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.

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.

North Woods Adventures was amazing!!…read more My bridesmaids hired them for my bachelorette party. They picked us up at my home at, and took us to the local bars in the Lake Vermilion area. The guide, as well.as the drivers were fun, and they always made sure everyone got back on the bus. We were able to drink in the vehicle in between stops, listened to music, and it was summer so the whole thing was open-air. Awesome all around. At the end of the night (bar close), they brought us back to my place. The guide also took photos and will be putting them on a cd for us. All around a fantastic time!

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 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.

Took my wife here for her birthday. It was a wonderful experience. The dogs were all super…read morefriendly and even though this was our first time doing this, it wasn't that hard to handle the dogsled. The lakeside and forested route they use is very scenic and tranquil.

We wanted to have a dog-sledding experience, and are visitors of the Ely area during summers, but…read morewanted to have a winter experience. This was FABULOUS! If you're thinking of doing this, make the decision! I have to say, Wintergreen was awesome! Paul provided a 1/2 hour orientation, how to work with the dogs, the commands, etc. He made it super easy, and fun! My wife and I went, and there was a family with Mom, Dad, and the kids 9 & 10. We had 3 sleds for each pair on a half day excursion. Our guides (one in front and one in back) were awesome, helpful, and knowledgeable of the terrain and nature: our guide paused to show us a burrow in the snow where you could see a feather print on the snow(!) explaining it was from a grouse that burrows in the winter for warmth and we were observing its exodus! So cool! Really, can't say enough for this resort and this experience! Oh yea, and we had a favorite dog: Bob. :)

We found Voyageur North via yellow pages years ago. We've been coming back every few years…read morewithout even checking other outfitters. The new owner maintains the torch-of-excellence. It has to be 25+ years and 2023 was my 7th trip. Every single trip has been spectacular in one way or another, from newsworthy storms to unprecedented heat and cold and wind and even the good weather. here are a few pointers: * Voyageur North are authentic. They're not wearing $80.00 tshirts that say outdoors. The whole crew is out in the BWCA every free minute. Look at their hands. * Decide and work with them on the trip YOU want and they'll make it great. Go full Monty with food or just take ride service. Rent some extra stuff if needed. They'll do it. Summer trips can vary from expedition treks to relaxing base camping to fishing to all else. Example. If you're a cooler, hammock and inflatable toy camper, pick base camp and day trip. We are remote types so they helped us streamline the pack and find a lake for ourselves. * They won't upsell anything. If you need something you might need to ask. * Let them help pick the right permit. Call in winter to make summer plans to get better choice. Popular permits might not be what you need for your trip. * If you're a good fisher, then bonus. You're in good hands. They will do that expert fishermen-talking-codeword stuff. We are amateurs. I followed their expert advanced PhD instructions to capture a giant toothy flapping trophy fish on a pointy, very pointy lure - out of my league. now I know. my bad, not theirs. fish lived thank goodness. My fingers will heal. *these folks are not nags. Follow the rules to keep BWCA weird, rare and beautiful. HOPE THIS HELPS R.

Absolute BEST outfitter in Ely, they take care of you completely, any issues, they will fix them…read more!!!! H I G H L Y recommend for any and ALL your outfitting needs in the BWCAW!!!

We did a full day tour in a small boat with six total customers. Our guide was Brent and he was…read moreextremely knowledgeable since he's grown up in the area and had all kinds of wonderfully crazy stories about his life here in Minnesota. The personal experience was exceptional. The small group made it an extremely personal and wonderful experience. It was a glorious day that we will never forget!

My husband and I did a tour with Captain Tim yesterday on the six hour Kettle Falls tour. Tim was…read morevery knowledgeable about the park and the area. He had a wonderful personality and as other people have said became our friend right away. I loved his sense of humor. It was a very nice boat and a top-notch operation. We would highly recommend this.