Our shuttles transport you and your canoes and camping equipment between Ely, MN and your entry point.

Ground Shuttles

Ely MN Canoe Shuttle Service
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.