Boundary Waters Outfitters

Boundary Waters Canoe Trips Area – How to Plan a Trip

Follow the tutorial below and let it guide you through our website and help you plan your Boundary Waters vacation.

• Step One: What do you want to do?

  This could be daily travel or a basecamp, fishing, photography, solitude, historic sites, looking for wildlife and so forth.

• Step Two: What are your Vacation Dates?

  When do you want to go and for how long? A typical canoe trip is about 5 to 7 days in length with an additional night spent at our resort before your trip begins. We can plan a trip and outfit you for as many or as few days as you want.

• Step Three: Planning your route

  With the above information we will unroll the maps and begin planning your route through the wilderness. This involves selecting an entry point, canoe route and exit point, as well as informing you of fishing opportunities, historic sites, and other points of interest along your trip. An in-depth orientation will take place when you arrive at our resort base.

  This is usually the phase when most people call us to help and we encourage you to do so, but we have put some canoe route descriptions in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area portion of our site to help give you an idea of what is available.

  View Canoe Routes

• Step Four: Reserve your Entry Permit

  We will reserve your permit for you! Entry permits are needed to enter the Boundary Waters and are date and entry point (location) specific. The important thing to remember is permits are based on a quota system and are reserved on a first come, first serve basis. So, early reservation are a GOOD idea. The best time to plan a trip is in January or February. Trips can be reserved much later but you may select an entry point that is full and need to look at more than one route option. (again, we will help you with this and make your permit reservation for you). Another important note is, group sizes are limited – up to 9 people per party. So, if you have more than 9, you must separate into multiple traveling groups.

  The US Forest Service charges for BWCA (Boundary Waters) entry permits as well as a camping fee. These costs are minimal and are added to your trip.

  View Entry Points Learn More About Permits

• Step Five: Select Your Outfitting Package

  If Boundary Waters Outfitters is going to provide all your gear and food this is when you select your outfitting package. We have 2 packages to choose from (Kevlar Explorer & Ultra-Light Canoe Package) as well as some specials for families, fishermen, non-profit groups and fly-in trips. We also offer guided trips.

  View Complete Outfitting Packages

  If you have some of your own equipment and only need us to “fill in the gaps” of gear you need, you can select items (canoes, packs, stove, even food) from our Partial Outfitting gear list. A daily rental rate is listed for each item. We also have Canoe & Food Packages available. This is when we supply just the canoes and food for your trip. If you are bringing some of your own gear, make sure it is “Boundary Waters friendly!” That means, light, compact and in good working order.

  View Partial Outfitting gear list

• Step Six: Transportation

  We will probably need to help you with this one. If the route you choose requires us to transport you to or from your entry or exit points there may be an additional cost. Most transports are included with our Complete Packages and if a cost is added it is usually nominal. Transports or “Shuttles” as we call them, can be us driving you or boating you to or from your entry or exit points.

  Learn More about Transportation

• Step Seven: Overnight Accommodations

  Most of our groups spend the night before their trip (and sometimes after) at our Outfitter. If you have selected one of our Complete Packages we will provide a continental breakfast of coffee, juice, cereal, muffins, and fruit the morning of your trip free.

  View Overnight Accommodations

• Step Eight: Final Touches

  Now that you have your trip well on it’s way all you need to do are the final touches. At this point we will finalize your reservation and collect a deposit.

  View Reservation and Deposit Information

  Once this is done we will send you a trip confirmation packet with all the trip details, a list of things we suggest you bring, fishing tackle suggestions, a detailed invoice of the trip, and a trip menu (if we are supplying your food). After that it’s just anticipation of the trip to come. Now sit back and dream about your trip. It’s as easy as that!