Canoe Trip Outfitters

Mike and Sue and Voyageur Crew,

Smith party of 4 (08/31 - 09/06) had a great experience with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.

Thank you for making things so easy and stress free for our Boundary Waters canoe trip.

The trip exceeded our expectations and we will certainly recommend your outfit to others interested in the Boundary Waters.

Sincerely,
Mike

Name: Mike Smith
City: St. Tete Beach
State: Florida
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

The Troop wanted again to say thank you to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters for a great BWCA trip this year, we where there July 29th through August 4th.

The crew of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters was a great help in pulling this Boundary Waters canoe trip together, so hats off to them. The cabin stay on the night we arrived, and the night before we left where very clean. The meals that the kitchen put together for us where very good. The Troop brought their own food and gear, and only used your canoes, but there was still a lot of work to pull the trip off.

So again from Troop 2810 A BIG THANK YOU!

Name: Marc Shipman
City: Sycamore
State: IL
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

A big thank you to Mike and the rest of the staff at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters!

I was there last weekend with a group of nine women  for a BWCA canoe trip. Mike graciously answered all of our Boundary Waters pre-trip questions and went 'above and beyond' accommodating our group needs. We were all VERY appreciative of his efforts! The question is not IF we will come back, but WHEN! Thank you for offering this Groupon. It was the catalyst that made the trip happen for our group!

Name: Jennifer Patterson
City:
State:
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

Normally I trip into Quetico Park, but this year decided to do a Boundary Waters canoe trip with my daughter Sarah and her new husband John. John is a newbie to the BWCA, but an experienced hiker and outdoorsman, who had no trouble with the trip. We did the Saganaga-Knife-Seagull trip for the beauty, and also to get a look at the burned area.
As usual the scenery was pretty and the canoe trip mostly uneventful (other than the nice views), which is what we want--a nice camping trip with no mishaps or major troubles. However, we made our own amusement with "watermelon head."

We dressed a watermelon in its own life jacket for the paddle (so it wouldn't roll around) and make jokes about it, let it go swimming in the lake water to cool off at the first BWCA camp site, then sacrificed it on a tree stump alter, after which we ate it! It was soooo good after a long day's paddle. Probably had to be there to enjoy the amusement.

We did not see any big game, but did find bear claw marks on a white birch tree at one of our camp sites. Fishing was pretty bad or we were just unlucky, but most people we met said they also had little luck that week. That being said, we did catch catch saugers, pike, and bass, but they were generally small and not very many of them.

Once again, as in all previous trips, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters did a wonderful job in assisting with partial outfitting for our Boundary Waters canoe trip.  We purchased some last minute items and rented a Wenonah solo canoe due to our odd number, while Sarah and John paddled my vintage 1975 Mad River Explorer.

We had to drive 7 hours to get to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, so, really enjoyed the bunkhouse stay the night before the BWCA trip, breakfast the morning of, and the showers afterwards.
The staff is always friendly and helpful. Looking forward to our next trip, which will be back into Quetico Park. Hope to have Voyageur be our partial outfitter of choice again.

Name: Frank Bonner
City: Rochester
State: Minnesota
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

We just returned from our canoe trip in the BWCA yesterday. I can't thank enough the Voyageur Canoe Outfitter folks! From the very beginning, they provided all the help and necessary information and smoothly managed our voyage into the Boundary Waters! Our departing boat arrived right on time. Mike was very friendly and helpful. Overall, the service was outstanding. THANK YOU!

Name: Abu
City: MAPLE GROVE
State: MN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

     As BWCA canoe outfitters and parents we've had the opportunity to take a number of family canoe trips into the Boundary Waters. We love paddling with our kids and think a Boundary Waters canoe camping trip is one of the best family vacations there is.

     While there are a number of great BWCA trips to choose from for your family we've decided to list a few here for you to choose from.

Top 5 Family Trip Recommendations

1.      Saganaga or Red Rock Base Camp – We've done this BWCA trip even when our kids were in diapers. We've taken a tow boat ride to the Red Rock portage or to a campsite on Saganaga.  We've taken day trips, swam, picked blueberries, fished and had an awesome time.

