Bearskin Wilderness Outfitters

05/04/2026

If you have a permit for EP 64 or EP 62, you’re in luck. Ice is off East Bearskin this afternoon. We have no idea what you’ll find farther in after portaging, but high winds are doing a number on the ice. 🤞🏻

01/28/2026

Did you pick up a BWCA permit for entry point #64 East Bearskin Lake, Entry Point #66 Crocodile River, or any EP in the mid-Gunflint Trail area? Now it’s time to reserve your canoes and gear. Give us a call (218)388-2292 or email [email protected] and we will get your needs taken care of.

Don’t worry if you’re not someone who can plan your canoe trip 6 months early. Many of the permits disappear today and then they come back in the queue again later. Truth is, a lot of the permit grabbers can’t plan their life 6 months ahead either. 😉 Whenever you’re ready to plan a BWCA trip, our outfitting staff will find you a way to canoe into the wilderness. Just give us a call.

09/30/2024

Fire ban in BWCAW starting October 1. This is also the date when self-issued permits begin. Be smart out there. It is very dry, and very windy. This ban does not apply to the campgrounds yet or to resort or private property. But whenever it’s dry enough for a BWCA fire ban, it’s dry enough to be cautious wherever you might be using fire.

06/19/2024

We don’t actually know the conditions of portages near us yet. Good advice might be to bring a little folding saw. Trees went over everywhere, but mostly they were not giant trees.

05/06/2024

Latest news release on new BWCA food container regulations. Lots of good explanatory information here.

01/31/2024

A landmark on the historic Gunflint Trail since 1925. Beautiful BWCA wilderness resort lodging.

11/29/2023

A winter adventure option.

Ski or Snowshoe in to your next winter adventure. Ski-in Winter Camping cabin info now online here: https://bearskin.com/play/winter/ski-in-cabins/

07/01/2023

Great news! The BWCA fire ban has been lifted, as of Monday July 3rd. This applies to anyone starting a trip Monday, or if you’re entering the BWCA this weekend then you’ll need to use a stove to cook your first meals. You can switch over to a wood fire for your Monday morning coffee.

06/15/2023

We are getting tons of calls all day with fire-related questions. So many different things going on now, not totally related but all with a common theme: fire. Here’s everything you need to know:

1. BWCA fire ban: There is a fire ban for BWCA campers. (Wise choice!) At this time, we are not affected at Bearskin Lodge or at the East Bearskin campground; some other campgrounds are affected, so check with yours. That could change, but it’s how the situation stands on Wednesday, 6/14. Obviously, you should be SO careful with fire now.

2. Smoke: weirdly, the smoke from Canadian fires is much worse in the Twin Cities than it is up here, at least today. Tomorrow could be different. Our cabins do have the Medify air filters that we used during the Covid era and they work incredibly well for smoke particles too, if the air should happen to get worse.

3. BWCA fire: any fire in the BWCA is worrisome. We will never forget the Ham Lake fire of 2007. But the fire on Spice Lake, near the much better known Ogish(Ogishkemuncie) Lake, is pretty small and the USFS is on top of it. It is quite far from Bearskin and the Gunflint Trail, quite a distance southwest of the Seagull area. If it becomes a worry, we will always let you know — but right now, the only effect it has on us is that lots of USFS trucks are driving up the Trail. In fact, it’s a veritable parade of interesting USFS vehicles.

How does any of this affect your trip to Bearskin and the Gunflint Trail? If you’ll be here in the next week or so, be aware that things are changeable and plan accordingly. And if you have any clout with Mother Nature, see if you can arrange some rain. 😁

01/27/2023

The permit booking frenzy started this week after booking opened for this summer. If you read internet posts, it would be easy to believe that all permits are gone now. No, not at all. There are still many good permits remaining, plus many of the permits frantically booked the first day will be returned to queue later. Our outfitting manager, Quinn, is happy to talk to you or email with you about trip possibilities whenever you feel ready to start planning. Call us at (218)388-2292 or email [email protected] to make a great plan. http://bearskinoutfitters.com/

BWCA canoe trips on Minnesota's Gunflint trail

07/01/2022

Good news.

Many Quetico paddlers use the Canada Border Service Agency’s (CBSA) Remote Area Border Crossing Program to start their canoe trips at our Prairie Portage and Cache Bay Entry Stations along the Minnesota-Ontario border.

Edit: The Remote Area Border Crossing Program (RABC) is set to resume shortly and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will begin to accept applications for the program in the coming weeks.

The CBSA webpage will be updated soon with details on how to apply for your RABC permit and new program conditions.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass/rabc-pfre/menu-eng.html

Northern entry stations and entry points are open.

Please call the Quetico Park information line at 807-597-2735 for trip planning assistance.