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
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
Every once in awhile we'll hear the question, "Why should I paddle with
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters?" Our first thought to this question is, "Because we're the best!" And while this statement is true it might sound a bit like bragging so we usually tone it down a little bit.
Our answer to why take your BWCA trip with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters goes something like this. We've been year round residents at the end of the Gunflint Trail since 1993 and have been outfitting BWCA trips since then.
We're 56 miles from the nearest town of Grand Marais, MN and you are already in the wilderness when you begin your trip up the Trail. Just by driving the Gunflint Trail and coming to Voyageur you're farther into the wilderness than some people get on their Boundary Waters canoe trips.
We love what we do and where we live and this shows. Our enthusiasm and love of the wilderness is evident and we want to share this love with as many people as we can. We take pride in being the best there is in BWCA trip outfitting. We're knowledgeable about the Boundary Waters, Quetico Park, wilderness fishing and camping and everything Gunflint Trail.
We have an excellent facility and incredible staff and we provide a one-of-a-kind outfitting experience. We guarantee your satisfaction with Voyageur and the number of repeat customers we have speaks loudly.
There it is in a nutshell. While it may be easier to just say we're the best it's probably better to give the lengthy explanation, even though we really are the best!
Granite Gear makes some great gear right here in Minnesota. Their Superior One pack is the ultimate vessel for canoe tripping. This bag is ultra durable and reliable. This summer, I spent 77 days paddling and portaging from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. The Granite Gear pack held up better than I could have ever expected. Over the nearly three month trip, I never lost a buckle, broke a strap, or felt like it was time to take it easy with the Superior One. This bag got tossed onto shore, fully loaded every day. At the end of the trip the pack got washed and it looked almost like new. Basically, these Granite Gear bags are indestructible and the perfect choice for paddling and packing in the BWCA and Quetico.
When you outfit with
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters you'll be happy to carry their Granite Gear packs across the portages in the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park.
Name: Andrew Spaeth
City: Truckee
State: California
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
Have you ever spent 77 consecutive days in a canoe? A few friends and I spent our summer between the mesh seat and the portage pads of a couple of
Wenonah Champlains.
Wenonah makes awesome canoes and the Champlain was nothing but impressive. It's the perfect canoe for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the perfect canoe for any trip! It is obvious that Wenonah got it right when they designed this boat. It has plenty of room for packs, gear, fishing tackle, and even a duffer (or two). The canoe tracked like a dream across the big water of Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg. In the white water on the Hayes and God's Rivers in Northern Manitoba it did exceptionally well! Even though the canoe measures at about 18 feet, it paddles like a 16 footer in the rapids. Easy to maneuver around obstacles and keep pointed down river.
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters outfits their BWCA canoe camping trips with Minnesota Made Wenonah canoes. You can test out the Champlain on your next Boundary Waters or Quetico Park adventure with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
Name: Andrew Spaeth
City: Truckee
State: California
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
This summer, some former employees of
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters took the trip of a lifetime. We spent 77 days paddling over 1300 miles from Lake Superior to
Hudson Bay. Voyageur Canoe Outfitters helped outfit the trip! They provided us with the same great gear that they send with their guests into the BWCAW and Quetico. We paddled the
Wenonah Champlain propelled by the one and only
pink paddles. Our gear, food, clothes, and all the extras were stashed in the
Granite Gear Superior One and 3.5 packs. You definitely need some high energy food when portaging and paddling. VCO outfits groups with Richmor and Alpine Aire freeze dried foods. This stuff helped keep our bodies fueled for those long days on Lake Winnipeg and undoubtedly kept our packs light with the panoply of freeze dried options. High quality products and a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks- VCO- for an awesome trip!
