Where does one find the Park Service rules for winter camping? I've read in posts you can camp anywhere. Also curious to rules on fires.

thanks

waldo

You can do what you want, when you want, how you want.

The following is from the USDA - Forest Service - Boundary Waters Trip Planning Guide . Scroll down to the section called "Winter Wilderness Travel".

Wilderness rules and regulations (see
Page 5) apply year-round. Even though
the BWCAW has a beautiful white protective
coat on in the winter we still
need to take care to Leave No Trace.

TRAVEL PERMITS

Permits are required year-round for all visitors
to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness. For day or overnight travel from
October 1–April 30, it’s easy! Fill out a selfissued
permit at any Superior National Forest
office, or at a BWCAW entry point. Carry one
copy with you during the trip and drop the
other copy in the permit box at the entry point.

Choose a Campsite

• On the ice, in a protected bay, or in a natural
forest opening such as a swamp.
• At least 150-200 feet from trails, summer
campsites or other groups.
• Make just one trail connecting the shoreline
to camp.
• Bury human waste in snow 150-200 feet
from water, campsites, summer trails and
portages (pack out toilet paper).

Campfires

It is preferable to make a campfire on
the ice to minimize fire scars on rocks
and shorelines. Use base logs or a
portable fire pan for your campfire on
the ice. Use a campstove or fire pan for a
campfire on land to avoid leaving fire
scars on vegetation or rocks.
• Collect only dead and down wood far
from shorelines, trails or campsites.
• Make sure your fire is out cold to the
touch when you leave.
• Scatter ashes in the woods away from
the shoreline and cover the campfire
scar with snow.

Live Vegetation

Do not cut green vegetation for tent
poles, bedding for humans or dogs, or to
create new dogsled trails.

Reduce Dog Impacts

• Keep dogs under control at all times.
• To avoid damaging or “girdling” trees
with rope when staking out dogs, use
webbing straps around tree and attach
dog picket line to webbing.
• Tether teams out on the ice with ice
screws to avoid damaging shoreline
vegetation.
• Never bring hay or straw for bedding
because they introduce non-native plants.
• Scatter dog feces in the woods at least
150-200 feet from the water’s edge. Keep
the entry points clean for others by picking
up feces before and after hitting the trail.