On our private trips we will not combine you with any other group. The trip will be curated to your group’s specific interests and goals.

2 day trip: $1365 base price + $239/adult + $119/child (age 17 and under)

Example: A 2-day trip for two adults and one child would cost $1365 + $239 + $239 + $119 for a total of $1962

3 day trip: $1365 base price + $436/adult + $218/child

4 day trip: $1365 base price + $654/adult + $327/child

5 day trip: $1365 base price + $872/adult + $436/child

6 day trip: $1365 base price + $1090/adult + $545/child

7 day trip: $1365 base price + $1308/adult + $654/child

Contact us about pricing for trips longer than 7 days.

Public tours are a great way to visit the Boundary Waters with others while also splitting the cost. Meet new people in an amazing setting! We welcome solo travelers, couples, and friends with all levels of experience! Some trips are designated as adults-only and others are family-friendly, welcoming those of all ages. Public trips require a minimum of 4 participants.

2 day trip: $459 per person

3 day trip: $559 per person

4 day trip: $671 per person

5 day trip: $777 per person

No further discounts can be applied.

Our guided overnight tours are fully outfitted. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Meals and cookware*

• Canoes, paddles, and life jackets

• Dry bags

• Sleeping bags

• Sleeping pads

• Tents

Please note that we do not provide lodging before or after your trip. Lodging fills up quickly in the Grand Marais area so please book in advance in order to secure a spot. We recommend staying in Grand Marais or along the Gunflint Trail as we will be meeting early at a BWCA entry point approximately 45 minutes from the town of Grand Marais. If you are looking for a one-night stay before or after your trip we recommend the following lodging options (sleeping bags not provided but can be rented on site):

• Tuscarora Lodge and Outfitters

• Voyageur Canoe Outfitters

• Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters

• Camper Cabins at East Bearskin Campground

We always do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, however, we sometimes may need to charge a small additional fee in order to accommodate complex dietary needs—this is rare, but just ask us!

We are very flexible with how we structure our guided overnight trips!

See below for a sample itinerary for your start and end dates. Additional days will be tailored to fit your goals.

Start date:

• Breakfast on your own.

• 7am: Meet at an official Boundary Waters entry point or a permit provider for a gear check and to go over rules, regulations, and safety procedures.

• 9am: Start paddling!

• 12pm: Lunch (provided).

• 2pm: Make camp at a designated campsite.

• Free time until dinner! Swim, fish, explore, read, go berry-picking, or relax in the sun.

• 6pm: Dinner (provided) and campfire.

• Free time before bed. Stargaze, look for the northern lights, sit around the campfire, play a game.

End date:

• 7am: Breakfast (provided).

• 8am - 11pm: Paddle to an overlook, swim, fish, explore.

• 11pm: Lunch (provided) and pack-up camp.

• 12pm: Paddle back to the boat launch.

• 4pm: Return, unpack, and say farewell.

• Dinner and overnight lodging on your own.

All of your items will need to fit in a 20-30 liter dry bag. It’s important to have enough warm and dry clothes, but we don’t want to overpack!

We strongly encourage our participants to bring wool or synthetic products which will keep you warm and dry. The saying "cotton kills" reminds us that cotton (and denim, so no jeans!) holds moisture and will draw heat away from a person. Check out this great REI article about how to dress your kids for the outdoors--there's some great info in there that we can all learn from!

• Closed-toe shoes that can get wet

• Sandals (no flip flops)

• Rain gear

• One set of "wet clothes" that will be used everyday while canoeing (we recommend fast-drying pants or shorts, a fast-drying top, wool socks, and a fast-drying warm layer)

• Dry clothes for in camp (wool socks, warm pants, fleece sweatshirt, light down jacket, two shirts)

• Long underwear

• Toiletries

• Headlamp or flashlight

• Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray

• Water bottle

• Swimsuit and a compact, fast-drying towel

• Camera

• Book or something to do with your down time

• Fishing gear and permit (if fishing)

• Cash to tip your guide (if desired)

Private Trips

We require a non-refundable deposit of $500 or 10% of the total trip cost, whichever is greater, at the time of booking. The remaining balance is due in full by June 1 of the calendar year in which the trip is planned. If you book after June 1, full payment is due at the time of booking.

Once your tour is booked, the following policy applies. Tour cancellations within the specified time frames below will be refunded the corresponding amount, minus any booking or processing fees. The tour deposit is non-refundable.

• 60+ days prior to tour date: full refund minus deposit

• 30-59 days prior to tour date: 90% refunded minus deposit

• 21-29 days prior to tour date: 75% refunded minus deposit

• 10-19 days prior to tour date: 25% refunded minus deposit

• 0-9 days prior to tour date: no refund

Alternatively, you may retain your deposit by instead accepting credit to apply to a trip at a later date.

Public Trips

Trip participants are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total participation cost at the time of booking in order to secure their place. Full payment is due by June 1st. If booking after June 1st, full payment is required upon booking. After June 1st, cancellations with refunds–minus the deposit and processing fees–will be processed until one month prior to the start of the public trip. Alternatively, you may retain your deposit by instead accepting credit to apply to a trip at a later date.

If a public trip is cancelled due to the minimum number of participants not being met, a full refund will be issued. If Border Lakes Tour Company cancels a public trip prior to the start date, a full refund will be issued.

-All Trips-

We reserve the right to cancel a trip at any time prior to or during the trip for any reason, including but not limited to weather or safety.

• Rules and regulation non-compliance: if the trip is ended due to rules or regulations non-compliance, the responsible party will not receive a refund. Other parties may receive a prorated refund.

• Injury: if the trip is ended prematurely due to injury, weather, or other environmental factors, you may receive a prorated refund.

• Wilderness Area Closure: If the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is closed by the US Forest Service prior to the start of your scheduled trip, you will receive a credit refund for your trip deposit and a full refund for the remaining balance.

• Book before February 1, 2024, to save 10%.

• Returning guests (day trip or overnight trip guests) save 10%.

• Veterans and active duty military members save 5%.

• There is a maximum discount of 10% per group.

• No further discounts are available for Public Trips