Trip Planning & Resources

Planning a trip into the BWCA, Quetico, or a national park? Here's everything on our site in one place to help you get from "where should we go" to "map's in the pack."

1. Pick Your Destination

• Which BWCA Map Do I Need?
• Which Quetico Map Do I Need?
• Which National Park Map Do I Need?

2. Know Your Entry Point & Permits

BWCA and Quetico both require permits, and entry points fill up. Start here:

• BWCA & Quetico Entry Points Guide

3. Find Cool Stuff Along the Way

Pictographs, old fire towers, ghost resorts, hidden waterfalls, and even a few working Forest Service cabins — our BWCAW Historic Sites & Points of Interest page is a searchable, filterable guide to what's out there. Filter by region to see what might be near your route.

4. Shop Your Map

• BWCA Canoe Maps
• Quetico Canoe Maps
• National Park Maps
• Wall Maps

5. Read Up Before You Go

Trip reports, gear tips, and field notes from our team on the Field Guide blog.

6. More Trip Planning Resources

A few outside sites we trust for route planning, trip reports, and route conditions from other paddlers:

• BWCA.com — forums, trip reports, and permit discussion from experienced BWCA paddlers.
• PaddlePlanner.com — interactive route mapping and trip planning tool for BWCA and Quetico.
• BWCAWild.com — entry point info, maps, and outfitter resources.

7. Talk to a Local Outfitter

For gear rentals, bunkhouses, tow/shuttle service, or just trip questions from people who know the routes, reach out to one of the outfitters who carry our maps:

Ely Area

• Piragis Northwoods — 105 N Central Ave, Ely, MN 55731 — (218) 365-6745
• Spirit of the Wilderness — 2030 E Sheridan St, Ely, MN 55731 — (218) 365-3149

Gunflint Trail & Grand Marais

• Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters — 143 S Gunflint Lake Rd, Grand Marais, MN 55604 — (218) 388-2294
• Tuscarora Lodge and Canoe Outfitters — 193 Round Lake Rd, Grand Marais, MN 55604 — (218) 388-2221
• Voyageur Canoe Outfitters — 189 Sag Lake Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604 — (218) 388-2224

North Shore / Tofte Area

• Sawbill Canoe Outfitters — 4620 Sawbill Trail, Tofte, MN 55615 — (218) 663-7150
• Sawtooth Outfitters — 7213 Hwy 61, Tofte, MN 55615 — (218) 663-7643

Call ahead — availability, rental fleets, and bunkhouse space vary by outfitter and season.

8. Gear Up

• Adventure Gear
• Apparel and Extras

9. Questions?

Check our FAQ, or find us in person at one of our retail partner locations.

A good rule of thumb: know your entry point and permit requirements first, then pick your map, then worry about gear. In that order, trip planning gets a lot less overwhelming.