Ely Outfitting Company

09/08/2026

Great review from Joe... "Ely Outfitting was a fantastic choice for our seven day trip into the Boundary Waters. All we needed to do was show up with our clothes for the trip and they took care of the rest. Super friendly staff, and informative orientation on all equipment. Highly recommend."

09/07/2026

Amy and Dave Freeman are planning another adventure! Did you know that the Freemans have a long history with Ely Outfitting Co? Most summers you can find Amy working in our shop, and you can find Dave out in the BWCAW guiding canoe trips for us.

Their latest adventure advocacy project is called "Pedal to the Polls". Beginning September 22nd, the duo will bike 1,215 miles across Minnesota over 40 consecutive days (with a canoe in tow!) to rally Minnesotans to get out and vote for Boundary Waters champions this midterm.

The message behind Pedal to the Polls is simple — the Boundary Waters is on the ballot this election, and we need to elect champions to the Minnesota State Legislature who will stand up for permanent protection of this incredible Wilderness through legislation.

Follow Amy and Dave as they ride across the state to encourage Minnesotans to get out and vote for Boundary Waters champions this midterm!

We will share more details about event stops, volunteer opportunities, and ways to get involved soon. We hope you’ll join , and the Freemans on the road this fall to help us make sure the Boundary Waters is protected for generations to come!

Visit pedaltothepolls.com. 🚲🗳

09/04/2026

Here is the latest info about BWCAW entry points reopening. Beginning September 8, the following entry points are reopening:

• 12 Little Vermilion Lake (Overnight Paddle or Motor)
• 12A Lac La Croix Only (Overnight Paddle or Motor)
• 13 Herriman Lake Trail
• 22 Mudro Lake–Restricted
• 23 Mudro Lake
• 24 Fall Lake

The Superior NF continues to reopen recreation areas temporarily impacted by the July wildfires for public enjoyment.

Starting on September 8, Phase 10 will reopen additional BWCAW
entry points on the Kawishiwi and LaCroix Ranger Districts, and more recreation areas along the Echo Trail.

These locations include BWCAW Entry Points 12-Little Vermilion, 12A-Lac La Croix Only, 13-Herriman Lake Trail, 22-Mudro Lake Restricted, 23-Mudro Lake, and 24-Fall Lake.

Recreation areas include Ed Shave Road and boat launch; Meander Lake picnic area, fishing pier, and backcountry sites; and Fire and Ice Interpretive Trail

Visitors are reminded to watch for wildfire hazards like burnt and unstable hazard trees and stump holes. Public and firefighter safety remains our top priority. Maps and recreation lists related to closures are available at: https://fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/alerts

Information on recreation opportunities on the Forest is available:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/recreation

09/03/2026

Great review from Carolyn... "We had an excellent trip on the Boundary Waters, made better by the advice and help from Ely Outfitting Company. Recommendations for gear and great spots to see made the adventure so much more fun! The business is professionally run, it gives you great confidence that the trip will go smoothly. Can't wait to come back, Carolyn & Albert"

"We had an excellent trip on the Boundary Waters, made better by the advice and help from Ely Outfitting Company. Recommendations for gear and great spots to see made the adventure so much more fun! The business is professionally run, it gives you great confidence that the trip will go smoothly. Can...

09/01/2026

Happy first day of September! We've already experienced a few gorgeous misty mornings, and there are plenty more in store. Who else out there loves fall in the BWCAW for this very reason?

Photo by

09/01/2026

Great review from David... "Five of us old timers (all over 65) took our trip from August 24th - 28th. I’ve had a few days to consider my review and the first thing I have to say is our guide, Dave Freeman, was excellent. Foremost, he kept us safe. This trip isn’t “easy” and there are hidden dangers everywhere. Second, he knew what to do when we experienced 1.3 inches of rain our first 30 hours. Third, he was friendly. Fourth, he was a great cook.

Outside of that the boundary waters is a wonderful place to unplug from the daily grind. Ely Outfitters knew how to prepare us and they did a great job with the gear. My only complaint is they need to figure out better camping pillows."

