Choose Your

Outfitting Package

No two Boundary Waters canoe trips are exactly alike. Some groups want help with everything, from planning and gear to meals and transportation. Others just need a few extra items to complete their setup. At Cliff Wold’s, you can pick the Boundary Waters outfitting support that works best for your trip.

Paddler in the bow of a canoe on a narrow Boundary Waters river

COMPLETE OUTFITTING

Pick Complete Outfitting if you want everything organized in one package. We’ll help with planning, canoes, gear, meals, and transportation so your group is ready to go.

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Tent pitched at a BWCA campsite beside a trail sign

PARTIAL OUTFITTING

Partial Outfitting works well if you already have some essentials covered. Just pick the gear, food, or canoe support you need, and plan the rest of your trip your way.

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Canoe and gear at a misty BWCA campsite landing

Canoes & Gear A La Carte

À la carte rentals are great if you know exactly what you need. Rent just the canoes or gear you want for your Boundary Waters trip, no package needed.

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Cliff Wold's rental canoe on the clear shoreline of Knife Lake in the BWCA

Transportation

We make entry-point logistics easier with transportation options for your group, canoes, gear, and food, and then we can help you plan how your group gets to the entry point and back after the trip.

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Overnight

ACCOMMODATIONS

Stay with us before or after your canoe trip, or use Cliff Wold’s as a simple BWCA basecamp for day paddles near Ely. Our overnight accommodations give your group a place to start, return, or settle into canoe country.

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Boundary Waters campsite with a fire grate and log benches overlooking the lake at sunset

WHY

Paddle

WITH US?

We want to help you plan a safe and enjoyable Boundary Waters trip, with just the right amount of support for your group.

Ely Outfitting Since 1961

We’ve been one of Ely’s trusted Boundary Waters outfitters, serving paddlers for generations.

Map icon representing BWCA trip guidance

Route &
Planning Help

We can help you with permits, routes, timing, and all the details of your trip.

Backpack icon representing canoe camping gear

Canoe Country Gear

Pick canoes and camping gear that are just right for Boundary Waters travel.

Campfire icon representing experienced staff

Flexible Trip Support

You can start with Complete Outfitting or just pick the services you need.

Pocket knife icon representing outfitter support

Local BWCA Knowledge

Work with a team that knows the area and helps groups get ready for their trip.

MAKE A RESERVATION

Trusted

by Boundary Waters Paddlers SINCE 1961

    
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   toddrericson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We just finished our 4-day trip in the BWCA outfitted by Cliff Wold.  They were fantastic!  Exceptionally friendly and helpful!  We appreciated their knowledge of our route, recommendations for paddle time and campsites.  Their gear is exceptional - 3-person canoe, packs, kitchen supplies.  Packs and canoe appear to be quite new.  As expected, kitchen gear has some wear, but clean and very functional - no complaints.  Our tarp had a bunch of pin holes, I'm guessing from campfire sparks.  It leaked a little, but sufficed for the one night of rain.  We especially appreciated the fresh food for the first few days - eggs, ham, chicken, bacon, etc.  The dried dinners were excellent tasting.  The generous portions, food packaging and instructions were impeccable (apparently a big thank you to Amy, Ryan's wife!).  I could not give a HIGHER RECOMMENDATION to Ryan, Nate, Brennan, and Amy!  Thank you for making our trip great and memorable!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Lang 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wow.

My husband used Cliff Wold’s over 20 years ago when he was a teen. When planning our trip this year he reached out to them and it was clear our outfitter would be Cliff Wold’s again.

From the beginning the experience was amazing. They helped us plan our first route (affected by the fires this year), then reached out promptly when a permit became available for an alternate route that still hit each of our boxes for our first trip together.

Every time we reached out with questions the staff was responsive, informative, and so kind and friendly. We had a lot of questions!

Upon arrival they had everything ready to go. We opted to stay at their campsite overnight and have an early drive into Snowbank. They suggested places to eat, where to obtain firewood for our night at their campsite, and even adjusted our invoice because we brought some gluten-free foods from home. They took their time explaining the gear, what was included, what wasn’t, and how to stay safe in the BWCA. We felt fully prepared. I can’t remember the name of the guy that checked us in, but wow did he do a great job!

The driver to Snowbank was friendly, helpful, and even slowed down so we could see a wolf walking along the roadside.

During our trip we felt the gear provided was exceptional. We had all the cooking equipment we could need, the food provided was very good and easy to make, the tent and sleeping pads & bags were clean and warm for the cold night temps, and all additional items (dittty bag) had everything we needed.

Upon departure at Lake 1, the driver was prompt, helpful with gear, and greeted us with cold refreshments! We enjoyed chatting about what happened in the NFL while we were away for 8 days.

After we were dropped off we realized we left out fishing rods and IDs in the van. We visited the office to reclaim our items but also to thank the staff again and purchase some t-shirts to commemorate our amazing trip. We chatted with the owner and felt his love and passion for what he does.

All-in-all, we will visit again and there isn’t a question who we will choose for outfitting.

Thanks, guys! We had a trip of a lifetime thanks to your knowledge and kindness.

- The Langs from Tx
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mark M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ryan and his friendly crew always make us feel welcome and that we’re in good hands.
We’ve outfitted with Cliff Wold’s for over ten years now, and are always impressed with the level of service we get, their attention to details, and top notch gear.
You can be confident your trip will go smoothly working with this outfitter.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rod Reding 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Ryan and his team are exceptional outfitters who consistently exceed expectations to ensure an unparalleled BWCA experience.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Christopher Elgin 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cliff Wold's provided us with the full package.  All of the gear, meals, and planning for our trip in to the boundary waters.  The gear was clean (some brand new) and functional.  Food was great at the start, though the cured meats got redundant at the end.    The staff were great.  We had car troubles and they took on extra responsibility to take care of us.     Thanks for making this a great experience.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Morgan Van Haaften 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We had a great experience with Cliff Wold’s Outfitters for our recent Boundary Waters trip! From the beginning, everything was organized and made the whole process easy. Ryan annd his team were incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and great to work with. He made sure we had everything we needed and felt prepared before heading into the BWCA.

The equipment was in great shape, the service was excellent, and you can tell they genuinely care about making sure people have a great trip. Having a reliable outfitter made such a difference and allowed us to just enjoy the experience without worrying about the details.

We will absolutely continue to use Cliff Wold’s for our Boundary Waters trips and would recommend them to anyone planning an adventure in the Ely area. Thank you for helping make our trip such a memorable one!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Christopher Hansen 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great experience, highly recommend. I spoke to the team several times before the trip and they were able to give us pointers and planning tips that played a big role in us having an unforgettable trip.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sam Wallace 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Highly recommend this outfitter... Had an amazing trip!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Valerie Miller 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve rented through Cliff Wold’s with other groups several times but this was my first time as a group leader and I was nervous. Ryan & Nate were very helpful on the phone the day before, getting our permit switched at the last minute due to some bad weather, and Ryan took extra time to show me how to strap the canoe to our car on our way in. Great group of people, I can’t recommend Cliff Wold’s enough! See you next summer :)