2.      Duncan and Rose Lake – When the kids got a bit older we took them into Rose Lake. Stairway Portage is a beautiful portage that is next to a waterfall and is great fun to play in when hot outside.  It crosses the Border Route Hiking Trail that can be accessed for day hiking trips that entertain kids for hours. 

3.      East Bearskin, Alder, Canoe, Pine – Give this route a try if your kids are able to carry a small day pack.  A nice day trip is to walk the portage to Pine and then to Johnson Falls.  You can camp at one site or multiple sites during this trip.

4.      Granite River – A great trip for a young family to do a 3-5 day canoe camipng trip.  While there are lots of portages you can break them up by camping at multiple sites.  It's a great trip for avoiding wind because there isn't big water on the route. 

5.      Seagull, Knife Saganaga – If your children are a little bit older and have been on another trip then this is the perfect BWCA route.  It's a great 5-6 day loop route that has lakes of all sizes, great fishing and scenic vistas.  It requires a bit of paddling and portaging and is a great route for families who want to cover some ground and water!

 

Happy Paddling!

 
 

Don't even know where to begin shy of saying THANK YOU Voyageur Canoe Outfitters!!!!

This was my 1st trip to the Boundary Waters and one that I had been looking forward to for 5 years. When my son was turning 8 I told him that when he was turning 13 we would do a week long BWCA trip together. Knowing very well that once he hits the "Fume Years" (Gas Fumes and Perfumes) that he may have other priorities.

The BWCA trip was perfect. The staff at Voyageur's was outstanding (especially Mike), the bunk house the night before departure was comfy, the canoe was outstanding and the food way better than what I would have packed. We covered 18 Lakes, 20 Portages and had a little bit of everything on this Boundary Waters trip: Canoeing in the rain for about an hour, Sunny weather, calm winds, gusty winds, a storm at night, great fishing (my son caught his 1st Smallmouth and 1st Northern) and just about everything else I could have wanted out of the trip.

I have already begun recommending Voyageurs to my friends in the Las Vegas Canoe Club and really looking forward to doing the trip with my 9 year old in a few years.

Thanks again everyone, you have helped create outstanding memories that both my son and I will have for the rest of our lives.

Name: Tom & Alekzander Hall
City: Las Vegas
State: NV
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

I wanted to thank you for your polite, efficient, and professional service. I have been taking trips up in the area for 30 years and have used a few different outfitters. This trip was my first with Voyageurs and it will not be my last. Your staff was great and the service excellent. I will be recommending you to others and will use your services again in the future! Thanks for helping create a great BWCA canoe trip for us.

Sincerely,
Jim Condon

Name: Jim Condon
City: St. Paul
State: MN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

This year was my fourth trip into BWCA through Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. This year was different because it was just me and my 13 year old son. This was his first Boundary Waters trip. And what a blast we had. I chose the Boundary Waters entry point 54- Seagull Lake. My idea was to base camp in Seagull and portage into Alpine to do some serious fishing. After setting up camp the first day Me and my son spent the rest of the day swimming and "cliif diving off of a 8 ft cliff in the northern edge of Seagull.

We decided to go to Alpine in the morning. The first night after cleaning up supper, I was very tired so, i decided to goto bed at about 10:30. My son came in tent about midnight. And rouoghly around 12:30 am it started to rain. It did not quit until 11:00 am the next morning. After climbing out tent at 11:30, my son ask me "what do we do now".
At about the same time my son woke up from sleep, the sun appeared in the sky. I told my son get up and lets start hanging up sleeping bags and clothes. Everything in tent was completely soaked with rain water. We hung everything up on lines soo we could sleep on dry sleeping bags that night. Since sun was up, we decided to paddle to alpine. As soon as we reached the portage to Alpine it began to pour down rain. I son asked came we go back to camp. I told him yes that was fine. When we made it back to camp, everthing was completely soggy soaked. My son then asked" do we stay or do we go now? Since the time was 4:30, I told him the we go now.

