic materials. 

Use natural tinder found in the area or bring commercially made fire starters that burn completely. Avoid using things like wax-coated paper, which can leave a mess.

Some Funny Things We’ve Seen

We’ve seen people bring mini beer kegs. Of course, cans and bottles are prohibited, so some people go “all-in” for beer in small kegs. Since the little kegs are technically reusable, they are fine in terms of the rules. But boxed wine and hard spirits are lighter.

Some visitors bring inflatable paddleboards, which are allowed if they don’t exceed the four watercraft rules for your party. Still, they make for a large and heavy pack.

Bottled water. “ Why bring a 1/2 pound water filter when you can bring 26 pounds of water bottles? And then carry it down the portage trail by the shrink wrap that stretches and bottles start falling out. Plus, you have to pack out the empties,” Mike said. If you bring bottled water in with you, burning the empties in your fires is illegal in the BWCAW.

Mike once saw a party carry in a whole brisket. “I like to eat well too, but that seemed a bit overkill,” he said.

Some people bring in battery-powered Christmas lights. Mike points out that on the Tumblehome—A Boundary Waters Podcast, Erik and Adam sometimes talk about “party lights,” either for atmosphere or to light up the path to the toilet. Mike said, “I could see bringing a set along if there’s a fire ban just to have an evening glow.

Finally

Remember that you are a visitor in a protected wilderness area. Respect the environment and other visitors by keeping noise levels down, staying on designated trails and campsites, and leaving no trace of your presence. Always consult the official Superior National Forest and BWCAW planning guide for the most up-to-date information before your trip.