09/01/2026

Great review from S &... "This is my third year using Ely Outfitting Company and there will be many more to come! I loved it so much my first time I had to bring my wife and kids. At ages 9 and 7 my children fell in love and wanted to make it an annual tradition. EOC makes it easy to do this! Every year they impress me with their knowledge of the trips they line up for us; from the best campsites to the best fishing spots!

This year we decided to stay in the bunk houses. They were very clean and comfortable! Highly recommend the stay!

Ely Outfitting Company is more than an outfitter, they’re changing lives and helping people of all ages fall in love with BWCA!

Theo, Joe, and Scott all made 2026 a great trip for us!"

"This is my third year using Ely Outfitting Company and there will be many more to come! I loved it so much my first time I had to bring my wife and kids. At ages 9 and 7 my children fell in love and wanted to make it an annual tradition. EOC makes it easy to do this! Every year they impress me with...

08/31/2026

Great review from Mark... "This was an amazing experience and Dave was a fantastic guide.

Mark"

"This was an amazing experience and Dave was a fantastic guide. Mark"

08/30/2026

Great review from Chet... "We spent 4 wonderful days and 3 nights in the BWCA with an amazing guide, Dave Freeman, whose knowledge, experience, and hospitality made this a trip an experience of a lifetime. Due to his extensive time in the BWCA he knew each river, lake, portage path, and campsite. He carefully chose our daily route based on our needs and the water and weather conditions. Dave taught us about the animals we saw and heard. He also provided tips on canoeing. And each wilderness meal he prepared was delicious.

We traveled from California to visit Lake Superior and knew we wanted to experience the beauty of the Boundary Waters wilderness with experienced guides. After some research, we chose Ely Outfitting Company and were so glad we did.

The Ely Outfitter team helped us select a route and guided us through the permit process. They were always available for questions or revisions via email and phone calls. We chose the fully guided option as we were flying in and didn’t want to hassle with all the equipment.

From the thoroughness of the gear provided to the menu that the Ely Outfitting team put together based on our selections, the experience came off without a hitch. We highly recommend booking a trip with the Ely Outfitting Company.
We’re already considering how and when we might return to travel this magical place with Ely Outfitters."

"We spent 4 wonderful days and 3 nights in the BWCA with an amazing guide, Dave Freeman, whose knowledge, experience, and hospitality made this a trip an experience of a lifetime. Due to his extensive time in the BWCA he knew each river, lake, portage path, and campsite. He carefully chose our daily...

08/29/2026

Great review from Chet... "We spent 4 wonderful days and 3 nights in the BWCA with an amazing guide, Dave Freeman, whose knowledge, experience, and hospitality made this a trip an experience of a lifetime. Due to his extensive time in the BWCA he knew each river, lake, portage path, and campsite. He carefully chose our daily route based on our needs and the water and weather conditions. Dave taught us about the animals we saw and heard. He also provided tips on canoeing. And each wilderness meal he prepared was delicious.

We traveled from California to visit Lake Superior and knew we wanted to experience the beauty of the Boundary Waters wilderness with experienced guides. After some research, we chose Ely Outfitting Company and were so glad we did.

The Ely Outfitter team helped us select a route and guided us through the permit process. They were always available for questions or revisions via email and phone calls. We chose the fully guided option as we were flying in and didn’t want to hassle with all the equipment.

From the thoroughness of the gear provided to the menu that the Ely Outfitting team put together based on our selections, the experience came off without a hitch. We highly recommend booking a trip with the Ely Outfitting Company.
We’re already considering how and when we might return to travel this magical place with Ely Outfitters."

"We spent 4 wonderful days and 3 nights in the BWCA with an amazing guide, Dave Freeman, whose knowledge, experience, and hospitality made this a trip an experience of a lifetime. Due to his extensive time in the BWCA he knew each river, lake, portage path, and campsite. He carefully chose our daily...