Once we got back to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters Mike informed us the we received 4 inches of rain that day and that all other groups return in the early moring. I felt better that we were the last to come in. Even though we had 4 inches of rain I would not have chenged a thing. My son and I had a great father and son BWCA bonding experience. Thanks Voyageur Crew.

Name: Liell Lawvere
City: Upland
State: IN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

It was a four day BWCA voyage that created memories that will last a life time. Friendship Ventures journeyed into the BWCA with 10 boys ages 13-16 years old. Divided into two teams we conquered choppy water, freezing rain, blistering sun, and heavy packs. This trip was a platform for these boys to realize and awaken their true potential. I saw my campers amazed by the wonders of the outdoors, wearing an "AH HA" on their face after every discovery of something new. I watched them stand on the edge of fear as they built the confidence to take a leap, After the water rushes over them revealing the things they afraid of are not so bad. I witnessed the power of empathy and selflessness on portages when someone took on the personal responsible to help out another that was struggling. This Boundary Waters trip was a wonderful experience and Voyageur Canoe Outfitter helped use make it happen. A big thanks to all the staff at Voyageur.

Name: Jason Colvin
City: Eden Prairie
State: Minnesota
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

This was our first trip to the BWCA. We brought 2 adults and 4 kids (ages 6-11)! We purchased the Complete Outfitting Package with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters to make sure that we had everything we needed and to keep the trip as simple as possible from a packing perspective. It was a FANTASTIC experience!

The Voyageur staff was very professional and really took the time to go over the equipment, route, and maps with us until we felt comfortable. They also put us up in a nice rustic cabin and served a great pancake breakfast to get us going with a strong start. All of our equipment was in excellent condition and packed perfectly. The food was generous, well-packed, labeled perfectly, and really good. When we returned from our BWCA adventure, the staff had our car pulled up for easy loading, took care of all of the equipment immediately, and offered us towels and a shower.

I have done lots of camping trips before, but have never been outfitted by a company. This is really the way to go. I HIGHLY recommend VCO for their professionalism, high quality of gear, level of support, and the convenience.

Name: MB
City: Minneapolis
State: MN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

We spent the past long weekend with you in the BWCAW. As a former resident of the area, I am so happy to see Voyageur Canoe Outfitters doing such an outstanding job. You made us feel very welcome and made sure to provide us with details to make the Boundary Waters trip such a success. I will know doubt will recommend you to others. Great experience in the BWCA. We watched moose grazing in the water, beautiful sunsets, endless blueberries, and big northern!!! Well Done!!

Name: John
City: Stillwater
State: MN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

I took my daughters to the BWCA for their first time in June. We left the 1st and returned on the 5th. I had not been up to the Boundary Waters for over 20 years. The girls loved it and the Voyageur Canoe Outfitter crew was great. We camped on 3rd bay and fished in ottertrack and swamp. We also got caught in one of the hardest rainfalls they have ever seen coming out of Rabbit lake. We met many great folks while up there and they cannot wait to go back to the Boundary Waters.

Name: Kevin Murphy`
City: Lake Havasu City
State: Az
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

My paddling buddy and I had another great stay at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and a great trip to the Quetico Park. My paddIing buddy and I caught fish in the Quetico and appreciate all of the help the people at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters provided us for our canoe trip.

Name: Ben Shelton
City: Dallas
State: Texas
Voyage: Quetico Park Canoe Trip

We had trouble getting to Saganaga Lake in the BWCA June 14th because of the bad weather. We didn't make it to the Ranger Station before they closed so we had the permit sent to Seagull Outfitters but arrived there after 7pm and they were closed as well.

We were in a panic! I said to our group let’s try Voyageur Canoe Outfitters as we have stayed at your Lodge in the past.

Without question Mike helped us secure our Boundary Waters overnight motor permit!

A big “thank you” from the Kretschmer’s from Wabasha, MN.

Hope to get to your beautiful area one more time before the snow falls as we caught Walleye’s on Sag and my son Charlie caught a 44 inch Northern which was released to excite the next unknowing Smallmouth fisher person casting the shore line.

