OUTFITTING
Let Sawtooth Outfitters "outfit" your next visit to the BWCA!
| Complete Outfitting | Partial Outfitting | Primary Entry Point to BWCA | Trip Planning | Local Accomodations |
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The goal of a completely outfitted trip is to provide you with the best of what you'll need to enjoy your vacation. We don't have set tours or packages, each trip is custom designed for you.
Proper planning is essential for a good trip. Consider the following as you plan your wilderness vacation:
1. How comfortable are you in a canoe and with wilderness camping? We are used to working with people of all abilities. Our experience and advice helps give you the confidence needed for this adventure.
2. How many days do you plan to be out? Four to six days is about average.
3. Do you want to base camp or travel each day?
4. How important is fishing, photography or relaxation?
Based on this information, we will work with you to select an entry point and plan a trip route. As we focus on your trip goals, we can recommend appropriate gear.
Sawtooth Outfitters provides:
- The proper canoe for your trip based on your needs and trip plan.
- Paddles fitted to you and your canoe.
- Vest style "paddling" life jackets that are comfortable to wear.
- Eureka Tents; 2, 4 or 6 man. All have floors, cross ventilation, are bug-proof and have storm shield exteriors.
- Therm-a-rest self-inflating air mattresses to sleep on in comfort.
- Sleeping bags that are freshly laundered with Hollofil II insulation.
- A wilderness kitchen that will include everything you need per your selected menu. For example: stainless steel pots and pans, silverware, cups, coffee pot, plastic plates, large spoon, spatula, and cleaning items. Peak I Coleman stove is also provided, along with a folding saw, matches, and fire starters. A tarp will be sized to your group. It will provide shelter to eat and cook under.
- A backcountry emergency medical first-aid kit with all the items you would expect to handle small or large medical problems.
- Granite Gear packs with padded shoulder straps and hip belts for your food and personal gear. The food pack has a cardboard box with poly liner or you can use a bear resistant barrel depending on time of year and entry point.
- Other items we provide: toilet paper, 2 ropes-50 feet each, waterproof maps, compass, water filter and map case.
- Instructions on your pre-selected menu prior to packing. We have field tested and tasted all of the dehydrated foods on the menu.
What You Should Bring...
- 1-T-Shirt
- 1- Long Sleeve Shirt (light weight and quick drying)
- 1- Pair of shorts and pants or 1 pair of zip off pants
- 1- Long underwear top and bottom
- 1- Fleece or wool top and bottom
- 1- Swimsuit
- Socks and underwear
- Rain jacket and pants that can also be used as windbreakers
- 1- pair of shoes to get wet. Portages can be rocky, rugged, and muddy. Shoes should have good support. Flip flops are not a good idea.
- 1- pair of dry shoes for camp
- Hat for sun and rain protection
- Sunscreen and lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Mosquito Repellent
- Toilet Articles
- Pack Towel
- Headnets
- Headlight or Flashlight
- Pocket Knife
- Camera
- Fishing Gear
- Book, deck of cards, and/or travel games
- Journal
- Water Bottle
Temperatures could be anywhere from freezing to 90 degrees, even in August. Coming in May, June, Sept, or Oct?... You could see snow. Your clothing should be able to keep you warm in all temps. It is best to dress in layers and stay away from cotton. Synthetic or wool clothing offers good insulation and dries quickly. Lightweight long pants and long sleeve tops can also keep those pesky mosquitoes and flies off of you. Need help or suggestions, let us know. We are here to help.
Complete Outfitting Rates
per person, per trip with a 3 day minimum are as follows:
Standard Package
Rates include a 17' Grumman canoe
3 day -- $210
4 day -- $280
5 day -- $350
6 day -- $420
Deluxe Package
Rates include an ultra light Kevlar canoe
3 day -- $280
4 day -- $375
5 day -- $470
6 day -- $565
BWCA Partial Outfitting <back to top>
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We are the most conveniently located outfitter to these Entry Points:
41-Brule
40-Homer
39-Baker
37-Kawishiwi
36-Hog Creek
We are also on the way to the Sawbill, Caribou and Gunflint Trails.