Name: Andrew Spaeth
City: Truckee
State: California
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
It's always nice to hear positive comments about
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters from our guests. I'm not sure why it's even sweeter when it's a celebrity but we thought we would share what Don Shelby had to say about Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
The endorsement:
"I spend a lot of quality time in the Superior-Quetico. The Quetico is particularly special to me. On our last trip, I asked Mike Prom of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters to find us a remote route. He found one with three lakesand a river with no names. We were alone. Exactly the way I wanted it. When I go into the Quetico, I rely on Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, whether it's a tow or complete outfitting, nobody does it better."
This was our 23rd year canoeing / fishing the Quetico. Many of the years consisted of two trips. This trip we paddled Lake Saganagons from Silver Falls to Boundary Point, camping and fished for 6 days. The weather was great, with a little of everything. Heat, storms and a few cool mornings that gets a fisherman excited. We do mainly catch and release, but do keep one or two for what I call " The best meal on a rock”. The largest Walleye was 28” (all four of us caught at least one) and the largest Northern measured out at 36 inches.
I can’t say enough about Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. With the loss of Superior Northern Outfitters during the Ham lake fire, we we’re taken in by Voyageurs. Mike, Sue and crew were great taking us in at the time and we have been with them ever since. They know how to pick a crew! The young adults they have working for them are always so friendly and helpful. We will be back as long as I’m able to carry my canoe and master the portages of Silver Falls and beyond.
Dennis Black (Stillwater, MN)
Name: Dennis Black
City: Stillwater
State: MN
Voyage: Quetico Park Canoe Trip
It's been cold and snowy in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness but I still can't quit thinking about a wilderness canoe trip. There are so many lakes to camp and paddle in and I only have to catch a glimpse of a map to start dreaming about where I'll canoe this summer.
Dreaming of and planning a canoe trip are two different things. If you want to take a BWCA canoe trip this summer then just give us a call at
Voyageur, 1-888-CANOEIT. We can help you plan the route, reserve the permit and get you set up with all of the gear you need.
We're trying to help another group of people plan a different kind of canoe trip this summer. Voyageur Canoe Outfitter crew members Andrew Spaeth, Adam Maxwell, Mike Swenson along with Ranger Janice Matichuk's son Leif are planning to paddle from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. We're not quite as familiar with the lakes and rivers of the area in Canada but we're very excited to be a part of their trip.
Every canoe camping trip is an adventure whether it's in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Quetico Park or the vast wilderness of Canada. We get excited to help everyone plan their trip because it's such an awesome experience. So, don't delay, give us a call today so we can start planning your 2011 BWCA trip.
Vacation time can be difficult to come by and that's why it is so important to make the most of every one you have. There are many things to consider when planning a canoe trip into the Boundary Waters or Quetico Park. One very important decision to make is which canoe trip outfitter will you choose?
If you're like me you spend alot of time wondering if you are making the right choice when you're planning a vacation. There are lots of BWCA outfitters out there so how can you know which one is the best?
One resource I like to use when I'm planning trips elsewhere is Trip Advisor. The problem with the site is the ratings aren't always accurate and some people go strictly by the ratings and don't read the reviews.
For the folks who do read reviews and go by Trip Advisor ratings we would like to help them make the best decision for their Boundary Waters wilderness canoe trip outfitter. We of course think we're the best BWCA outfitter and we hope you do too.
We're also hoping you will take the time to help others choose
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. You can do that by posting a positive review for us on Trip Advisor. It only takes a minute and you'll save folks from having to worry about making the right choice for their wilderness vacation.
Now that October is here a Boundary Waters permit reservation is no longer needed. Self-issue BWCA permits are available to fill out at the BWCA entry points but no reservation or payment is needed.
That's just one of the great things about paddling the Boundary Waters in October. One look at this week's forecast for the BWCA had me jumping for joy and trying to juggle my schedule so I can get out on another Boundary Waters canoe trip.
The forecast calls for temperatures in the 60's and sunny skies. Sounds perfect for canoe camping in the wilderness. I love to sit at a BWCA campsite and enjoy the fall scenery and smells that surround me.
