The Boundary Waters, Minnesota
America's Canoe Wilderness
A million acres of lakes and portages for paddlers in northern Minnesota.
At a glance · 5 reasons to go
Why The Boundary Waters, Minnesota.
Canoe and portage through linked wilderness lakes.
Camp under some of the darkest skies in the US.
Moose, loons, and northern wildlife.
No motors, no crowds — pure quiet.
The country's premier canoe country.
Read the full story
The Boundary Waters is a paddler's paradise — over a million acres of interconnected lakes and forest where you canoe, portage, and camp in motor-free silence. Loons call, moose wade, and the night skies are pure starlight.
Read this before you go
安全
Safety Overview
The Boundary Waters, Minnesota
STUB: Add overall safety summary for The Boundary Waters, Minnesota.
Emergency Contacts — Save These Now
- Police
- TODO
- Medical
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Reviewed: 2026-06-06
If It’s Safe Travel… Travel Well.
Before You Travel
Five minutes of preparation means your whole group has emergency numbers, hospitals and your GPS location available offline — no WiFi needed when it matters most.
Traveling to The Boundary Waters, Minnesota with a pet?
🇺🇸 United States has specific entry rules — microchip, rabies, permits and more. See exactly what your pet needs before you book.
See the pet travel rules →