Northern Minnesota is home to the famous Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness -- the largest canoeing wilderness in the United States. There are over 1,000 clear water lakes in this million+ acre wilderness. It makes up the finest canoeing area available.

The Gunflint Trail (a 60 mile paved road) is a corridor into Boundary Waters. It travels by hundreds of deep rocky lakes scoured out by glaciers centuries ago. Some of the waters flow to the Atlantic and some to the Arctic. This area has the finest lake trout fishing in mid America and is home to a significant moose population. The Gunflint Trail offers a variety of disbursed entry points, so canoeists can get into the wilderness quickly and without going down long and busy entry lakes. In addition, you have the beauty of the North Shore Drive along Lake Superior as you come north to the Gunflint.

Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters is located 43 miles up the Gunflint Trail from the village of Grand Marais. All the canoe trip landings along the Gunflint Trail are within 15 to 20 minutes of us. Here at Gunflint we have a complete outfitting company, plus overnight accommodations, adjacent Gunflint Lodge facilities that include a variety of lake side cabins, a gourmet dining room as well as The Red Paddle Bistro and an assortment of activities from fishing to horseback riding to hiking to canoeing, etc. The Kerfoot family came to Gunflint in 1927 and the 4th generation of the family now leads the operation.

It would be a pleasure to welcome you to Gunflint for an outstanding wilderness canoe trip.

Making your Trip Reservations with Us

We would like to talk over your interests, the amount of time you have for your trip, and the experience level you have in camping and canoeing. With this information we can make recommendations for canoe routes that would be right for you. After you make your reservation with a deposit, we will contact the Boundary Waters permitting center or the Quetico Provincial Park to reserve your entry permit. We do need your deposit before reserving any permits in your name. Once your deposit and permit are processed we will send you your confirmation packet with a trip map, menu and sample itinerary. Then you can start dreaming about the good times ahead of you for an outstanding wilderness canoe trip, and we will look forward to welcoming you to Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters.

Fishing Licenses

You may purchase a Minnesota or Canadian fishing license at Gunflint Lodge adjacent to our outfitting location. Minnesota offers resident and non resident licenses ranging from 1 day to season in length. Canada has non resident 8 day or season licenses. Both offer cheaper conservation licenses with a reduced bag limit. (We are the only business selling Canadian fishing licenses in Minnesota).

Deposits, Payments & Cancellation Policy

A trip reservation deposit of $300.00 for completely outfitted trips or $100 for partially outfitted trips is required when you book your trip. The balance of your charges will be paid when you arrive and we are reviewing the details of your trip. If for any reason you have to cancel your reservation, our refund policy is: More than 30 days before your arrival- we will refund all but your permit fees and a $50 processing fee. Less than 30 days before your arrival- You lose your deposit unless you want to rebook a new date.

Permits and camping fees

Under the regulations of the U.S. Forest Service, Quetico Provincial Park and the LaVeren drye Park, each travel group is limited in size to no more than 9 people and 4 watercraft. We will go over all the details with you at the time you make your reservations with us. The costs of travel within the BWCAW are a base fee of $14.00 per permit, plus $16.00 per adult and $8.00 per youth (17 & younger) for the entire time of your trip. New this year: For non-profit groups reserving permits for the Boundary Waters it is required to have the tax exempt number from all non-profit groups. Costs for the Quetico Provincial Park are a $115.00 basic permit fee, plus over¬night camping fees and a deposit at the time of booking. We need your credit card for any Quetico Provincial Park transactions. If the size of your group is over the 9 people we prefer to plan a separate route for each sub group, as participants are not allowed to visit with others if that puts more than 9 people in one place at one time.

Remote Area Border Crossing Permit (RABC)

If you want to visit and travel in Canada at any point during your trip (Quetico or LaVerendrye Parks) you will need an RABC permit, since you are not reporting into Canada through a port of entry. The cost is $30.00 Canadian per adult or per family (spouse and dependent children). The easiest way to obtain the permit is online at: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/forms-formulaires/bsf386-eng.pdf. Please allow 4 weeks or longer for the Canadians to process this and send it back to you. You must carry the permit with you while on your trip, plus personal identification (preferably your passport). Each participant in a group trip must have their own permit.

Taxes & Gratuities

The Minnesota state sales tax is 7.875%. A 4% bed tax will be added to Canoer Cabin packages and Lodge Cabin upgrades. Gratuities (for the dining staff at Gunflint Lodge or your Canoe Guide, if you have one) are not included in the package rates; they will appreciate your consideration.