Orientation and Starting off
VIDEO - We have a video available that further explains BWCA-Quetico canoe trips. Contact us for details.
ORIENTATION - Trip routing, orientation, and all paperwork is taken care of at our downtown Ely outfitting base (conveniently located on Ely's main street, across from the city park). Before you depart on the trip, we'll go over the detailed maps, indicating the better campsites, fishing holes, and scenic points of interest.
Additional Links - You may find these additional links helpful in planning your trip.
We will help you plan a route that best suits your needs, whether it be one requiring travel each day or a relaxing base camp arrangement reachable in 1-2 days. Orientation also includes instructions on use of our equipment, fishing and camping techniques, safety, and more.
STARTING OFF - We have canoes and free private parking available at our Moose Lake Base, plus offer free canoe delivery to other BWCA entry points such as Snowbank Lake, Fall, and Lake One. Parties going to Canada's Quetico Park start from our Moose Lake Base and enter the Quetico at the Prairie Ranger Station.
Other entry points we recommend are Mudro Lake, Gabbro, Farm Lake, and the South Kawishiwi, Nina Moose and Little Indian Sioux Rivers. Public parking is available at these locations and we'll provide canoe car-top carriers free of charge.
If you'd rather leave your vehicle at our downtown Ely base we'll provide shuttle service to the entry point. The following transportation fees apply if partially outfitted (one way quote for van holding up to 9 people):
Moose Lake* 40.00 Moose River** 75.00 Burntside* 25.00 Lake One* 40.00 Indian Sioux** 85.00 So. Kawishiwi** 40.00 Snowbank* 45.00 Farm* 25.00 Fall Lake* 25.00 Gabbro** 45.00 Ely Airport* 25.00 Mudro** 50.00 * Included Free with Complete Outfitting
** Half Price with Complete OutfittingWe also arrange van service to northern Quetico Park entry points such as Beaverhouse, French, and Nym Lake, to Crane and Saganaga Lake along the border, and to remote BWCA entry points such as Isabella Lake, Kawishiwi Lake, the Island River, and Hog Creek. Contact us for info and rates.
WHAT TO BRING LIST - The following is a list of personal items to bring:
One extra change of clothes to include:
shorts and long pants
T-shirt
long-sleeve cotton shirt
wool or fleece sweater
cotton & wool socks
a light warm jacket
hiking or leather high-top boots
tennis shoes or moccasins for around camp
hat & rain suit
Spring or Fall trips: gloves, long underwear, wool or fleece hat and jacket
Other items: toilet articles, bath towel, suntan lotion, insect repellant, first aid kit, flashlight, sunglasses, sharp knife, compass, camera, playing cards, paperback books, notepad & pencil.
Fishing Tackle: rod & reel with 6-12 pound test line, small tackle box, lures such as spoons, Rapalas, spinners, Lazy Ikes or Flatfish, Mr. Twister or feathered jigs, wire leaders, plain hooks & sinkers if planning to use live night crawlers or leeches for first few days, fish stringer. (We stock a complete supply of lures at our store).
