Five stars isn't enough for this crew. We fish with Craig at Lake Vermilion Fishing Guides just…read moreabout every year, and our Boundary Waters trips into Basswood are the ones we talk about all winter. From the first phone call he asks the right questions about what you want out of the day, then builds the whole trip around it. Getting into the BWCA on your own takes real planning, but Craig handles all of it, and once you're out there you've got world-class fishing with almost nobody around. He reads the water, adjusts constantly, and genuinely cares that everyone on board catches fish. He handles the big fish with real care too, quick photos and healthy releases. This is what a professional guide service should be. We're already planning next year's trip.

I don't have enough great things to say about Steve and Ginny and the rest of the crew at Spirit of…read morethe Wilderness. We were out on Knife Lake on Tuesday July 14 2026 (the day of the closure and evacuation of the wilderness). I had rented a one way Spot and picked up my permit from Spirit. Unfortunately with the device we had no one could communicate with us, but the crew at Spirit was tracking us and keeping everyone back home aware of our situation. After we got back into Ely, they even offered a bunkhouse for us to stay the night before heading home.

Great customer service! The canoes were in perfect condition and the people take pride in their…read morework here! Would definitely recommend to people coming to the boundary waters!

Cliff Wolds made our boundary waters trip the best trip ever! We had exactly what we needed and…read morePLENTY of food! They were so friendly and gave us advice that we were so thankful for! Cliffs is the way to go!

Ely Outfitting Company should be your only choice for any Boundary Waters Canoe Area adventure…read more I recently booked a fully outfitted, professionally guided trip through EOC, and every aspect was exceptional. The gear was top-of-the-line, well-maintained, and spotlessly clean--tents, sleeping bags, pillows, all of it! The food was plentiful, delicious, and offered a surprising variety for a backcountry trip. What truly sets EOC apart, though, is the people. Amy in the office was kind, responsive, and efficient--before, during, and after our trip. The outfitting team that got us set up and checked us in afterward was equally friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. And then there's our guide, Dave Freeman. I expected a skilled and experienced leader when I heard he was a National Geographic Explorer of the Year--but that title alone doesn't capture how perfect he was for our family. This trip was a memorial journey to honor our dad, and we had some very specific hopes for the experience. Dave truly listened and helped us make every part of it meaningful. He kept us safe, made it fun, and became part of our family along the way... even if he does cheat at Uno. Ely Outfitting Company--and especially Dave Freeman--are the absolute best in the BWCA. I wouldn't go with anyone else.

We rented a canoe from here just for a day trip. We had never portaged a canoe before or tied one…read moredown to the car. The staff were so friendly and helpful. They went through every piece of information making sure we knew where we were going to helping us practice portaging. We had a blast out on the water and when we came back we immediately had several friendly staff asking us all about our short trip and helping get all the equipment put away. Would highly recommend!

This is the best outfitter in Ely. We have been coming here for a very long time and they still…read moretake great care of us. I went out for a 3 day with my 8 year old son and we had everything we needed to have a safe and fun time. I highly recommend Canadian Waters.

Very large souvenir shop. They have a selection of clothing for men, women and children/babies…read more Their stock was a bit low for the season, and there were many empty shelves. Most of the souvenirs are related to minnesota, but they also have a small area for cat and dog lovers as well as a permanent christmas area. In the back, they have a small bookstore with stuff for all ages. They also have cooking tools etc for the hobby chef. At the front, they have camping and fishing supplies. I was looking for more food related items, such as local made jams, baked goods, etc. There wasn't much of this. They did have candles and soaps. In the end, i picked up a magnet and some funny socks. I would recommend this place for getting gifts related to minnesota and boundary waters. They had a lot of cute stuff.

This is out second time going to the Boundary Waters with Ely Outfitting Co. and again the did such…read morea great job. In my opinion these guys are the company you want to use if you want things done right. I took my kids age 8-12 and they tailored the whole trip to the needs of our family. It was beautiful. Highly recommended!

My family and I did a 1-day guided tour with Jarett (sorry if I butchered the spelling!)…read more Absolutely worth the 4-hour trip from Minneapolis! (Check out Northernair Lodge for accommodations!) The entire tour was incredible. All of the staff were friendly and helpful (even at 8am!) Jarett gave us excellent instruction, as this was the first time any of us had canoed. Beyond the interesting and knowledgeable company Jarett provided, he was always conscious of stopping for lunch* or for photo ops when it seemed like we needed a break. He was willing to canoe with us for as short or long of a time as we wanted, and the trip was worth every penny. Every spot on Lake One is absolutely breathtaking. (We did have the option to canoe into Lake Two, but we chose to just take our time in Lake One.) I can't say enough great things about our experience with this company and the area in general! *I believe there is an option for the company to provide you with lunch, but we just packed our own and brought it in the canoe.

