A Guided All-Women BWCAW Canoe Trip Exploring the Life and Times of the Inspiring Root Beer Lady of Knife Lake.

Paddle the legendary canoe route to the former home of the last legal non-indigenous resident of the BWCA and learn about this rugged woman’s life of operating a wilderness fishing resort.

Dorothy lived on the Isle of Pines on Knife Lake for more than 56 years where she paddled, hiked, fished, skied and snowshoed this pristine area, until her death in 1986. As a result of the BWCA float plane ban ordered by President Truman in 1949, Dorothy could no longer have her wooden crates filled with glass bottles of soda flown in. She began brewing and selling her own homemade root beer to passing canoeists, and became known fondly as “The Root Beer Lady”.

You will visit the museum of her original cabins which were transported out of the Wilderness by dogsled and snowmobile, as well as paddle to the original location of the cabins on Knife Lake.

Jesse Edberg, the executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum in Ely, will join this canoe trip and share colorful stories from Dorothy’s life. This trip celebrates the life of one of the strongest female outdoorspeople of the modern age. This is a professionally guided trip with a limited enrollment of only seven participants.

During four days on the water, expect days of both travel and base-camping. You will explore the clear waters of Knife Lake, and you may take a day trip to a scenic overlook. There is also time to rest, relax, and, if you’d like, fish.

Each day will bring new experiences and sights that could include waterfalls, wildlife, towering old growth white pines, and beautiful Northwoods surroundings.

Sign up by yourself, or bring along a friend. We look forward to heading out into these beautiful woods with you!

You will make new friends and meet interesting people. Our guests respect each other as individuals and work together and learn with one another as a team on this trip.

Your guide is Doris Kolodji. Doris first met Dorothy Molter as an 8th grade participant on a Girl Scout canoe trip in 1972. As Doris transitioned to leading groups of girls and women in the Wilderness, she visited Dorothy on her island regularly over the years. Doris says that instructions were always given that “when we went to Dorothy’s we were to mind our manners because we were going into someone’s home. Dorothy appreciated the respect we showed, and soon she looked forward to us coming as much as we looked forward to seeing her.”

Dates

June 14 - 18, 2027

Price

$945 per person

Who Can Participate?

Those at least 18 years old and who identify as a woman.

Group Size

Maximum group size is 8 participants, and minimum group size is four participants.

What is included

• Four days and three nights fully outfitted and professionally guided BWCAW canoe trip to Knife Lake and Dorothy’s former islands.
• Motorboat tow to the start of the no-motors zone of the BWCAW to start and end the canoe trip.
• Membership to the Dorothy Molter Museum.
• Private tour of the Dorothy Molter Museum.
• All BWCAW permit fees and guide fees.

Trip Schedule

Day 1
Meet your group on June 14 at 2:00 p.m. at Ely Outfitting Co. for a pre-trip orientation.   

Day 2 - 5
You will shuttle from Ely to Moose Lake, board a motorboat tow, and begin paddling where the motorized zone ends. After three nights camping on trail, your group will exit the water in the middle of the afternoon on the final day of the trip. Included meals are lunch on the first day on trail through lunch on the last day on trail.

Lodging before & after the canoe trip

Optional, economical bunkhouse lodging is available before and/or after your canoe trip for an additional charge. Bunkhouse lodging includes individual beds and is in a bunkhouse unit shared only with members of this guided group trip. 

How to Register

Click "Sign Up" below to register online. When completing your reservation, use the following information:

1.  Entry and Exit Point: Enter Dorothy Molter Experience.
2. Trip Dates: Enter your trip dates.
3. Trip Leader: Enter your own name.
4. Group Size: Select 1 when registering yourself.

Payment & Cancellation Policy

Deposit: A 50% deposit is required to reserve your spot. Due to the extremely limited group size, deposits are nonrefundable and cannot be transferred to another year. We recommend considering independent travel insurance to protect your investment.

Final Payment: The remaining balance is due 30 days before your trip. This payment is also nonrefundable.