Canoe rentals for Boundary Waters and Quetico Park at Ely, MN

Red Rock Outfitting - Canoe Rentals - We only rent kevlar Souris Rivers

Canoe rentals are what we do big time at Red Rock Wilderness Store. We're located 15 miles NE of Ely on the Fernberg road. We are located next to Lake One (EP 30) , Snowbank (EP 27), Moose Lake (EP 25) North Kawishiwi River (EP 29) Wood Lake (EP 26) and Fall Lake (EP 24). All of these entry points are along the Fernberg road which is where we are located. We charge to deliver these canoes to the above mentioned BWCA entry points. See delivery rates here.

To get to Bald Eagle/Gabbro in the South Kawishiwi region, you will need to drive about 45 minutes from Red Rock as well. Back to Ely, then turn south on on Hwy #1, then turn left on the Spruce road which is about a half mile past the Kawishiwi bridge. (Brand new, concrete structure.)

We are approximately 45 minutes by car from Nina Moose (Moose River North) , 60 minutes from Little Indian Sioux (EP 16), and 30 minutes from Mudro - all of which are located north of Ely on the Echo Trail road. To use these entry points and rent canoes from us (Red Rock) means that you have to drive out to us from Ely, load up a canoe on your car and then drive back to within one mile of Ely and take County Road 88 north (only way it goes) and turn on to the Echo Trail. This means you will be driving a bit if you plan to enter these faraway entry points to the western portion of the BWCA. I point this out because so many people want to take advantage of our great Souris River Canoes and affordable prices but have no clue where things are located relative to Red Rock.

When we rent canoes, we ONLY rent Souris River Canoes and they are brand new of the season, Quetico 17's and Quetico 18.5's. We don't rent any crappy Wenonahs or Old Towns or Bells, period. There is absolutely no reason to even paddle one of these brands so long as Souris River lives and breathes. If this sounds strong and harsh, I can't help it. I've been renting canoes and outfitting for over 30 years now and from standpoints of customer satisfaction, customer safety and rental reliability, there is NO kevlar canoe that will out-perform a Souris River Quetico (specifically Quetico model) made on this planet.

If you disagree with me based on your experience from your 5 day canoe trip that you've taken every year for the past 20 years, by all means, go rent a Wenonah or some other brand of canoe. You are wildly experienced and clearly know better. For the rest of the world who want to NOT feel like they are going to die when it gets rough, but STILL want to actually glide through the water while transporting a large load, there are Souris River Quetico 17's and Quetico 18.5's from Red Rock.

We only rent kevlar Souris River Quetico's. I wouldn't walk 10 feet to rent any thing made of Royalex, aluminum, or even Duralite if there is a kevlar option available. 43 pounds in a kevlar canoe that handles unbelieveably well and can take a hit without sinking like the Bismark in WWII.

Our Customer's Biggest Concern: One of the biggest concerns by our prospective kevlar canoe rental customers is damaging "one of those kevlar canoes". We hear this ALL the time and it ALWAYS relates to stories overheard about how a kevlar canoe are easily damaged in the BWCA when by hitting rocks or being accidentally dropped or sat upon by some fool in the camp. Whenever I asked the prospective canoe renter what the brand of the canoe was that was damaged, they answer about 99% of the time that it was a Wenonah canoe.

All canoes are NOT made the same, nor are they made equal. No matter what you hear from any other "expert" Johnny-come-lately-outfitter in the Ely or Gunflint area, Souris Rivers are substantially tougher than any Wenonah, Bell, Old Town, Sawyer, and any other kevlar canoe you might be able to find out there. I wouldn't say this if I didn't believe and see it with my own eyes countless times for the last 15 years of outfitting only Souris River Canoes. We won't touch anything else because there is simply nothing else out there like a Souris River Canoe.

