Piragis Northwoods Company

09/05/2026

Call our Outfitting Managers Drew, Adam and Tim Barton today to reserve canoes, gear, food, guides and permits. Fall Colors are coming soon and you'll want to be in the wilderness! New and Used Kevlar canoes available at our Piragis Boathouse. We've got tandems, solos, 3-person and 4-person lightweight canoes ready and waiting for you. Stop in and see Tom and Lucy. Also find all the canoeing accessories and camping gear you need in person and Online (check our bio for link) to We ship daily except for Sundays. 105 North Central Avenue Ely, MN 55731 1-800-223-6565

09/05/2026

https://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/simon-and-schuster/nature-and-the-mind--199293

Nature and the Mind: The Science of How Nature Improves Cognitive, Physical, and Social Well-Being by Marc G. Berman, PhD. Dr. Marc Berman, the pioneering creator of the field of environmental neuroscience, has discovered the surprising connection between mind, body, and environment, with a special....

09/05/2026

09/04/2026

July Lightning Incident Update, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026

This will be FINAL update for the July Lighting Incident. NIMO Team 1 will transfer command of the incident to the Superior National Forest Monday, Sept. 7.

Portions of National Forest System lands along the northern portion of the Echo Trail remain closed. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) Entry Points 12-Little Vermilion, 12A-Lac La Croix Only, 13-Herriman Lake Trail, 22-Mudro Lake Restricted, 23-MudroLake, and 24-Fall Lake will reopen. Recreation areas reopening include Ed Shave Road and boat launch; Meander Lake picnic area, fishing pier, and backcountry sites; and Fire and Ice Interpretive Trail. Approximately 150 out of 2,000 BWCAW campsites have some level of wildfire effects. Visitors entering reopened areas should watch for wildfire hazards and should expect that some campsites and portages remain closed. Prior to entering the BWCAW, visitors should review the Forest’s Alerts webpage for up-to-date information on Phase 10 Reopening of the BWCAW. Fire restrictions have been lifted across the Forest, including the BWCAW. For information on fire restrictions on private and state lands, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources webpage at www.mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions.

The public is asked to use caution and drive slowly along the Echo Trail, where firefighters and heavy equipment are finishing up chipping and suppression repair along the shaded fuel break.

Boats and helicopters backhauled thousands of pounds of equipment, canoes and supplies from the Wilderness that remained from firefighting activity across the fire areas. Today will be the first day since early July that no operations are needed in and around the BWCAW. Forest Service personnel will continue to patrol impacted areas by ground and air.

Current July Lightning Fires: 71,675 total acres (62,652 in U.S., 9,023 in Canada); 193 personnel.

Sioux Fire: 6,833 acres; 97% contained; north of the Echo Trail and east of Lake Jeanette Campground.

Bear Trap Fire: 39,327 total acres (30,804 acres in the U.S.); 97% contained; 20 miles north of Ely.

Thumb Fire: 25,515 total acres (20,515 in the U.S); 97% contained; six miles south of Gakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation, Canada.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Thursday’s rain lingered into Friday bringing wetting rains of roughly 0.5 to 0.75 inch to the footprint of the fires. Increased chances of precipitation into next week will continue to dampen residual areas of heat. Little to no fire behavior was observed with no growth or smoke seen on perimeters.

Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) have been rescinded.

09/04/2026

Happy September. One of our busiest and most beautiful months is now happening :) Call our Outfitting Managers Drew, Adam and Tim Barton today to reserve canoes, gear, food, guides and permits. Fall Colors are coming soon and you'll want to be in the wilderness! New and Used Kevlar canoes available at our Piragis Boathouse. We've got tandems, solos, 3-person and 4-person lightweight canoes ready and waiting for you. Stop in and see Tom and Lucy. Also find all the canoeing accessories and camping gear you need in person and Online (check our bio for link) to We ship daily except for Sundays. 105 North Central Avenue Ely, MN 55731 1-800-223-6565

