Excerpted from The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Vol. 1 by Robert Beymer

Compelled by the overuse of certain portions of the Boundary Waters, the U.S. Forest Service initiated a User Distribution Program in 1976, establishing quota limitations on the number of entries into the Boundary Waters through each of seventy-three designated entry points. Among the most scenic gateways in the eastern half of the BWCA are Seagull Lake and Saganaga Lake. Trips starting here range from gentle three-day sojourns to multiweek treks into the heart of the Boundary Waters wilderness.

Canoeist's paradise

A note on maps: When canoeing in the BWCA, it is recommended that you bring with you the waterproof-parchment maps published by the W. A. Fisher Company. Twenty-eight"F series" maps combine to cover all the BWCA, as well as Canada's Quetico Provincial Park. Campsites are updated annually on these maps, which are designed specifically for the canoeist and the fisherman.

In the introduction to each canoe route are listed the numbers of the travel zones through which that route passes. In order to acquire statistical data about the travel patterns of canoeists, the Forest Service designated forty-nine zones in the BWCA. For several years, information was compiled at year's end to statistically summarize the visitation patterns of the previous summer. Checking with the Forest Service to see how heavily used a particular zone is will give you a good idea of how busy your proposed route will be.

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