You can rent a Souris River kevlar canoe and rest at ease that so long as you are not a moron who slams his canoe into shore to shorten up the portage by 18 inches and/or you aren't throwing the canoe off your shoulders onto a sharp rock, or walking it in when it's on the ground and not the water. The Souris River Quetico 17 will be just fine under normal use. Sure, you are going to scratch it and no, we do not require you to do that silly "wet-foot" canoe entry "technique". We know for a fact that the Boundary Waters is one of the most unforgiving, hardest, jaggedy places on the planet. It is not Disneyland and we are aware of that. Treat your canoe with a modicum of care (like ANY canoe should be treated) and you'll be fine. Destroy your Red Rock rental canoe by shooting rapids or sitting on it or walking in it when on the ground and you'll be assessed for damages and may even have to buy us a new canoe. You'll also be charged for any recovery efforts for a canoe wrapped around a big rock, and THAT ain't cheap. So, if you are the type who does not do stupid stuff when you have other people's property in your care, you can rent a Souris River kevlar canoe with little worry from Red Rock. Why do you want to wreck your back by lugging around a heavy aluminum or a worthless, really-heavy, do-nothing-well, Royalex canoe?

Second Biggest Concern: Kevlar canoes are tippy and hard to handle - not true. That statement would be true if we were renting out Wenonahs. It is NOT, I repeat - absolutely NOT the case for Souris River Quetico hulls. Just because a canoe is tippy and just because it's kevlar does not mean that every kevlar canoe is tippy. Granted, some people have absolutely no paddling skills nor do they understand the simplest of physics regarding the cause and effect of a paddle vs. the canoe on water. These folks are going to have a tough time paddling a canoe even with a fishing guide handling the actual steering the canoe (I speak from experience here). For all the other canoe renters, a Souris River Quetico 17 (or their 18.5 three-seater) is a fabulous, stable, easy to handle canoe, even when it gets really rough out and the going gets tough. Some "expert" outfitters still offer Souris River Wilderness 18's in their fleets. Newsflash: If the SR W-18 was better than the Quetico 17's , Red Rock would still be renting them. It's a nice canoe I guess, but if you like to feel "tippy" while paddling with no load in the canoe, the SR Wilderness 18 and Wenonah's MN II and their Spirit II will be great canoes for that tippy/tender feeling every 1 out of a thousand paddlers crave. You'll feel really un-safe. If your only choice was between a Souris River Wilderness 18 or a Wenonah, take the Wilderness 18 for a whole slew of other reasons why it is better than any Wenonah. But otherwise, the only canoes any outfitter "worth his salt" should be renting is the Souris River Quetico 17 or Quetico 18.5 (3 seater).

Third Biggest Concern: How do we get the right canoe for us? If the "outfitter" you are considering looks at you and sizes you up for the lakes you will be traveling, your paddling experience, and your weight and then decides to make an "educated" selection form his canoe pile, find an outfitter who rents Souris River Canoes in Queticos 17 and 18.5. All that BS regarding proper canoe selection under the auspices of "good service" is such a ridiculous joke! There are outiftters in Ely who chitcat amoungst themselves as to whether or not to give the party the Wenonah Seneca (because they "sound" skilled) or the Quetico 17 because "they are big guys on big water" and all sorts of other distracting/redirecting crap to appear that they are experts in outfitting. Gimme a break! An expert outfitter already knows which canoe will do the best for his customer and I've got news for you. Very few expert paddlers in the BWCA rent canoes. 99% of them own their own canoes and don't go thru outfitters. Outfitters should know this. So why wouldn't the outfitter just set up the renting customer with the best canoe made for the broadest market possible? For the vast majority, it's a Souris River Quetico 17 hands down. For really big guys 250+ lbs. maybe a Quetico 18.5 but not always.

You WILL need a BWCA Permit to enter the BWCA. Click here for details

Want to enter the Quetico Provincial Park of Canada?
It's spendy, restrictive and you'll get to pussyfoot around some of the campsites...gross!
If avoiding stepping in toilet paper and more is appealing to you then
click here to find out how to make Quetico permit reservations!

For barbless tackle recommendations for the Quetico Park Click Here

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