09/03/2026

Eating good in the wood. You can find fantastic edged tools from Roselli along with some fantastic cookbooks. Near Ely? Stop in to our brick and mortars. Est. 1979. The best canoe trips of the year are on deck for September. Call our Outfitting Managers Drew, Adam and Tim Barton today to reserve canoes, gear, food, guides and permits. Fall Colors are coming soon and you'll want to be in the wilderness! New and Used Kevlar canoes available at our Piragis Boathouse. We've got tandems, solos, 3-person and 4-person lightweight canoes ready and waiting for you. Stop in and see Tom and Lucy. Also find all the canoeing accessories and camping gear you need in person and Online (check our bio for link) to We ship daily except for Sundays. 105 North Central Avenue Ely, MN 55731 1-800-223-6565 Photo Lucy Stouffer

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

More Good News

The Superior NF continues to reopen recreation areas temporarily impacted by the July wildfires for public enjoyment.

Starting on September 8, Phase 10 will reopen additional BWCAW
entry points on the Kawishiwi and LaCroix Ranger Districts, and more recreation areas along the Echo Trail.

These locations include BWCAW Entry Points 12-Little Vermilion, 12A-Lac La Croix Only, 13-Herriman Lake Trail, 22-Mudro Lake Restricted, 23-Mudro Lake, and 24-Fall Lake.

Recreation areas include Ed Shave Road and boat launch; Meander Lake picnic area, fishing pier, and backcountry sites; and Fire and Ice Interpretive Trail

Visitors are reminded to watch for wildfire hazards like burnt and unstable hazard trees and stump holes. Public and firefighter safety remains our top priority. Maps and recreation lists related to closures are available at: https://fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts

Information on recreation opportunities on the Forest is available:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/recreation

09/02/2026

July Lightning Incident Update, Wednesday, September 2, 2026

InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/mnsuf-july-2026-superior-nf-wildfires
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorNF
Fire Information & Media Inquiries: 218-881-2091 (8 a.m.–8 p.m.); [email protected]
Fire and Smoke Map: fire.airnow.gov
Superior National Forest Alerts: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts

Superior National Forest: National Forest System land along the northern portion of the Echo Trail remains closed. On Tuesday, September 1, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) Entry Point #12 – Little Vermilion Lake reopened for day use only, along with Lake Jeanette Campground, boat launches and backcountry sites, and Nels Lake boat launch and backcountry sites. Wilderness rangers are actively assessing the safety of portages, landings, and about 150 campsites in fire-affected areas that remain closed to the public. Fire restrictions have been lifted across the Forest, including the BWCAW. For information on fire restrictions on private and state lands, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources webpage at www.mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions. Fire restrictions at Grand Portage currently remain in place.

The public is asked to use caution and drive slowly along the Echo Trail, where firefighters and heavy equipment are working this week to complete the shaded fuel break, with chipping and cleanup operations continuing. Traffic delays should be expected for up to an hour on the Echo Trail for the next several days.

Boat and helicopter backhauled more than 3,000 lbs. of equipment and supplies from the Wilderness that remained from firefighting activity near Gun Lake on the east edge of the Bear Trap Fire. Today, firefighters are beginning a mission to retrieve equipment placed to protect the historic Lac La Croix guard station cabin previously threatened by the northwest edge of the Bear Trap Fire.

Current July Lightning Fires: 71,675 total acres (62,652 in U.S., 9,023 in Canada); 228 personnel.
Sioux Fire: 6,833 acres; 97% contained; north of the Echo Trail and east of Lake Jeanette Campground.
Bear Trap Fire: 39,327 total acres (30,804 acres in the U.S.); 97% contained; 20 miles north of Ely.
Thumb Fire: 25,515 total acres (20,515 in the U.S); 97% contained; six miles south of Gakijiwanong Anishnaabe Nation, Canada.

Weather and Fire Behavior: Monday began a drying and warming trend that will extend for several days. Temperatures are expected to reach the high 70s and low 80s. Relative humidity will remain high around 50% with an increased chance of precipitation Thursday into Friday. Minimal fire behavior was observed with no growth or smoke seen on perimeters. Continued smoldering is expected within areas of residual heat.

Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions (TFR) have been rescinded. A permanent flight restriction covers the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
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