Putting in Saturday at entry point 14 and doing a 4 day loop. Hoping to exit via entry point 16.

Need suggestions for outfitters to rent canoes. And how does it work because we are taking out at a different point than where we're starting.

Thanks.

You could have an outfitter follow you to your drop off point and leave your vehicle there. Then they would drop you and your gear at your entry point.

Echo Trail Outfitters is a little cheaper for shuttle since they are up the Echo Trail a bit and closer to the entry points. They could provide canoes and a shuttle. We are doing the same route as you have planned and I have reservations with them for a bunkhouse in a couple of weeks. They were very kind and accommodating when I booked our reservations.

Any other outfitter in Ely could offer the same services.

EP #14 is one of the more remote EP's from Ely and requires more time to reach, therefore it's one of the more expensive shuttles and Big Current is probably right about shuttle prices, but you could always check outfitter websites.

There are DIY options. If you have two cars, just leave one at the exit. You can leave a bicycle at the exit. People usually lock to a tree in the woods, I believe. You can walk or run back to the entry, which isn't bad if it's 1 or 2 miles, but is a little more complicated by the fact that those two entry points are about 8-10 miles apart. I've done it though. You may get a ride, but I wouldn't count it.

It's a nice area. Enjoy your trip.

I've done EP 16 multiple years and always used Big Lake Wilderness Lodge. They do a good job and in the past we've stayed there and been upgraded on our lodging. They'v stayed up late as we arrived to get our permit out to us and also helped us one year when my daughter was meeting me there the day after I went in.

I've sent others to them and the response has been unanimously good.

Hope your trip goes great!

quote pastorjsackett: "I've done EP 16 multiple years and always used Big Lake Wilderness Lodge. They do a good job and in the past we've stayed there and been upgraded on our lodging. They'v stayed up late as we arrived to get our permit out to us and also helped us one year when my daughter was meeting me there the day after I went in.


I've sent others to them and the response has been unanimously good.


Hope your trip goes great!"

Not to mention almost across the road from EP19.

butthead

quote boonie: "EP #14 is one of the more remote EP's from Ely and requires more time to reach, therefore it's one of the more expensive shuttles and Big Current is probably right about shuttle prices, but you could always check outfitter websites.


There are DIY options. If you have two cars, just leave one at the exit. You can leave a bicycle at the exit. People usually lock to a tree in the woods, I believe. You can walk or run back to the entry, which isn't bad if it's 1 or 2 miles, but is a little more complicated by the fact that those two entry points are about 8-10 miles apart. I've done it though. You may get a ride, but I wouldn't count it.


It's a nice area. Enjoy your trip."

Thank you everyone for your responses. We have to get our permit from LaCroix Ranger Station in Cook. Our plan is to drive up Friday night to Ely to grab our canoes etc, then camp somewhere closer to Cook. Get up Saturday am, go to the ranger station in Cook, grab our permit and then head to the entry point. We are planning on dropping off the canoes at EP 14 and then leaving one car at EP 16 so its there when we get out.

Any suggestions to saving time? Do we have to use the Ranger station in Cook to get our permit or can we use the one in Ely? Plus there is more camping options on Friday night near Ely than there is near Cook.

It may be too late to change now, but for future reference most outfitters are "cooperators" and you can select them as your permit issuer. I think you have to change it at least 2 days before, but you might want to check to see if you can still do it today.

quote boonie: "It may be too late to change now, but for future reference most outfitters are "cooperators" and you can select them as your permit issuer. I think you have to change it at least 2 days before, but you might want to check to see if you can still do it today. "

Right. And you can pick up your permit the day before your BWCAW entry date, so you could get that from the outfitter at the same time you get your canoes, etc, saving a trip to Cook. Go online today and see if you can change your permit pickup location to that of your outfitter.

quote schweady: "

quote boonie: "It may be too late to change now, but for future reference most outfitters are "cooperators" and you can select them as your permit issuer. I think you have to change it at least 2 days before, but you might want to check to see if you can still do it today. "

Right. And you can pick up your permit the day before your BWCAW entry date, so you could get that from the outfitter at the same time you get your canoes, etc, saving a trip to Cook. Go online today and see if you can change your permit pickup location to that of your outfitter.
"

Thanks. I called the ranger station in Cook and they said we can use the ranger station in Ely. So we'll go up to Ely Fri night, camp, grab our canoes from piragis Saturday morning, get our permit at ranger station in Ely and then head to our ep.

For future reference you can change an issuing Ranger Station to an outfitter easily, all they need is to call the Station. The other way around outfitter to outfitter or to Station not so easy.

Could have transferred the permit to Piragis and skipped the Ranger Station.

butthead

You can go online to your permit details at recreation.gov and change the issuing station even minutes before you actually pick up your permit.

We get people to do that at least a few times a week. If you don't do it when you are home, then make sure you know your log in/password when you get to town. If the permit isn't in an outfitter's online permit account, we can't "see" it.

You can call their office & have it changed, but it goes a lot faster if you go online as you can be on hold for quite some time during their busy hours.

I really like the young man running Cliff Wolds outfitter! Helpful, intelligent, reremembers your names from a year ago. Really, who does this? So, based on your title. In Ely, check him out.

quote VoyageurNorth: "You can go online to your permit details at recreation.gov and change the issuing station even minutes before you actually pick up your permit."

Wow, just minutes before? Good to know.