Boundary Waters Canoe Adventure

Fly or drive to Duluth and meet the group at 1pm at the airport. We’ll do brief introductions before jumping into the vans and heading north 2 hours to the quaint town of Ely, Minnesota. This afternoon and evening we’ll get an overview of canoeing, portaging and camping basics and then have a group dinner in town. Overnight: Voyageur’s North Bunkhouse. (D)

After we fuel up on breakfast, we will finish getting our gear ready before heading to our put-in point on the water. Though we don’t have to pack as light as we would on a backpacking trip, portaging - or carrying - the canoe and gear adds up! Participants can leave their travel clothes and other items in the AGC vans during the trip. Never paddled a canoe before? No problem. We’ll teach you everything you need to know. Love canoeing already and feel at home on the water? This is still a great trip for you as we’ll explore an incredible wilderness area that beginners and experts alike will enjoy. Overnight: Camping (B, L, D)

Boundary Water Canoe Area permits are unique in that we only need to specify where we’re starting. Since most campsites are first come first serve we have flexibility with our day to day itinerary. This gives us the freedom to stay more than one night in a gorgeous site or explore farther if we feel like it. Each day’s mileage and portaging will depend on the AGC guides’ recommendations, the weather and how the group is feeling. With 7 participants and 2 guides, we will be in mostly 2 person canoes with one 3 person canoe. The third bench in this larger canoe is a rest spot and can rotate among participants. Overnight: camping (B, L, D)

With over one million acres of protected and pristine forests, lakes and rivers, there is abundant wildlife, diverse fauna and endless places to explore in the Boundary Waters. The best part? We won’t be sharing any part of our route with motorized boats. Some call canoeing a “silent sport” but we’ll be laughing too much. From moose and deer to bald eagles and loons, the photos from your trip will only capture a sliver of the wild beauty you’ll encounter. Overnight: camping (B, L, D)

Wake with the sunrise, sleep when the stars come out, rinse, repeat. Each day you’ll have time to swim or read a good book, but don’t worry! We’ll also get a good work out. Portaging the canoes and gear is hard work but will lead us to incredible lakes, farther from the crowds and closer to nature. We will be sleeping in 2-3 person tents with sleeping bags/pads provided by our outfitter. (You are also welcome to bring your own sleeping bag and pad, please check with AGC that it fits the appropriate criteria first) Overnight: camping (B, L, D)

Sadly, today is our last day on these calming waters so we’ll be sure to soak up as much as possible. We’ll canoe our way to the pre arranged pick up point and be driven back to our outfitters. After a hot shower (that feels positively heavenly after a few days in the woods), we’ll head into town for a celebratory dinner, toasting all we have seen and accomplished together. Overnight: Voyageurs North Bunkhouse (B, L, D)

After a final hearty breakfast we’ll drive south to Duluth. You can plan your flight home for anytime after 12pm. (B)