Sawtooth Outfitters is located right on Hwy 61, one mile from the Tofte Ranger Station.
Canoes:
Rentals Include: life jackets and paddles, yoke, and car top carrier. Paddles and life jackets provided with the rental will be based on the type of canoe you rent. With our tandem canoes, we provide: 2 paddles and 2 life jackets, 3 people will get 3 paddles and 3 jackets. If you need extra they are available for rent.
Tandem Ultra Light Kevlar Canoes
| Wenonah | Daily Rate |
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Spirit II...17'...42lbs Versatile tandem with excellent performance & easy handling. |
$39.00 |
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Boundary Waters...17'...42lbs Rock-solid stability, easy maneuvering, high capacity & good glide. |
$39.00 |
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Escape...17'...41lbs Shorter deeper version of the MN II with superb performance. |
$39.00 |
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Champlain...18'...46lbs Canoe designed for big loads with enhanced efficiency & seaworthiness. |
$39.00 |
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MN II...18.5'...42lbs Most efficient canoe, great for the experienced paddlers. |
$39.00 |
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Souris River Canoes |
Daily Rate |
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Quetico...17'...44lbs Good glide & incredibly stable, good for both novices & experienced paddlers |
$39.00 |
| Bell Canoes | Daily Rate |
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Northwind...17.5'...44lbs |
$39.00 |
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Northwoods...18.5'...46lbs A voluminous vessel able to carry a lot of gear but is still efficient and handles great |
$39.00 |
Tandem Royalex Canoes
* Royalex is a sandwich of many different layers of materials chosen and fused
together to create the desired performance characteristics. Kind of like a plastic
boat without all the weight.
| Bell Canoes | Daily Rate |
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Morning Star...15.5'...59lbs Designed with comfort & stability in mind. |
$27.00 |
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Northwind...16.5'...60lbs Proven performance & reassuring stability for all kinds of applications. |
$27.00 |
Tandem Aluminum Canoes
| Grumman Canoes | Daily Rate |
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15' ...59lbs Good for day trips, comes with seat/yoke combo for 3rd person. |
$27.00 |
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17'...66lbs Perfect size for most trips, comes with seat/yoke combo for a 3rd seat. |
$27.00 |
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18'...72lbs Good for those larger loads or 3rd person, comes with a seat/yoke combo. |
$27.00 |
Solo Canoes
| Wenonah | Daily Rate |
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Prism...16.5'...34lbs...Kevlar All purpose solo with a good blend of stability, efficiency and capacity. |
$29.00 |
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Solo Plus...16.5'...60lbs...Royalex Can be used as a solo or light duty tandem, great for 1 adult and small kids. |
$27.00 |
| Canak...16.0'...38lbs...Kevlar Canoe/kayak hybrid with shape similar to the Prism. | $29.00 |
| Bell | Daily Rate |
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Magic...16'...32lbs...Kevlar A quiet, fast, & seaworthy hull. |
$29.00 |
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Rockstar...15.5'...32lbs...Kevlar Wide, stable solo canoe. |
$29.00 |
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Rob Roy...15'...31lbs Canoe/Kayak Hybrid. Sit and paddle like a kayak, easy portage like a canoe. |
$29.00 |
3 Person Canoes
| Wenonah | Daily Rate |
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Seneca...19.5'...55lbs...Kevlar "NEW" Revised version of the Champlain, wider, stable, family canoe. |
$45.00 |
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MN III...20'...55lbs...Kevlar Bigger version of the MN II, very efficient for 3 experienced paddlers. |
$45.00 |
| Souris River |
Daily Rate |
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Quetico...18.5...52lbs...Kevlar Bigger version of the Quetico 17 with a 3rd seat. |
$45.00 |
4 Person Canoe
| Bell | Daily Rate |
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Northshore... 20.5'...54lbs...Kevlar 4 seat canoe that despite it's length it handles impressively and turns with ease, great for the whole family. |
$50.00 |
Shuttle Service
Cost is $1.25/mile that we have to drive.
