DULUTH, Minn. — Parts of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northeastern Minnesota are temporarily closed as the search continues for two missing canoeists.
On Sunday, Superior National Forest officials announced an emergency closure order due to search and rescue efforts on Iron Lake.
The closed areas include land and water in St. Louis County, including Iron Lake, the LaCroix-Bottle portage and LaCroix-Iron portage, and Crooked Lake west of Sunday Bay.
The restrictions came into effect on Monday and will remain in place until Wednesday.
Superior National Forest
2 canoeists missing after going over a waterfall
Officials with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office say they received a report of a water emergency on Iron Lake early Saturday evening. The caller reported that two canoes went over Curtain Falls during the incident.
Two canoeists were missing and another person in the party was seriously injured. A Minnesota Department of Natural Resources helicopter was dispatched to the scene and extracted the injured victim, as well as another person who was not injured.
According to the sheriff’s office, the injured victim was taken to Essentia Duluth, where they are expected to survive.
The next day, searches resumed and another person associated with the group but not involved in the incident was flown out of the area.
The St. Louis County Rescue Squad is leading the search for the two missing canoeists. Assisting agencies include the DNR, North Air Care, the Minnesota Air Rescue Team and the Virginia Fire Department.
Earlier in May, the The body of a 62-year-old Duluth man was recovered after a capsized canoe was reported. Officials say they found a life jacket at the scene, but the victim was not wearing it.