We had canoe groups out paddling the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park this past weekend. They enjoyed the sunshine, solitude and good fishing that October has brought. It's not every week a forecast in October looks this favorable for canoeing the BWCA so you need to take advantage of this rare opportunity.
We're still open for business at
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters and we'd love to see you at the end of the Gunflint Trail. Call us today 1-888-CANOEIT and plan your canoe trip or resort stay, but hurry, this beautiful weather won't last long.
Mike has returned from his short but sweet BWCA camping trip. He left from
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on Sunday and returned on Wednesday. He was on the trip with a writer by the name of Jordan Fisher Smith who was a Park Ranger in the Sierra Nevada for a number of years. He wrote a book about his experience called
Nature Noir which is now on my "To Read" list. Mike and Jordan had a great time on their Boundary Waters canoe trip.
They entered the Boundary Waters through Saganaga Lake with a tow out to American Point. They paddled west from American Point and stopped at Benny Ambrose's place on Ottertrack and Dorothy Molter's place on Knife Lake before heading south through the small lakes to Ogish. Dorothy and Benny were the last people allowed to live in the Boundary Waters when it became a wilderness area. After Ogish they made their way back to Voyageur exiting the BWCA via Seagull Lake in the rain.
The weather was pretty good for their wilderness canoe trip with just a little bit of rain and wind. It's always nice to have a rainy day in the Boundary Waters because it makes you appreciate the sunshine that much more. The temperatures were steady in the 50's during the daytime and only down into the 40's at night. Perfect temperatures for paddling, portaging and camping in the Boundary Waters and not a bug to be seen.
The water in the lakes of the BWCA are a little too cold for swimming now but are still great for fishing. Smallmouth bass fishing closed in the middle of the month except for along the border waters of the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park. They are still biting as are the lake trout who are preparing to spawn. The northern pike were aggressive and they enjoyed a nice fish dinner around their Boundary Waters campfire.
Lucky Mike got to go paddling in the BWCA and spend three nights in the canoe country heaven. In spite of the cooler temperatures I'm still hoping to get out in the Boundary Waters for a couple of more nights of camping in the wilderness. The colors are gorgeous, the wildlife is abundant and the paddling is good until the water turns solid.
There's a side of the crew at
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters that our guests don't get to see. It's kind of like the underworld at Disney where characters walk beneath the park in tunnels so no one ever knows where or who Mickey Mouse is when not in costume. This wicked side only rears its ugly head when a crew member announces their intention to take a Boundary Waters or Quetico Park canoe trip.
Ears prick up and evil thoughts enter the minds of all Voyageur Crew. Ideas pop into their heads of what to put in the canoe trippers pack. Born out of jealousy? I'm not so sure but the tradition of sneaking something unwanted into a pack continues to haunt the crew of Voyageur.
Imagine the shock of unpacking your duluth pack at your first campsite only to find a blender in the bottom. What to do? Carry it the rest of the trip and wonder when and how someone was able to slip it in there without you knowing. When did you let your guard down enough for someone to put an entire watermelon into your pack without you noticing? At least you could eat your stupidity and not suffer by having to carry it the rest of the canoe trip. How could you not have noticed the twenty extra pounds of laundry detergent when you were portaging from one BWCA lake to the next?
It is a wicked world that exists at Voyageur that most Boundary Waters or Quetico Park guests never get to see. They pack their bags by flashlight, lock them in their vehicles, wear them constantly until they are in the towboat and ready to go. But wait, someone needs something from the office and you leave, letting your guard down for just that second. Returning you notice a bulge at the top of your pack and smuggly remove it, not bothering to dig deeper and find the bigger one below.
This year's Voyageur Crew was as crafty as Tom Hanks with his friend Wilson the volleyball. Bricky, a brick was born. Bricky has traveled to more than one wilderness lake in the Boundary Waters and will perhaps be the most well traveled brick of all time. He'll most likely be the most photographed brick as well.
