Doesn't get any better then, local and family owned…read more My cousin from Ely had previously bought a outfit for her grand baby and realized it was too small. We went in to exchange it and they could have not been more accommodating. She did not have the receipt and had removed the tags. They knew it was their product and were happy to make the swap for a larger size. As she made the swap, I browsed through the store with my other cousin. Oh my, the variety of merchandise was mind blowing. They had everything you'd need for a camping trip. They even sell camping packages for the boundary waters and when you check-in on Yelp they offer a 15% off coupon. If you're a fisher, they also offer live bait to help you catch that big fish. That way your "big fish" story will be truth instead of a made up one. My other cousin who was traveling with us, caught so much fish during our trip, that when we left Ely, we had to stop at Spirit to buy dry ice. When in Ely, I highly recommend that you shop, Spirit.

Best outfitter in Ely. Knowledgeable friendly staff. Would recommend them especially for people…read morenew to the BWCA.

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!

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!

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.

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.

This was my first visit to International Falls, and I knew I had to get on the water to really see…read moreVoyageurs National Park. I was leery of paying $120 for a 2 hr boat tour, but it turned out to be well worth it. First week of October is already past the busy season and there wasn't much in the way of fall colors on the lake yet, but it was a truly beautiful ride nonetheless. Our guide Tim grew up on the lake and was not only full of information about the incredible history (and prehistory) of the region, but had his own stories to share that added such a depth and personal touch to the experience. I could have happily listened to him all day. If I can make it back someday for the 6 hour, I hope Tim is my guide once again.

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. :)

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!