TOFTE, Minn. (Northern News Now) – A change by the Superior National Forest Service is impacting some people who want to visit the northern wilderness.
The Superior National Forest Service (SNF) has reduced office hours at three of its six ranger stations, including the one in Tofte, MN. The reduced hours affect some permit holders visiting the Boundary Waters and Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
According to forest ranger Tom Hall, the SNF is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays because these are the days when the fewest permits for the BWCAW are issued.
“A lot of it depends on the labor market where we can hire and recruit people,” Hall said. “Similar to other labor markets, it is obviously difficult to attract people to live on the North Shore, the cost of living is just too high.”
The reduced opening hours will impact how and when visitors can collect permits they need to enter the Boundary Waters. All quota permit holders were contacted following the announcement to change their issuing location.
“There is definitely a demand, we are aware of that and fortunately we have cooperation partners who also help us with the issuing of border water permits,” said Hall.
At one of our partners, Sawbill Canoe Outfitters north of Tofte, no major changes have been observed so far.
“We’re right in the heart of the Tofte district, close to all the access points. We probably issue fifteen hundred permits a year,” said Dan Shirley, co-owner of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters. “That’s comparable to the ranger stations. It’s really no big deal for us to issue a few extra permits during office hours.”
We have been in touch with other outfitters affected by the closures, some of whom are not fully staffed and are stressed by the additional traffic.
Shirley, on the other hand, is happy about the additional people who visit his store.
“Honestly, it’s nice to have a few extra people come through the door,” Shirley said. “We’re not just a canoe outfitter, we’re a unique general store in the woods, so if people are just stopping by to get a permit from us, there’s a good chance they’ll find something else they want to pick up.”
The other two ranger stations affected by the change are the offices in Lacroix and Gunflint.
Click here to find a partner to work with the BWCAW on permitting.
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