BOUNDARY WATERS LLC
NAPLES, FLORIDA

When John and Kathy Schiefelbein started North Country Canoe Outfitters in 1984, their goal was to provide the finest customer service and the most in-depth trip planning and mapping available anywhere in the border lakes region. That aim, coupled with the best equipment, abundant portions of top quality foods and fair pricing, is the hallmark of their operation today. Tiring of corporate life with the marketing arm of IBM and relying on his proven outdoor experience and one-on-one people skills, John was ready to make an entrepreneurial leap. He and Kathy located their new business in the center of the world’s most unique canoeing area. The two of them have grown their business from one employee and 20 canoes, to a staff of 16 and over 150 watercraft. However, John still personally maps every party’s canoe route … one-on-one … just like they set out to do. About the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) Northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area is truly canoe country! If you enjoy a little physical exertion and the unique feeling of dipping your paddle into the water to propel your canoe, then Minnesota canoeing just might be for you. The combination of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Ontario, Canada’s Quetico Park forms one of the world’s great wilderness areas: the largest international area set aside for wilderness recreational purposes in the world. For thousands of years, the area has served as a travel corridor for native peoples and, more recently, as one of the main routes to the west for European explorers and fur traders. The so-called Voyageurs’ Highway ran through what is now the BWCA and Quetico Park. Today its quiet waters and non-mechanized mode of travel serve as a haven from the pressures of modern-day living. Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – BWCA, protected as a true American wilderness, has changed little since the glaciers melted. Canoeing, and fishing opportunities are nearly endless on the more than 2,000 lakes and streams found within the forest. With 1,500 miles of canoe routes, nearly 2,200 designated campsites, and more than 1,000 lakes and streams waiting, the BWCA boast some of the country’s finest fishing for walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. It is managed by the United States Forest Service. North Country, under contractual agreement as a “Cooperator”, works with the Kawishiwi Ranger District, on the Superior National Forest. We also hold Guide/Packer Agreements, as well as Towboat / Van Agreements, with the Forest Service. Boundary Waters Outfitters Ely, Minnesota On the list of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Places In The World To See In Your Lifetime” The Boundary Waters Canoe Area – BWCA. Boundary Waters outfitters in Ely, Minnesota. Starting from scratch in 1984, we quickly gained national attention, and rose to the upper level of BWCA Outfitters. Three decades later, the owners are still the daily, full time, hands-on managers. We personally map out every trip … for every party. We outfit canoe trips with top-quality gear and meals for both the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Park. Trips may start or end from our lakeside Ely, Minnesota outfitting base. In addition, we also serve dozens of unique starting locations by van, towboat, and floatplane. Boundary Waters (BWCA) : If we are supplying your food, also include your menu selections. ( NOT flying-in):AFTER you receive your confirmation from Quetico Park, each adult (exclusive of spouses) will need to apply to the Canadian Border Services Agency for a CANPAS – RABC (Remote Area Border Crossing) permit. The charge is CN$30.