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.

I had a great time here. The sites were private, good views of the water, had standard amenities…read moresuch as vault toilets and drinking water, fireplace rings, grill inserts, and a large picnic table per site. I liked that the host didn't come bother us once. We stayed up till midnight or later each night listening to music by the fire, no one complained. No luck fishing birch lake but that doesn't mean they're not in there. Don't forget bug spray and tiki torches if you decide to camp here.

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!

Twenty six family members descended on VDL on an August Saturday for a week stay. We had several…read morecabins of various sizes to meet the needs of grandparents and young cousins from 5 years on up. We had decided to have the resort provide dinner on our arrival after a long drive. It was delicious. The rest of the time we shared cooking details at one of the larger houses. Kitchens are pretty complete for most fare and the Lodge provides some special needs like large serving platters for big meals. We were blessed with mostly nice summer weather. We hired a variety of boats which got most of us out on the water several days. Boats were clean and well maintained. Climax day was two pontoon boats and a speedboat to pull tube rides. We didn't have many experienced fishermen or women. One couple hired a guide one morning which scored a bunch of delicious small walleye. But more important, our guide tried several spots in different parts of the lake and gave us a rewarding tour and understanding of the entire lakes system. For others there were two golf outings at different courses. A rainy day sent some to International Falls and a boat tour of Rainy lake. Others went the other direction to Ely and wildlife. So a modest drive provides some alternatives. But for the most part the resort provides a wide range of activities right on the lake and the property. A real bonus is the resort staff who were always friendly and helpful, a real reason to come back another time.

YEAR AFTER YEAR...it keeps getting better!!!…read more I discovered the Vermillion Dam Lodge though a fishing guide and absolutely love it! Owner Ed and his right hand man Marty run an incredible operation accommodating hard core fishermen as myself, families and visitors from all over the world. They host fishing seminars and group events as well. The lake is one of the best small mouth bass, walleye and MUSKY fisheries on the planet. The rooms are very comfortable; everything on the property is tidy and well maintained. VDL is mobility challenged and dog friendly to top it off. World class fishing, friendly staff, gorgeous scenery with eagles literally flying overhead - WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE???

All 4 of us had a great experience at Snowbank Lodge & Outfitters. Staff was very friendly and…read morehelpful with our questions and outfitting requests. We'd definitely return!

Such a relaxing, quiet place to stay. We stayed in cabin #7 and enjoyed the sounds of the loons,…read moreSpring peepers, chorus frogs and more at the lake each night. The house has 2 bedrooms with a dbl and twin bed in each. Appreciated the community bonfire pit, BBQ Grills and dog friendly grounds. The house has pretty much all you need except your own food, drink, towels and soap. Bring your own bottled water if you don't like well water. Ron, Julie and all the staff here are so accommodating, friendly and go out of their way to please guests. Also were given a canoe for use while there. Very nice! A couple good hikes nearby, within driving distance at Kawishiwi Falls, Secret and Blackstone Lake.

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. :)

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!

Best outfitters ever. Been going to the same place for 30 years. Will keep going back. Everything…read moreis high-quality, especially the canoes.

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.