One-way Trips:
Hog Creek -- $75
Kawishiwi -- $80
Sawbill -- $62.50
Baker -- $57.50
Homer -- $75
Brule -- $80
Canoe Trailer Rental Available
$20/day (holds 6 canoes)
Other Equipment
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Granite Gear Canoe Packs: |
Daily |
| Superior One (size: 7400 cubic inches) | $7.00 |
| Quetico (5000 cubes) | $7.00 |
| Solo (4000 cubes) | $7.00 |
| #4 (6000 cubes) | $6.00 |
| Food (3300 cubes) | $6.00 |
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Other Gear: |
Daily Rate |
| 30L Bear Resistant Barrel w/Harness | $7.00 |
| 60L Bear Resistant Barrel w/Harness | $7.00 |
| 30L Barrel Only | $5.00 |
| 60L Barrel Only | $5.00 |
| Sleeping Bag | $5.00 |
| Self-Inflating Air Mattress | $4.00 |
| Crazy Creek Chair | $2.50 |
| 2 Man Tent | $13.00 |
| 4 Man Tent | $15.00 |
| 6 Man Tent | $17.00 |
| Stainless Steel Cook Kit (4prsn) | $4.00 |
| One Burner Stove | $5.00 |
| Two Burner Stove | $6.00 |
| Water filter | $4.00 |
| Life Jacket | $2.50 |
| Paddle - wood (straight) | $3.00 |
| Paddle- wood (bent) | $4.00 |
| Paddle - plastic | $2.00 |
| Saw | $2.50 |
| Axe | $3.00 |
| Yoke Pads | $4.00 |
| Canoe 3rd Dropseat | $4.00 |
| Canoe Trailer (Holds up to 6 canoes) | $25.00 |
| Food/person/day (3 day minimum) | $35.00 |
Deposit and Cancellation: <back to top>
We require a 25% deposit at the time the reservation is made. If notice is given 14 days prior to arrival date your deposit will be refunded minus $20.00 processing fee. Please let us know about any changes before you arrive otherwise you may be charged for items originally reserved.
Early Returns:
We understand that Mother Nature can be unpredictable and at times quite nasty to wilderness travelers. We wish we could guarantee great weather, minimal bugs etc... If requested, early returns will be given a (one day only) credit towards your future trip.
Primary Entry Points to BWCA
 Click to Enlarge Map |
Below are the primary entry points we serve. However, you are not limited to these areas. If you need help choosing the best trip for you and your group, just let us know.
#35 Isabella Lake: Good starting point for paddlers who desire a river trip. Great area for wildlife. Very remote and scenic. Good three to six day area.
#36 Hog Creek: Provides a unique combination of a narrow winding stream with a beautiful large destination lake of islands and peaceful bays. A good consistent fishing lake that has very high loyalty among fans. Great for first time trippers or groups with young children.
#37 Kawishiwi Lake: Provides direct access to the heart of the east central BWCA. Good entry point for first timers as well as adventurous visitors looking for a challenge. This is a popular entry point for anglers looking for walleye.
#38 Sawbill: This is the third most popular entry in the BWCA, which makes it a busy one. It's a great entry to access pristine wilderness. We recommend using a Kevlar canoe because many routes have long or frequent portages.
#39 Baker Lake: Take this entry point for easy access to one of the more scenic parts of the BWCA Wilderness. You'll find the Temperance River flowage, where shallow lakes are surrounded by towering hills. This entry offers visitors a quiet alternative to nearby Sawbill Lake.
#40 Homer Lake: Here you'll find a gateway to an area of narrow lakes, good fishing and wildlife. For new canoe trippers, it's a perfect 3-day loop to the Brule Lake entry. It's also worth exploring for those with longer itineraries that extend north through Brule Lake.
#41 Brule Lake: This is the largest (totally non-motorized lake) in the BWCA. You'll find access to many scenic loops with good fishing. Keep an eye on the weather since westerly winds can whip up big waves.
