Our shuttles transport you and your canoes and camping equipment between Ely, MN and your entry point.
Ground Shuttles
If your trip starts and ends at the same place, it is typical to cartop your canoe using our free tie down supplies. However, if you prefer, we can drive you and your canoes and camping equipment to your BWCAW entry point. You can either leave your personal vehicle in town, or follow the shuttle vehicle to the entry point and leave it there. Our shuttle vehicle then picks you up at the time specified before your trip launched.
If your trip ends at a different place than you started, you have two options. First, you can leave your personal vehicle in town and we will drive you to your entry point and then pick you up at the exit point and time specified before your trip launched. Second, you can do a “chase shuttle.” With a chase shuttle, you follow our shuttle vehicle to your exit point and leave your vehicle there with the equipment to tie canoes on top of it. We then shuttle you to your entry point, you paddle back to your car at the exit point, and cartop your canoe back to town. A chase shuttle allows you more flexibility because you do not have to meet a pickup shuttle at a specific predetermined meeting time. Chase shuttle pricing may be less than the cost of two shuttles if the entry point and exit point are along the same shuttle route.
|
Entry #
|
Entry Name
|
Price per shuttle with at least one canoe rental
|
|
1
|
Trout Lake (Lake Vermilion Moccasin Pt. drop-off) |
95
|
|
4
|
Crab Lake (Burntside Lake drop-off) |
40
|
|
6
|
Slim Lake |
55
|
|
7
|
Big Lake |
75
|
|
9 & 14
|
Little Indian Sioux River, N. or S. |
95
|
|
12
|
Little Vermilion Lake (Crane Lake drop-off) |
175
|
|
16 & 8
|
Moose River N./Portage River N. & Moose River South |
90
|
|
19
|
Stuart River |
75
|
|
20
|
Angleworm |
55
|
|
22 & 23
|
Mudro Lake |
65
|
|
24
|
Fall Lake |
40
|
|
25
|
Moose Lake |
50
|
|
26
|
Wood Lake |
45
|
|
27
|
Snowbank Lake |
55
|
|
29
|
Kawishiwi River North |
45
|
|
30
|
Lake One |
50
|
|
31
|
Farm Lake |
40
|
|
32
|
South Kawishiwi |
60
|
|
33
|
Little Gabbro Lake |
65 |
|
34
|
Island River |
95
|
|
35
|
Isabella Lake |
100
|
|
36
|
Hog Creek |
185
|
|
37
|
Kawishiwi Lake |
185
|
|
75
|
Little Isabella River |
70
|
|
77
|
S. Hegman Lake |
50
|
|
84
|
Snake River |
70
|
|
–
|
Ely Airport |
35
|
Motorboat Tows
A motorboat tow is available when starting your trip from a limited number of entry points. Your canoes go upside down on top of a motorboat. You sit under them in the motorboat, and are dropped off at your destination. Scheduled return motorboat tows are nonrefundable once your trip launches.
|
Description
|
Price per person with at least one canoe rental
|
| Moose Lake to Prairie Portage or Birch Lake Portage |
$37 (2 person min.)
|
| Moose Lake to Ensign Lake (Splash Lake Portage) |
$37 (2 person min.)
|
| Moose Lake to Washington Island of Basswood Lake |
$75 (3 person min.) plus portage fees*
|
| Burntside Lake to Crab Lake Portage |
$29 (2 person min.)
|
*2022 portage fees were $17 per watercraft each way across Prairie Portage. This includes canoes and the towboat. 2023 portage fees are expected to be similar.
Click here for transportation options for getting to Ely.