Cartop Info & Driving Directions
Guests commonly use their own vehicles to transport canoes between our shop and their entry point using our free tie-down supplies. Securing canoes to the top of your vehicle is called “cartopping.” Cartopping canoes saves money on shuttle costs and gives you greater flexibility on the first and last day of your trip because you are not tied to a predetermined shuttle time.
One or two canoes are conveniently transported on one vehicle. Cartopping is common on almost any make and model of car or truck. It is also commonly done on rental cars.
If your canoe trip ends at a different place than you started, you may do a chase shuttle. With a chase shuttle, you follow our shuttle vehicle to your exit point and park 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 at your exit point. 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.
Click a BWCAW Entry Point for Driving Directions
FAQs
Can I cartop canoes on my vehicle?
We can conveniently cartop one or two canoes on almost all four-door vehicles. We are typically unable to cartop canoes on soft top convertibles, standard cab pickup trucks (ie, two doors and no jump seats), RVs, and tall campervans with AC units or other attachments on the roof (unless they include special rack systems).
Can I cartop with my rental car?
Yes. We do it all the time.
Can I transport my canoe in the bed of my pickup truck?
No. Lightweight canoes are too long and the overhanging position can torque and damage the canoe. We cartop one or two canoes upside down on the cab of a pickup truck, and it looks similar to how they are cartopped on the roof of a car.
Can I use ratchet straps to secure my rental canoes?
No. Ratchet straps can overly compress lightweight canoes and damage them. We provide cam straps that work just as well and do not risk canoe damage.
What is the maximum number of canoes I can transport on top of my vehicle at one time?
Two.
My car doesn't have a roof rack. Can I still cartop my canoes?
Yes. We have the free tie down supplies. Check out our videos to see how it works.
I want to transport two canoes, but my existing roof rack is only wide enough for one. Now what?
We can typically work around most factory installed roof racks using our systems to transport two canoes. It is typically best to remove after-market roof racks if they are tall (bring the keys with you if necessary), and use our tie down systems to transport two canoes. If the existing after-market rack is not removable, we can try to work around it. Make sure you can remove any accessories (such as bike racks) attached to your roof rack to make room for canoes.
Is it safe to leave my car at the entry point?
Crime at entry points is exceedingly low. When we leave our personal cars at entry points, we don't worry about them. Of course, don't leave valuables in plain sight, and know that we cannot guarantee the safety of your vehicle. We provide locked storage at the shop to secure your items while on trail.
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