Been renting cabin for years. Entire family goes there. Bruce takes care of us at the cabin. It…read moreis quiet and easy assess to the lake. Great fishing. They also have camping spaces and RV spaces

My Boy Scout troop had an amazing experience in the Boundary Waters (June 2025) with the fantastic…read morehelp from Canoe Country Outfitters. From taking care of our permits, to preparing our gear, food, and everything, CCO was the best from start to finish. They made planning the trip so easy for my group. The food they provided us for 1 week in the Boundary Waters was great and easy to carry and prepare. At the end of our trip when one bag was left at the final portage, Brian took a boat back and found it for us. What amazing service and care! Thank you to the whole CCO team for organizing our trip.

First of all, there's very little "Surplus" here, as during my recent visit, the merchandise looked…read moreall well stocked and new. The person at the counter subsequently informed me that the current owner kept the name when it was purchased from the previous occupant. Nonetheless, I found what I needed quickly, thought the price was reasonable, and was pleased both as I left, and subsequently when I put them to use. What did I buy? Knee high rubber boots. Our Moose Track Adventures canoe trip guide had a pair on that I admired, and since I needed a pair for an upcoming trip to the Peruvian Amazon, that was good enough for me. At the end of the Amazon trip, we were asked whether we wished to donate the boots. I liked the fit, comfort, and versatility of my LaCrosse boots so much that I declined in favor of my next Earthwatch adventure.

An excellent place to go for the basics when you're up north. Every time I'm in Ely, I swing by…read more Prices are generally better than your typical REI, etc. Not exactly what I would call "surplus" since most of the items seem to be new. The space is also pretty small, so it can seem cramped with other people in the store.

My 2 previous to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (in NE Minnesota along the Ontario border) were…read moreback in High School (early 1970s) as part of a church group (Cristo Canoe) and then a repeat adventure the next year with just a few friends. Some "fond" memories stick, like being flooded out the first night after a portage from hell on the first day. Since then over all these years, I've had a hankering to hit the water again and revisit nearby Ely. My friends Jeff, Bird, and Gator have been back since, and over the last couple years, we've been talking about returning as a group to the BWCA. We were scheduled for September 2021, but area fires and a few personal situations necessitated a delay. But this September was time for me and 3 great high school classmates to get together and paddle. Gayle thought it was a great idea, but with some humor: Four 66-year old men canoeing out into the wilderness - What could go wrong? Actually, everything went well, and despite 1st day anxiety all around on whether we were cut out for a trip like this at our age. We were out in the BWCA for 5 nights and 6 days, with great fall weather except for one windy morning and a light rainy day. We all got along very well, except for some snoring situations in our shared (2 per) tents, and making the mistake of talking politics one evening. After almost 50 years out of High School and irregularly staying in touch, it was easy to pick up where we left off and have a great meaningful time together. We also wisely decided to hire a professional outfitter (and guide) for our adventure. This way we didn't get lost, equipment (Kevlar canoes, tents, sleeping bags, etc.) were provided, we ate well, we snagged great camp sites, great stories were told, portages were relatively short, and fishing went well. And the scenery! Wow! For all that (and more), we had Moose Track Adventures to thank, particularly the owners (Jim and Joan) and Dan, our intrepid guide. What a great guy! Bird had used Moose Track before and I can understand why folks that have used them come back. Their reasonably priced professional expertise, facilities, and equipment are worth every safety-infused cent. Our field package (see above) also included cabin lodging the night before we hit the water, prior menu selection, transponder tracking (including an emergency button) during our journey, and a sandwich and beer waiting for us when we got out of the water at the end. Dan also provided information from an App showing where we'd been within the BWCA. I was also able to purchase a paper map at Moose Track HQ. At the end, Gator headed off to the Airport, while Jeff, Bird, and I travelled down to Duluth for a hot shower, a celebratory dinner together, and a good night's sleep. It was a stellar trip to remember, that I'd be open to repeating. And if and when we do, we'll be working with Moose Track Adventures.

Jim and Joan did a great job setting us up for our mid-June camping and fishing trip into the BWCA…read more They arranged everything from canoeing and camping gear, our camping and fishing guide, our motor boat shuttle, lodging for the first night, and required permits. we had a lot of pre-trip questions and they were responsive and informative with their answers. We caught a lot of fish and had a great time!