Campfires are allowed again in Forest Service metal rings at many open developed and rustic campgrounds on the Superior National Forest as of Wednesday, July 29, 2026.
The U.S. Forest Service moved those open recreation sites from Class IV to Class III fire restrictions at 12:01 a.m. after recent rain eased drought conditions.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness campsites and other backcountry spots remain under a full campfire ban.
Travelers planning Gunflint Trail, Ely, Tofte, or Highway 61 forest stays should treat developed campground rings and wilderness fire grates as two different rules. Recheck the live forest alerts page before you light anything, because closed campgrounds stay closed and fire danger remains moderate to high.
- What changed: Open developed and rustic Superior NF campgrounds moved to Class III fire rules on July 29, 2026.
- What is allowed: Campfires only inside designated Forest Service metal fire rings at those open listed sites.
- Still banned: Campfires in the BWCAW, at dispersed and backcountry sites, and charcoal or wood-burning grills.
- Safe cooking option: Pressurized propane or gas stoves and grills with an on or off switch remain allowed.
- Best next step: Confirm your exact campground on Exhibit A, then recheck forest alerts and MN DNR burn rules before departure.
What the July 29 Class III change actually allows
The Superior National Forest fire restrictions alert is the primary source for the July 29 update.
Forest officials say portions of the forest moved from Class IV to Class III effective 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.
That lift applies to open developed recreation areas and rustic recreation campgrounds listed for the change. It does not reopen campgrounds that remain under a closure order, and those closed sites stay off limits until a separate notice lifts them.
Under Class III rules, ignition, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire or campfire is still restricted. The key traveler exception is a campfire inside a designated metal fire ring provided by the Forest Service at those open developed and rustic sites.
Stoves or grills fueled by charcoal, briquettes, or any type of wood remain prohibited even at those campgrounds. Smoking outdoors is restricted under the same order, with narrow exceptions for enclosed vehicles or buildings, developed recreation sites, and cleared three-foot areas.
Pressurized propane or other gas devices with an on or off switch may still be used when placed on barren or cleared ground.
Alcohol stoves are allowed only when they have an on or off switch, while brush piles, yard waste burns, and fireworks remain out of bounds.
BWCAW and backcountry rules did not ease with the campground lift
Forest FAQ language on the same alert page is explicit: campfires are not allowed in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, including in a designated fire grate. That is a different decision from a developed campground ring on the Gunflint or near Ely.
Dispersed and backcountry campsites on federal land inside the Superior National Forest boundary also remain under a full campfire ban. Do not assume that a Class III headline means every Superior NF campsite now allows wood fires.
Earlier July wildfire closures on the wilderness entry system are a related but separate stream. If your trip is a BWCAW paddle, follow wilderness closure and permit surfaces first, then treat fire grates as still prohibited under the July 29 FAQ.
For chronology on the mid-July wilderness access shock, Deep Arrival previously covered the entry-point shutdown in the Boundary Waters wildfire closure report. Use that only as background; day-of fire rules live on the current Forest Service alert pages.
How to verify your exact site before you pack wood
The Forest Service points travelers to Exhibit A for the developed and rustic campground list and Exhibit B for the restriction map on the alerts site. Download those documents from the fire-restrictions page rather than relying on a memory of last week’s Class IV rules.
Northern portions of Cook, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis Counties sit inside the broader emergency fire-restriction geography that began with Forest Order 09-09-00-26-09 on July 12.
The July 29 action is a scoped lift inside that framework for listed open recreation sites, not a countywide free pass.
Deputy Supervisor Sunny Lucas, quoted in the forest release, said the change restores a special outdoor recreation experience while reminding visitors that fire danger across northeastern Minnesota remains moderate to high. Responsible use still matters even when a metal ring is legal.
The order remains coordinated with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. State and private land rules can differ from federal campground rules on the same corridor, so check both ownership layers.
Statewide burn guidance and restriction maps remain available through the Minnesota DNR burn restrictions page. When federal and state wording diverge at the edge of a campground road, follow the stricter rule for the ground under your feet.
Trip planning for Ely, Grand Marais, and North Shore staging bases
Many visitors stage near Ely or Grand Marais before driving into Superior National Forest campgrounds. If you need a private or municipal campground base while a preferred forest site stays closed, start with Deep Arrival’s Ely RV parks and campgrounds guide or the Grand Marais RV parks and campgrounds guide.
Those evergreen guides help with overnight base choice and logistics. They do not replace live Forest Service fire orders, campground closure lists, or BWCAW entry status for the days you actually travel.
Pack a pressurized camp stove even if Exhibit A shows a metal ring at your reserved site. Wind, temporary site closures, or a later restriction upgrade can still force you off wood fires with little notice.
Bring only the wood you need if rings are open, and never leave a fire unattended. Drown, stir, and feel for heat before you walk away for a trail, a swim, or sleep.
If you fly a drone near active wildfire operations anywhere on the forest, stop. The July 28 and July 29 fire information cycle continues to warn that unauthorized drones interfere with firefighting aircraft and are illegal near wildfires.
| If you are | What to do now |
|---|---|
| Booked at an open developed or rustic Superior NF campground on Exhibit A | Plan for a metal-ring campfire only, pack a propane stove backup, and recheck the alerts page the morning you depart. |
| Entering the BWCAW or a dispersed backcountry site | Treat all campfires as banned, including fire grates, and cook only with allowed pressurized devices on cleared ground. |
| Holding a reservation at a campground still under a closure order | Do not assume the Class III lift reopens it; switch dates or move to an open site or nearby private campground. |
| Staging near Ely or Grand Marais with flexible lodging | Use local RV and campground options as a base while you confirm forest site status and smoke conditions day of travel. |
- Tonight’s fire plan: Match your exact site type to Class III ring rules, BWCAW ban, or full closure before you leave town.
- Gear bag: Carry a pressurized stove with fuel even when metal rings are listed as open.
- Ownership check: Confirm whether your fire would sit on federal, state, tribal, or private land and follow the strictest posted rule.
- Smoke and air: Recheck local air quality if wildfire smoke returns along the North Shore valleys or Gunflint corridor.
- Backup night: Identify one open private or municipal campground near Ely or Grand Marais if your forest site stays closed.
Superior National Forest’s July 29 Class III lift is real relief for open developed and rustic campgrounds, not a blanket green light across northeastern Minnesota. Keep the metal-ring exception narrow, keep the BWCAW ban firm, and recheck the official alerts page every time fire weather shifts.
Can I have a campfire in the Boundary Waters right now?
No. Forest FAQ text states campfires are not allowed in the BWCAW, including in designated fire grates, even after the July 29 Class III lift at open developed and rustic campgrounds.
Are charcoal grills allowed at developed Superior NF campgrounds?
No. Class III rules still prohibit stoves or grills fueled by charcoal, briquettes, or wood.
Use a pressurized propane or gas device with an on or off switch instead.
Does the Class III change reopen closed campgrounds?
No. Campgrounds under an active closure order remain closed.
Only open developed and rustic sites covered by the July 29 list gain the metal-ring campfire exception.
Where should I recheck rules before a weekend trip?
Start with the Superior National Forest fire-restrictions alert, Exhibit A and B, and the Minnesota DNR burn restrictions page, then confirm any private campground house rules if you stage off forest land.
