Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota is a vast lake-and-forest landscape along the Canadian border, known as North America’s best-known canoe country and the most visited wilderness in the United States. Shaped by repeated glaciation, it contains more than 1,100 lakes, major landmarks such as Eagle Mountain and the Laurentian Divide, rich wildlife, and the largest remaining area of uncut forest in the eastern United States. Indigenous peoples traveled these waterways for thousands of years, and later voyageurs used them in the fur trade. Twentieth-century preservation efforts gradually secured lasting protection, though storms, wildfire, and development pressures have continued to threaten the region.

Lutsen, Minnesota · United States