Northwest Angle Inlet Border Crossing

Northwest Angle Inlet border crossing

The Northwest Angle Inlet border crossing is one out of only two places in the US that are located north of the 49th parallel. It is also one of only six places in the contiguous United States that are not directly connected to it. The Northwest Angle also has the distinction of being the northernmost point in the contiguous United States.

The “Top of the Nation” or “the Angle” is a geographical oddity that resulted from a mistake made during the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The border that separated Britain (now Canada) from the US should have cut through Lake of the Woods at a northwest angle. It did except that the map used to make that “cut” was wrong. But the boundary they had set stuck. And the North Angle outlier was born.

There are several ways to reach the Northwest Angle but only one way to do it over land. You’ll have to drive around 6 miles through Manitoba to reach the Angle, crossing the border twice – once into Canada and another one to re-enter the US. Other options include flying in via seaplane, taking a boat across the Lake of the Woods, or driving on an ice road via snowmobile when the lake is frozen.
One thing that sets the Northwest Angle Inlet border crossing apart from most other ports of entry is that there is no staff stationed here. When crossing into the Angle from Manitoba, travelers will need to stop by a shed called Jim’s Corner where they will need to use the videophone to call the US border station in Warroad. When leaving the Angle, travelers will need to use the same videophone to call the Canadian authorities to inform them that they are about to travel through Manitoba to reach the rest of the US states.

Hours of Operations & Wait Times in Northwest Angle Inlet

The Northwest Angle Inlet border crossing is open 24/7. Most vehicles that cross this border are locals and vacationers. There is usually no wait time or delay when entering the Angle or leaving it. If you wish to get wait times for border crossings between the US and Canada, you can download the CBP Border Wait Times app on Google Play or iTunes, or the use the CanBorder app.

Weather, Traffic & Road Conditions

The Northwest Angle Inlet border crossing is remote and usually lightly traveled. Heavy traffic is usually not an issue when passing through this location. If you wish to check for traffic or road conditions in Manitoba, you can call 511 or view the province’s interactive map online. Those coming from Minnesota can also get current weather-related traffic information in the state by calling the 511 hotline (800-542-0220 for calls outside Minnesota).

Contact & Directions for Your Trip

If you want to learn more information about this unique border crossing, you can get in touch with the US or Canadian officials using the numbers listed below. To get to the Northwest Angle Inlet border crossing, you can use the map and the directions provided as a guide.

Find Directions to the Border Crossing on the Map

How to Get to the Border?

Head to north to Warroad, MN via State Highway 313 and cross the US-Canada border. After clearing Canadian customs, continue on Manitoba Provincial Trunk Highway 12 until you reach Sprague, Manitoba. From there, head north on Manitoba Provincial Road 308 until you reach the point where the highway intersects with Manitoba Provincial Road 525. Turn right at this junction and drive until you reach a shed called Jim’s Corner where you will need to report your arrival to the US CBP.

Address & Phone Numbers

U.S.A

U.S.:
US Customs: (218) 386-2796

Canada

Canada:
Canadian Customs: 800 461-9999 / 204-983-3500

Things to Know About the Northwest Angle Inlet Border Crossing:

There is no hospital, grocery store, theater, or fast food restaurant in the Angle.
One of the nearest 24/7 US clinics or hospitals to the Angle Inlet is the LifeCare Medical Center.
The Angle has the only one-room schoolhouse left in the state of Minnesota.
The Northwest Angle is a popular fisherman’s paradise. The Lake of the Woods is one of the best places in North America for catching walleye.
Instead of using the Outlying Area Reporting Station (OARS) program and calling Warroad by videophone, NEXUS cardholders can opt to just report their arrival via telephone by calling 1-800-505-8381.
Travelers can also report their arrival in Northwest Angle at the OARS Reporting Stations in Young’s Bay and Carlson’s Landing that travelers arriving by boat can use.