Bear Trap

Recreation areas reopen as crews conduct suppression repair on contained fire

Burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness north of Ely, the fire showed minimal activity over the last 72 hours, confined to creeping and smoldering in deep organic duff. The fire poses no threat to nearby communities as crews focus on building a fuel break along the Echo Trail corridor and stabilizing wilderness trails. Incident management has transitioned to a national management team to oversee equipment backhaul and suppression repair.

Evacuations and Closures

• BWCAW Entry Point #12 at Little Vermilion Lake, Lake Jeanette Campground and boat launches, and Nels Lake backcountry sites are scheduled to reopen for day use only on September 1 (August 31 update).
• National Forest System lands along the northern section of the Echo Trail remain closed to the public (August 31 update).
• Fire restrictions have been lifted across the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, though restrictions remain in place for Grand Portage (August 31 update).
• BWCAW Entry Point #D at Fall Lake-Newton-Pipestone Bay reopened for day use on August 29 (August 28 update).
• No evacuation orders or warnings are in effect (August 31 update).

Conditions and Outlook

South winds will shift to the west and northwest over the next few days with drier conditions mid-week, before turning southeasterly with rain chances returning later in the week. Fire behavior is expected to remain minimal with smoldering in deep root systems, with no growth anticipated. Crews will continue erosion control and repair along the Angleworm Trail, backhaul contingency gear by boat and helicopter, and maintain fuel breaks along the Echo Trail.

Cause and Context

The fire was ignited by lightning on July 7, 2026, near the Bear Trap River and later merged with the adjacent Dark Fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Resources

• InciWeb Incident Page
• Superior National Forest
• St. Louis County Emergency Management

Official updates current through August 31, 2026.