BWCA Trip Planning <back to top>
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness encompasses over one million pristine acres of lakes, rivers and forests in northeastern Minnesota. A paradise for the wilderness canoeist, the BWCA offers over 1,200 miles of canoe routes through some of the most beautiful country in the world.
Within canoe country, you will find resident animals including timber wolves, black bear, bald eagles, osprey, great blue herons, loons, moose, otters and beaver. You will also find the best tasting fish. It's a great way to relax and take a break from a stressful, busy life.
Entry Permit
A permit is required for entry into the BWCA; this is your ticket to enter a specific entry point on a specific day. It permits your group (maximum of 9 people and a maximum of 4 canoes) to occupy one designated campsite per permit. If you plan ahead, you should have no problem getting your preferred date. However, some entry points fill up during busy times of the season. To increase your chance for a permit, start your trip mid-week and avoid holidays. Need help picking an entry point? Let us know, we can help. You can request the permit to be sent to us for ease of pick-up. BWCA Permit reservations can be made online or by calling 1-877-550-6777 to check availability and to reserve your permit.
BWCA Campsites
In the BWCA you must camp only at established sites that are marked on BWCA maps. These sites have a fire grate and a latrine (a seat on a box without walls). We sell BWCA Fisher, McKenzie, and Voyager maps.
The Portage
The walk between lakes, measured in rods (1 rod is 16.5ft), is called the portage. The goal is to "one trip portage." In order to accomplish this, weight and volume should be kept to a minimum. One canoe pack per party member is a general rule. Portages can be very wet, rugged and rocky so waterproof hiking boots are the best footwear for travel.
Fishing
Northern, walleyes, small mouth bass, panfish, and lake trout are the varieties caught in the BWCA. Fishing is best early or later in the season. Fishing licenses and bait are available at the Holiday Gas Station just down the road from us.
Transportation
We have put from one to three canoes on all types of vehicles, except motorcycles. Foam blocks or roof racks are provided. If you have your own rack, we can extend it to haul two canoes. We can shuttle people to and from your entry point and give you the option of doing a point to point trip.
Shuttle Service
Cost is $1.25/mile that we drive.
| One-Way Trips | Rate |
|
Hog Creek Kawishiwi Sawbill Baker Homer Brule |
$75.00 $80.00 $62.50 $57.50 $75.00 $80.00 |
Canoe Trailer Rental Available
$25/day (holds 6-7 canoes)
An Alternative to the BWCA
The Timber-Frear Area is outside the BWCA. It's nice and it is one of our best moose areas. It is about 20 miles from Tofte. Motors are permitted and no permit is required. Campsites have picnic tables, fire grates, and latrines. The loop is about seven hours in travel time through five or six lakes. A good destination area for three or four days.
We like this area because no permit is needed. It's safe and you are never more than four hours from your car. Groups of over 10 do not have to split up. Fishing is very good on most of the lakes.
Local Lodging <back to top>
Our area is a destination resort area. Lodges may require 2 nights stay for weekends in summer and fall.
| AmericInn Motel: | 800-625-7042 |
| Cliff Dweller: | 800-223-2048 |
| Bluefin Bay Resort: | 800-258-3346 |
| Chateau LeVeaux Resort: | 800-445-5773 |
| Cobblestone Cabins: | 218-663-7957 |
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Lake Superior Hostel: (reservations required) |
218-663-8488 |
| Lamb's Resort and Campground: | 218-663-7292 |
| Superior Ridge Resort Motel: | 800-782-1776 |
| Whispering Pines Motel: | 800-332-0531 |
| Lutsen Resort: | 800-258-8736 |
| Temperance Traders Cabins: | 218-663-0111 |
| Sugar Beach Resort: | 218-663-7595 |
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Cascade Vacation Rentals: |
800-950-4361 |
| Complete Outfitting | Partial Outfitting | Primary Entry Point to BWCA | Trip Planning |