Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Northern Minnesota along the border with Canada, is a remote wilderness of lakes and rivers. This area is protected wilderness, where a permit is required to enter. Motorized watercraft aren't allowed either, making the waters pristine for canoeing. There are 1175 lakes varying in size from 10 to 10,000 acres, more than 1200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2000 designated campsites.

Northern Minnesota is home to one of the last remaining boreal forests in the lower 48 states. Boreal forests differ from deciduous forests in that their trees are specially adapted to survive harsh winter conditions, although they grow more slowly. However, as the climate warms, deciduous trees from southern regions are now able to thrive in the milder temperatures and grow faster than the native boreal trees. As a result, boreal trees are gradually being replaced by these warm-tolerant species. This shift significantly impacts the forest ecosystem, as the loss of boreal trees alters the balance of plant and animal life in the region.