How clever the crew can be and how wonderfully wicked as well.
It takes a very special person to appreciate all a BWCA or Quetico Park wilderness vacation can offer. Adventure travel is a popular trend in vacationing and more and more people are enjoying it each year. A canoe camping trip in the Boundary Waters or Quetico Park is a unique opportunity for a vacation of a lifetime.
There are many benefits of taking a canoe camping wilderness vacation this summer, we've listed just a few:
- Solitude and serenity on a remote campsite occupied only by your group and not another one in sight.
- Paddling across open expanses of pure water surrounded by towering pines.
- Fishing from a canoe or shore and catching delicious fish for lunch.
- Listening to the call of the wild, the howling of wolves, the cry of the loons.
- Exploring rock palisades and scenic vistas while hiking in the woods.
- Swimming in the cool, clean waters underneath the sparkling sun.
- Sleeping in a tent underneath the stars and Northern Lights.
- Catching the scent of fresh air and pine trees as the wind blows lightly through the trees.
- Reading or reflecting on the day while perched on a rocky ledge.
- Enjoying the warmth of a campfire and company of good friends or family.
These are just a few of the many benefits of taking a canoe trip into the wilderness through Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. If your idea of camping is flush toilets, activity filled campgrounds, located five minutes from the nearest town, then this is not the place to come. But if you are looking for a wilderness canoe camping adventure, then this is the place.
A Boundary Waters canoe trip outfitter can help you get into the canoe country wilderness more often and for more time. If you're short on time then let an outfitter pack all of your necessary gear for a Boundary Waters or Quetico Park canoe trip. When you leave the work to the outfitter you can spend your time paddling the wilderness waters.
A BWCA canoe outfitter has all of the necessary canoe gear for a camping trip into the wilderness. The canoe camping equipment is usually top notch and in good repair since it is used often. It's great to be able to just show up at the canoe trip outfitters with your personal items and have everything else ready for your canoe trip.
Most outfitters will provide a list of what is included in their outfitting package as well as a recommended Boundary Waters' pack list for you. Here's
Voyageur Canoe Outfitter's recommended list of items to bring into the BWCA.
- *One loose fitting T-shirt (cotton)
- *One long sleeve shirt (cotton)
- *One warm long sleeved shirt (fleece or flannel shirt)
- One pair of shorts
- One swimsuit or swimshorts
- One pair of lightweight cotton or windbreaker pants (fast drying)
- One pair warm pants (wool or quick drying)
- A few pair of socks and underwear (remember you can wash them)
- Two pairs of shoes (one pair of Teva or wet shoes, one pair of tennis shoes, moccasins or Goretex boots)
- *One rainsuit (both pants and jacket used for windbreaker on cool days)
- *One hat wide brimmed for sun or rain protection)
- In the spring or fall - add a set of wool or goretex clothing, hat, gloves, wool socks and warm boots.
- * A flashlight or headlamp (one per tent)
*A good pocket knife - *Sunscreen
- *Camp Towel
- *Mosquito repellent
- *Lip balm
- *Head nets
- *Sunglasses
- *Camera and extra film
- *A good book
- *Fishing gear
- Pillow case (fill with clothes and use as a pillow)
- *Camp pillow
- *Deck of cards
- *Notebook and pencil
- *Day pack or fanny pack
When you only have to pack your personal items for a wilderness canoe trip you won't spend much time packing. This will leave you with more time to spend in the Boundary Waters and best of all, when you return from the BWCA and your gear is soiled and wet you can leave it behind with the outfitter and they'll take care of it for you.
Here are a few of my favorite items to bring along on a Boundary Waters Canoe Trip.
- BWCA Camp towels are lightweight, absorbent and dry quickly
- SteriPens- purifies 16 oz. of water in less than a minute
- Travel Pillow Case- or any pillow case to stuff clothes into and use as a pillow
- Headlamp- keeps hands free and is much smaller than a normal flashlight
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