Name: Tim Kretschmer
City: Wabasha
State: MN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

Thank you Voyageur Canoe Outfitters for providing us with a canoe and bringing it to our Boundary Waters launch point at the beginning of June. You guys are awesome. Here are some highlights of our trip that wouldn't be possible without you guys. http://www.bwcaadventures.com/seagull-lake-to-saganaga-lake-trip-report/

Name: BWCA Adventures
City:
State:
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

    

     The dates are set for our BWCA canoe camping tips for Women and we'd love to have you be a part of one. If you have ever wanted to take a Boundary Waters canoe trip then this is the perfect opportunity.
     It doesn't matter if you have paddled extensively or if you have never been in a canoe you are welcome to participate in a Voyageur adventure. Our trips are designed so you can learn the necessary skills while you're out enjoying the canoe country with other women. You'll participate in all aspects of the trip including setting up the tent, cooking, cleaning, portaging and of course paddling.
      The benefits of the wilderness are many and you'll feel a new sense of confidence after accomplishing a BWCA canoe trip.

Itinerary
You will arrive at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on the first day of your session to meet the rest of your group and discuss your trip. After your routing session, you will pack up your personal articles and depart for 3 nights of camping and 4 days of paddling in the wilderness. Group participants will return to Voyageur on the 4th day and will spend the night in one of our luxurious Lodge Hideaway units to celebrate their accomplishment. Enjoy breakfast with us in the morning in our main lodge before you head for home with wonderful memories of your wilderness canoe camping experience.

Package
This package has been designed for women by women. This complete outfitting package includes everything you need for a wilderness canoe camping adventure. We provide sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, packs, food, canoe, lifevests, paddles and everything you need. You just bring your personal clothing, toiletry items and fishing gear if you want to fish. We send you a trip preparation packet prior to your trip to help you in the packing of your personal items. In an effort to bring awareness to women's health and to promote an active outdoor lifestyle we include a Pink Paddle made by Wenonah Canoe designed by owner of Voyageur Canoe Outfitter's Sue Prom. This is a lightweight, bent shaft paddle made from graphite that you will get to bring home with you.

     We are offering three scheduled Women's Trips for the summer of 2012. Each session features an easy route suitable for beginning paddlers and costs $500. To reserve your space on a trip just call us toll-free at 1-888-CANOEIT, tell us the session you want to participate in and secure your reservation with a deposit of $250.


July 2-6th- arrive & paddle on the 2nd, off water & stay in lodge on 5th, depart on 6th.

July 8-12th- arrive & paddle on the 8th, off water & stay in lodge on 11th, depart on 12th.

*July 15-19th- arrive & paddle on the 15th off & stay in lodge on 18th, depart on 19th. *For women 50 and older.
 

     The answer to the question, "How do I plan a Boundary Waters Trip?" is very simple, you just call an outfitter, preferably Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.   We can help you plan a BWCA canoe trip within a few minutes of speaking with you.

     The benefits of using the services of a canoe outfitter to help you plan your Boundary Waters Canoe Trip are endless.  We've been outfitting canoe trips into the wilderness for 20 years and we know the lakes and the routes.  We know what type of fish are in which lakes, the degree of difficulty of the portages and the best places to camp.  We also know where you are most likely to run into a moose and when you're most likely to see people.  We can tell you lots of valuable information about planning a Boundary Waters Canoe Trip but you have to give us a call first.

     It's our job to outfit folks into the Boundary Waters and to make sure they have a good time and return year after year.  We'll help you plan your Boundary Waters trip, we're ready and waiting to do so. 1-888-CANOEIT

     Is mealtime your favorite time when you're camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?  If so, then I bet you have some sort of method of madness for what you put into your BWCA food pack.  I have a method of my own when I'm on a solo BWCA canoe trip just as everyone has their own including the Voyageurs from many moons ago.

     A scientist named Kennicott had this to say about the Voyageurs' food after traveling with them.  "Pemmican is supposed by the outside world to consist only of pounded meat and grease; an egregious error, for from experience on the subject I am authorized to state that hair, sticks, bark, spruce leaves, stones, sand, etc. enter into its composition. It is very rarely that the Voyageurs reject anything in the shape of fish or bird...I think they would eat eggs so nearly hatched that the chick could almost peep."

