• Getawaytoitall
  • Thecalloftheloon
  • 2klakesinterconnectedportagetrails
  • 1-Sunset
  • 2-Three-Guys-in-Canoe
  • drinkthewater


Get away TO it all in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park!

"To what?" Get away TO it all in the Boundary Waters canoe adventure! Get away to pristine lakes, pine-covered forests, and unsurpassed natural beauty. Get away to a kind of tranquility that is reserved only for those who would leave work and worries, cell phones and social media, traffic lights and headline news behind them to discover a northern wilderness paradise—the greatest of its kind in the world. This is canoe country. This is the famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in northeastern Minnesota and the Quetico Provincial Park, just over the border in Ontario, Canada. Together they encompass over two million acres with more than 2,000 lakes interconnected by streams, rivers, and portage trails, all set apart to be forever wild. It's here, waiting for you to come and explore on your Minnesota Boundary Waters canoe trip!

This is the place where it is possible for an angler's wildest dreams to come true, with world-class fishing for smallmouth bass, walleye, northern pike, and lake trout. You'll also find abundant largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, stream trout, and more. Wildlife, such as moose, deer, bald eagle, beaver, black bear, otter, mink, marten, and fisher thrive here. The cry of the loon and the distant howl of a timber wolf make your Northwoods nights special occasions that linger long in your memory.

What's here is defined by what isn't here: in over two million acres of wilderness, there are no roads, no cabins, and no signs of modern civilization. Motorboats are forbidden in all but a few peripheral lakes. Airplanes are prohibited from flying below 4,000 feet.

You step out of the ordinary, work-a-day world and step into an extraordinary, unspoiled realm of sparkling blue waters, spectacular granite cliffs, and dense pine and birch forests.

Yes, this is canoe country. You'll sleep out in tents; cook over the open fire; and drink the water out of the lakes. Your vehicle is your canoe; your motor is your paddle; and your adventure is where your wilderness canoe trip takes you. Here you'll find the simple pleasures of life most rewarding: freshly caught fish sizzling on a hot griddle; stunning sunrises and sunsets; clean air and pure waters to clear the mind and refresh the soul. Night skies are so jam packed, you simply must stretch out on a slab of ledge rock and watch the "stars" of the show… maybe even see the northern lights on a cool evening. Take it all in, here in canoe country.

What we are is a Boundary Waters outfitter located near beautiful Ely, Minnesota. We outfit your canoe trip with state-of-the-art, ultra-light canoes and camping equipment designed specifically for the Boundary Waters wilderness, along with plenty of tasty food provisions, all of which make for a comfortable, enjoyable wilderness adventure. Whether traveling you're your family or friends, experts or novice, we can plan the ideal canoe trip for you. Some people like to travel; some like to base camp. Some prefer to do a combination of the two. Whether you're primarily interested in fishing, sightseeing, photography, history, adventure travel, or just plain relaxation, let our family at Way To Go Canoe Outfitters custom design a trip for you that will meet or exceed your expectations on your Boundary Waters canoe adventure.


Sunrise...


...Sunset

Way To Go Canoe Outfitters In Ely, MN