Good equipment and reliable drop off and pickup after securing our entry permit. Knowledgeable about fishing and camping sites, but some frustrations with them: - check-in was confusing - recommended we go in through Little Isabella to get good fishing but on drive in, Steve said to not fish there. AND the river was so low we walked and pulled/pushed canoes through calf-deep mud off and on for 4 hours. No water sources too. A terrible way to start a trip. When we got back, the staff was surprised we took that route that Jane recommended. - check and double check equipment: no first aid kit provided in full equipment package...missing coffee pot - provided two different cooking systems because couldn't have fire due to burn ban. If had two of the same and griddle would have make cooking for 5 easier. - 5% service fee for credit and debit card. Wow read more

One star is too generous for how inconsiderate Jane and Steve are as business owners. I prepaid $650 for one night in a chalet and a deposit for canoe outfitting for 5 people. This was going to be a surprise trip for my Dad's 70th birthday. Two unfortunate incidents occurred - one family member had a severe injury and will be in a wheel chair for months (this happened 2 weeks after booking and 4 months prior to our trip) and my Dad had a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest (two months prior to our trip). He's on life support. I requested for a refund after the first incident and was told maybe the others would like to enjoy the trip while the other stays home in a wheel chair. Then I emailed requesting a refund due to this trip being for my dad and explained that he was on life support and this is a difficult time for us. Jane was the MOST inconsiderate person I've ever dealt with. She replied with: Perhaps, you were not aware that the rest of your group could have gone on a trip since you and your mom were the group leader. The group numbers could've been adjusted. Then proceeded to state this is non-refundable and closed with this: As time passes, you may find that some in your family may wish to consider doing a canoe trip. This was absolutely heartless. I understand policies but there should be some flexibility when unforeseen emergencies occur. I can't imagine proceeding to go on a trip while my dad is in severe condition and on life support. Please do not support this business. God forbid something happens, they will NOT be accommodating. read more

River Point is a little piece of paradise. The prices at first seem a little higher than neighboring resorts, but its worth it. Jane and all our hosts were very welcoming and tended to our needs. The building and grounds are beautiful and maintained impeccably. The lake is spectacular and the fish were biting. Walleyes seemed to keep to themselves, but the Northern Pike we're jumping into the boat. This is the perfect place to totally unwind and gain perspective on life! read more

STAY AWAY. Don't say you weren't warned. Why are the Koschaks in a customer service industry when they clearly do not care about their customers? We purchased a Comfort Plus Complete outfitting package from River Point for a 4 day trip into the Boundary Waters. We made the mistake of assuming that paying a higher price would yield higher quality. Complete outfitting means that the outfitter is providing everything - gear, food, packs, canoe. When you arrive at the outfitting house, it is already packed up. Unless you are the suspicious type who has lots of time to spare, you aren't going to check every item. However, if you buy this package, you NEED to. Imagine our surprise when we set up camp after a few grueling portages to find that the items they supplied are seriously deficient. Not enough to kill you (you are in the woods for only 4 days after all), but enough to the point where you wonder why such a fancy resort needs to cut these types of corners. Several food items had clearly already been used and the sleeping bags were smelly. I'm all for thrift and reducing waste, but why give a paying customer someone else's used food, or not launder sleeping bags properly? Oh, that's right, this is the same resort where you pay hundreds of dollars per night for a chalet, and in order to use the grill they give you literally 2 matches and the tiniest cutout of the striker strip. You're also made to feel bad if you want to use the air conditioning, "because no one else uses it". What about during the day, when it's 80-85 degrees outside, and you just want to use it after a hard day of paddling out in the sun? Don't bother talking to the people I have coined as "Jane from Corporate" or "Steve, Master Grump" about these concerns. They accept no accountability and will find a way to blame YOU for everything. Oh, some food was used? Why didn't you check it before you left (um, practicality/time considerations? trust???). Oh, the bags were smelly? You are paddling all day after all. Oh, you want to use the air conditioner? But no one else needs to - if you have to (underlying tone: you privileged city slicker), they don't give you the remote (it's in their office, not the chalets themselves - WHY???), just climb to the ceiling area where it's mounted and turn it on yourself! A lot of this place revolves around giving you very little and then making you feel little when you ask. read more

I would definitely not recommend River Point Resort, in Ely, MN. The customer service was absolutely terrible in fact the owners were downright disrespectful. The check-in location was extremely confusing and after going the wrong way and not being able to turn around with a boat hooked to our truck, we wound up smashing the front of our truck on a boulder. We were a bit frustrated at check-in and told the owners what happened and they had zero compassion for our issue. What really put things over the top was when I told the owners they should make it more clear that there is somewhat of a walk to carry your things to the cabin, the owner started yelling at me that he didn't want us there and that we should leave. He proceeded to take my husband's tackle box out of our boat and throw it into the back of our truck. I have never been treated so poorly by a business owner in my life. We wound up staying all week because there was nowhere else available but it was incredibly awkward. They never approached us or apologized. We rented the two bedroom log cabin (there was 4 of us), this cabin is completely miss-represented in their advertisement. One of the bedrooms is part of the screen porch and literally has about 1 foot of space around the bed. You cannot even keep your clothes bag in the bedroom, we had to keep them out on the screen porch. We paid $2400 to rent the cabin for the week and it was not worth the cost compared to other cabins we've previously rented. Our experience was terrible and I would not recommend this place to anyone. They advertise that they will do anything to make your trip enjoyable, but that's a joke because you can't even find anyone to help you if needed. read more

