Spirit of the Wilderness
Choosing Your Boundary Waters/Quetico Canoe Trip
Canoe Rental, Guided Trips, Live Bait, Tackle & Gear
We’re a Boundary Waters and Quetico canoe outfitter based in Ely, Minnesota — the canoe capital of the upper Midwest. We’ve offered friendly, personal service for over 25 years, since 1999. Spirit of the Wilderness is a cooperator with the USDA Forest Service under the Superior National Forest, issuing permits into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), and we’re a Minnesota DNR lake service provider. As a cooperator, we operate as an equal opportunity service-provider and employer.
Your personal preferences, comfort and safety are all factors that you will ultimately judge the quality of your wilderness adventure into the Boundary Waters or Quetico – why leave any of this to chance.? The most important decision you will make before your trip is your choice of a Boundary Waters or Quetico outfitter. No one will give you the personal attention you need like Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitter and Bait Shop, located in Ely, Minnesota, the canoe capital of the upper Midwest.
Your personal preferences, comfort, and safety are the factors that ultimately define the quality of your wilderness adventure into the Boundary Waters or Quetico. Why leave any of this to chance? The most important decision you will make before your trip is choosing the right outfitter.
Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitter and Bait Shop is a trusted Boundary Waters outfitter located in Ely, Minnesota—the canoe capital of the upper Midwest. Offering friendly, personal service for over 25 years, since 1999, we pride ourselves on providing the attention and expertise every paddler deserves.
We’re a one-stop shop for your BWCA or Quetico trip. We offer outfitting packages — deluxe food packages, 5-day and 7-day packages, and camping-equipment-only options — plus a complete outfitting package with food, packs, tent, sleeping bags and pads, cook kit and utensils, stove with fuel, matches, TP, water filter, extra rope, camp saw, dining tarp, and (for Quetico travelers) a fire grate. We also sell outdoor clothing, footwear, fishing tackle, live bait, and camping gear; handle BWCA and Quetico permits across more than 30 entry points; provide routing advice and maps; rent lightweight kevlar and aluminum canoes; repair and recondition kevlar canoes; and offer transportation — entry-point and airport shuttles, plus towboat service.
We also sell outdoor clothing, footwear, fishing tackle, live bait, and all the camping gear you need to be fully prepared. Boundary Waters and Quetico permits must be reserved in advance, and we do handle the permit process for you. We service over 30 entry points and help simplify the reservation process.
To enhance your experience, we provide routing advice and maps tailored to your trip. Canoe rentals include lightweight kevlar canoes for easy portaging and aluminum canoes for budget-minded travelers. We also repair and recondition kevlar canoes using proper resin techniques.
Transportation services include shuttles to entry points and Minnesota airports, as well as towboat services to key wilderness access points. In the end, your adventure is judged by comfort, safety, and enjoyment—and at Spirit of the Wilderness, we help ensure your trip is truly memorable.
What sets us apart:
- Over 25 years of experience, in business since 1999
- A true one-stop shop covering permits, gear, food, canoe rental, and transportation
- Kevlar canoe repair and reconditioning using proper resin techniques
- Both lightweight kevlar canoes (for easier portaging) and aluminum canoes (for budget-minded travelers)
- Permit and routing support across more than 30 BWCA and Quetico entry points
- Location in Ely, Minnesota — “the canoe capital of the upper Midwest”
Q&A’s
Q: Where is Spirit of the Wilderness located?
A: We’re at 2030 E Sheridan St., Ely, MN 55731 — the canoe capital of the upper Midwest.
Q: How long has Spirit of the Wilderness been in business?
A: We’ve offered friendly, personal service for over 25 years, since 1999.
Q: What’s included in the complete outfitting package?
A: Food, packs, tent, sleeping bags and pads, cook kit and utensils, stove with fuel, matches, TP, water filter, extra rope, camp saw, dining tarp, and — for Quetico travelers — a fire grate.
Q: Does Spirit of the Wilderness handle BWCA and Quetico permits?
A: Yes — permits must be reserved in advance, and we handle the permit process for you, servicing over 30 entry points.
