🏔 Wilderness
BWCA — Moose Lake (Entry Point 25)
About This Permit
Moose Lake is one of the most sought-after entry points in the entire BWCA — a direct gateway to Knife Lake, Prairie Portage, and the Quetico Provincial Park border without the extra staircase paddling required from Fall Lake. Weekend permits for July and August typically sell out within days of the booking window opening in January. Moose Lake Road provides easy vehicle access and a developed landing, but the competition for permits is fierce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Moose Lake one of the hardest BWCA permits to get?
Moose Lake offers the most direct paddling route to the popular Knife Lake corridor and the Quetico border — skipping the lower staircase lakes. Combined with easy vehicle access, that makes it one of the highest-demand entry points in the system. Peak-season weekend permits routinely sell out within the first week after the January booking window opens.
When does the BWCA permit reservation window open?
BWCA reserved permits open for booking on recreation.gov in January for the upcoming season (exact date varies — check the Superior National Forest website each fall). Permits for the most popular entry points like Moose Lake go fast; set a PermitAlert so you catch any cancellations throughout the season.
What is the difference between Moose Lake and Fall Lake entry?
Both access the same interior corridor, but Moose Lake puts you further up the staircase — you skip Fall Lake, Newfound Lake, and Sucker Lake entirely, saving 2–3 hours of paddling and a few portages. That time savings is why Moose Lake is far more competitive.
Key Facts
- State
- MN
- Season
- May 1 – September 30 (reserved permits)
- Quota
- Approximately 8 groups per day (⚠️ verify)
- Trailhead
- Moose Lake Landing, Moose Lake Road northeast of Ely
- Entry Point
- Moose Lake (Entry Point 25)
- Difficulty
- 4/5(Very hard)
Get an SMS the moment a cancellation opens — we scan every 60 seconds.
Set an Alert for This Permit