Owners Steve and Jane Koschak are inflexible and don't understand customer service. When you make reservations at this resort, you need to pay half of the amount months in advance with the balance due three months before your reservation. After you make your initial down payment, they mail pages of "rules" including additional fees. If you pay with a credit card, they will charge you an additional 4%. Our niece called a month prior to our August reservation to cancel the canoe they rented for three days at the cost of $140. Jane refused to cancel the canoe and told our niece that she would need to pay for it because it could have been rented to someone else. My niece was so upset when she hung up the phone that she started to cry. My niece ended up paying for the canoe even though there were many other canoes available during the time we were there. We told the owner, Steve, that the coffee pot in our cabin didn't work. He said in front of other customers, "Are you sure it doesn't work?" We tried it in four outlets. The toaster worked but the coffee pot didn't. It was a big inconvenience for Steve to replace it. When he showed up at our cabin to do so, he didn't say a word during the exchange. Our brother-in-law and his wife stayed in the Hideaway Cabin. This cabin should be hidden away. It's old, creepy, and in dire need of remodeling. Yet the cost is pricey. When we checked out, Jane didn't ask about our accommodations. My brother-in-law asked if we would receive a refund for some of the launching and docking fees. They charged us each seven days for our two boats at the cost of $17 to dock and $12 to launch. We launched our own boats and only docked them for four days. Jane said, "It's a wash, you knew the terms." And that was the end of that conversation. Our party had rented four cabins. While all of us would love to return to the Boundary Waters, none of us would stay at River Point Resort. read more

River Point Resort is one of the most spectacular places to stay with in Ely, MN! We have been coming to the Ely/BWCA area for over ten years, and we have never enjoyed an accommodation and outfitting service as much as I did River Point. The staff is incredibly friendly and more than willing to go out of their way to help with ANYTHING. It was refreshing to have such wonderful customer service. The family friendly atmosphere was awesome as well! The family that owns and operates River Point (Jane, Steve, and James) were so warm and welcoming. They made us feel right at home, and had so much advice to share for our trip. Whether it was good fishing holes, beautiful camping spots, or even something as simple as helping us pack, you could really tell they knew their stuff! They are extremely passionate about the work they do as well! My family would 10/10 I would highly recommend this resort and will be back!  -Hally, Scott, Tayler, Cole, Riley, and William Marshall read more

As I am a grown up and actual outdoor adventurer, I can tell you that Steve, Jane, their son, and crew are as good as it gets. Not only do they know the Boundary Waters inside and out, they work tirelessly to protect it from outside mining companies by being involved with our states representatives in government. I have only used them as an outfitter but can tell you they all know their stuff. We pour over the maps and they are able to tell us all the good fishing spots, the coolest day adventures, and best camp grounds on the route we are planning. I have used them to outfit two separate adventures and they have always been gracious, friendly hosts. This summer, I had the privilege to marry my friends in the BWCA and Jane was amazing at helping us organize this and assisted in picking the perfect spot. She was also a witness and couldn't have been sweeter about the whole thing. If you are a grown adult crying about very straight forward costs about a resort, there is something wrong with you. Again, I would HIGHLY recommend this outfitter and resort as they have been overly accommodating for all of my trips and plan to continue to go through them for years to come. read more

Visited in late summer ! By all means, go visit Ely, MN ! But do yourself and your family a huge favor and consider that we WOULD NOT EVER STAY again at River Point Resort. The BEAUTIFUL area and the unlimited potential for my family to have an amazing and wonderfully memorable experience was badly tainted by the incredibly horrible customer service from owner/Steve. High prices (we discovered much better, MUCH friendlier and MUCH more customer-centered lodging and services elsewhere when we were treated horribly and began exploring other options !) Expressed concerns with inoperable appliances, faulty boat motors, etc. were met with unimaginable arrogance and earned us only the owners' scorn the rest of our stay. We have stayed in resorts and lodges up and down and across the Great Northwoods and have NEVER experienced such disregard for the provision of good customer service. Forget credits, refunds, etc. (our credit card was fully charged without consideration, apology, remorse or even empathy; we were simply told it was in THE AGREEMENT we signed). Believe me, I am a well-traveled GROWN-UP and I only expect to be treated as I would treat others. This is not what we experienced. I and my family will return to the Northwoods we love and Ely, MN. But, we will make wide circles around River Point Resort so as to not be reminded of the bad taste they left in our mouths. (Owners need not reply with their patronizing and disingenuous response reflecting their "appreciation" of our criticism so that they "might improve their services". They did not care when we were there; I won't believe any new disingenuous claims for the masses that they will ever care about anything after they get your credit card). read more

Beautiful place horrible experience. The owners, Jane and Steve were unwelcoming to our young children and rude. We will not be back.