Guided Day Trips
Explore The Boundary Waters For A Day From Ely, Minnesota
Scenic Boundary Waters canoeing day trips on lakes and rivers near Ely, Minnesota, take you to historic Native American pictographs, picturesque views, and fishing hot spots. This is a great way to get a sense of what the Boundary Waters is all about! No experience is necessary.
A knowledgeable and friendly guide, canoes, paddles, and life vests are included. You’ll learn some basic paddling and wilderness traveling skills, and your guide is happy to answer all your questions. The itinerary is customized to your preferences, including the time you’d like to meet for the trip and how long you’d like to be on the water. Day trip clients commonly meet at 9am and are back at the shop in mid-afternoon. Day trips launch rain or shine, so be sure to bring rain gear.
Guided canoeing day trips are $350 for a group of up to 2 people, and $500 for a group of up to 4 people. Additional guests (up to a maximum of eight guests) are $50 per person. Most day trips start with a 20-30 minute drive from our shop. Pricing is with guests driving their vehicle to the entry point with the canoes using our free canoe tie-down supplies. Shuttle service for the day trip is available for an additional charge.
Our most popular day trip option takes you to the Hegman Lake Native American pictographs. The route provides an excellent sample of what the BWCAW is all about. After seeing the pictographs, you can either turn back or extend the route and paddle and portage further if desired. If you prefer a day trip without portaging (using a trail to reach the water), then the Lake One entry point provides a nice day exploring an island-dotted Wilderness lake. If you're not certain of your preferred route, then enter "Day Trip" for the entry and exit points when you do the online registration. You can finalize your decision at the shop with your guide.
We do not typically have professional fishing guide availability for day trips. However, our day trip trail guides can assist with recreational fishing if you’d like to try angling.
Personal Items to Bring on Guided Day Trip
- Reliably waterproof rain gear tops and bottoms
- Sunglasses
- Brimmed hat
- Waterproof camera, or non-waterproof camera with water protection
- Sunscreen
- A bag lunch*
- Water bottle and water*
- Insect repellant
- Fishing licenses, if intending to fish
- Optional fishing gear. Free loaner fishing poles are available with advance notice.
* Note that cans and glass bottles are prohibited in the BWCAW.
FAQs
Are other clients on the trip with us?
No. We do not combine groups for custom guided day trips. This allows you to be on your own schedule for the day.
What time does the day trip start and end?
Groups typically meet their guide at our shop at 8 or 9a to take care of last-minute details and questions. Groups typically return mid-afternoon. Because these are custom trips, the times are flexible for what works best for you.
Can I do a half-day trip?
Yes, our guided day trips are customized to your interests and timing. The price does not change for a shorter day.
Happy Campers
"We had a wonderful time on our canoe trip. Our guide was informative and knowledgeable about the area and it's natural history. We are planning a trip back in a few years and hope to use Ely Outfitting Company again for a longer trip. Thank you so much!"
-Laurel Badura
"Whether you are experienced in the wilderness or taking your very first trip do not hesitate to book with Ely Outfitting Company. (We fall into the second category). Start to finish it was the best experience. They have tremendous facilities and equipment. Thanks to their thorough emails and willingness to chat over the phone we knew exactly what to expect. The check in process was smooth. We were luck to be paired with Quinn and had a wonderful day. His enthusiasm was contagious and even though we paddled off on a drizzly day in the 50’s we couldn’t wait to get started. He is super knowledgeable, very experienced and made the entire day so much fun. We heard lots of history of the area, learned a lot about general outdoor survival (his background is so impressive). Quinn was super patient and encouraging every step of the way. On the way back to town Quinn told us how much he loves his job and it truly shows. We hope to make it back and would absolutely love to try an overnight!"