     Most BWCA canoe trip enthusiasts aren't packing Pemmican or purposefully eating hair, sticks or bark.  I do know some folks who will kill and eat a grouse and I have even heard of a modern day Voyageur eating a birds' egg but this is seldom done in today's world.   

    However there are many people who take canoe trips into the Boundary Waters who bring along items to prepare fish for a meal.  Whether it is shortening & fish breading for frying or butter & garlic for grilling some folks plan to eat fish while in the woods.

     Then there are those people who want to eat in the Boundary Waters like they eat when they are at home.  This doesn't work well for me but if you don't mind carrying a ton of weight then pack in the potatoes, carrots, whole onions and fresh fruit.  You may as well bring along a cooler for all of the meat and other fresh food you plan to bring along as well.

     Maybe at home you eat lots of pre-packaged foods so in the BWCA you don't have to adjust your diet much from the pasta, rice-a-roni, hamburger helper and lipton noodles.  Carbohydrates from a box or pouch can easily be found and lately you can find meat in a pouch too.  Tuna and Spam come in pouches and I'm guessing chicken won't be far behind.

     In other people's food packs for their BWCA trip you might find everything dehydrated.  From the strawberries for their just add water shortcake to their astronaut ice cream if it's hydrated then it's not going into their food pack.

     Somewhere in between all of these Boundary Waters food pack options is a happy-medium.  That's what we like to supply at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.  Just the right mix of fresh foods, dehydrated items and things off of the grocery store shelf.  We've been packing for BWCA canoe trips for 20 years and we know what tastes good because we've tried it all.

     You may not eat just like you're at home while on your Boundary Waters canoe trip but believe me, nothing tastes bad when you're sitting beneath the stars and listening to the call of the loon.

 

 

     Deciding where to canoe in the Boundary Waters is always a tough decision whether it's your first trip, tenth trip or fiftieth trip.  Just like when you're planning a regular vacation you'll want to gather information for a BWCA canoe country vacation.  There is a plethora of information on the web including great commercial BWCA websites and outfitter websites.  There are also books published about popular BWCA canoe routes but keep in mind the information in books may not always be precise or up to date.

 

     To determine where you want to go in the BWCA you’ll need to know if fishing is an important part of your trip.  If fishing is important then you'll want to know what Boundary Waters lakes have which types of fish in them.  If you're going to paddle the BWCA in early May then find a lake trout lake because that's what will be biting then.  You'll also want to spend less time traveling and more time fishing if it's really important to catch fish.  Don’t plan to camp a 12 hour paddle from where you're BWCA starting point is or you’ll spend all of your time paddling and not fishing.

 

     Most folks want solitude on their Boundary Waters Canoe trip.  If your goal is solitude then choose a BWCA route with lots of long portages.  Look for lakes that are difficult to get to and farther in than a few hour paddle and find a BWCA campsite that is off of the beaten path.  This will keep you away from the vast majority of folks.  Don't be fooled by thinking an canoe entry point with lots of travel permits is necessarily bad.  There are smaller lakes off of some of these bigger lakes that you can find and have all to yourself. 

 

     Another factor in determining where you will go in the Boundary Waters is who you are going with.  If you’re paddling with elderly or small children then you may want to plan a base camp canoe trip.  Find a BWCA lake with good day trip opportunities so people have the option to paddle and portage or stay back and relax.

 

     There are lots of things to consider when planning a Boundary Waters canoe trip.  You can find a trip route finder on our website that might offer you some insight.  Also, we have maps we can mail you if you’d like to purchase one.  Then you can spend time looking at all of the BWCA lakes and dreaming about camping on them.

 

     No matter how many times I've been on Boundary Waters canoe trips it's still a tough decision to decide where to go.  Who I'm paddling with, how much time I have and how energetic I'm feeling all make a difference in what route I'll choose.  No matter where I go in the BWCA I know I’ll be happier there than anywhere else I could be and that’s a very good thing.