Officials with the Superior National Forest are still assessing the impacts from torrential rains that hit the area on Tuesday.
Several inches of rain fell in a matter of hours, sending area rivers over their banks and significantly raising lake levels as well. The impact to campsites, portages, and once calm rivers now turned into torrents in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, likely won’t be fully understood for a few more days, according to Forest Service spokesperson Tim Engrav.
Forest Service crews are following up on reports made by visitors that the Echo Trail and other roads on the forest are washed out and impassable and some wilderness entry points have been flooded.
Some who were in the wilderness may not be able to get out, at least until water levels recede or portages can be repaired.
“I know the Trout Lake Portage from Lake Vermilion to Trout Lake is severely washed out,” Engrav said. “The portage there is not going to be able to bring boats out.”
Engrav said people will be able to walk out, but may have to leave their boats until conditions improve.
Forest Service engineering is working on getting a contractor to clear culverts to lower the water levels and make roads accessible again.
Visitors who reserved Boundary Waters permits will receive a notice if their entry point is affected by the new conditions.
“Visitors who are still going into the Boundary Waters entry points need to be careful around any of the rapids on rivers and any of the portages and take extra care to not get caught in the swift moving water,” Engrav said.