Scouts ask…
Do I really have to be able to swim?
Yes. Every participant — youth and adult — must be classified as a Scouts BSA
Swimmer, documented on the official swim classification record. Get it done at summer camp or a troop swim
night well ahead of the trip.
See the test requirements →Can I bring my phone?
Strongly discouraged. There's virtually no reception, and Northern Tier provides an emergency
communication device for every crew. Phones are permitted only as a camera — keep it in airplane mode.
A crew camera is still recommended over a phone. Personal satellite messengers and SPOT beacons are
not permitted on the trail at all.
How hard is it, honestly?
Hard enough that Northern Tier recommends
six months of conditioning. You may paddle 10+
miles a day in wind, and carry up to
85 pounds across a portage using single-trip portaging. Easy days are
8–12 miles, moderate 13–19, difficult 20+. The good news: your crew chooses the difficulty.
Start training →What's a portage?
Where two lakes don't connect, you carry everything overland to the next one — canoes on
your shoulders, packs on your back. Northern Tier uses single-trip portaging, meaning everything moves in
one carry. It's the hardest part of the day and the part everyone brags about afterward.
Will we see bears?
Possibly. That's why food and every “smellable” — including toothpaste, soap and
lip balm — is hung every night, and why food never goes into a tent. Respect wildlife, never feed anything,
and enjoy it from a distance.
Can we fish?
Absolutely, and it's some of the best fishing anywhere. You need a Minnesota fishing
license at age 16+ — under 16 can fish under a single adult's license, though the catch counts against
that adult's limit. Buy it online before you travel; Northern Tier cannot sell licenses. Fishing equipment
can be checked out at the Ely base, first come first served, 1–2 poles per crew.
Who decides where we go?
Your crew does. There are
no set routes. The youth Crew Leader runs the route discussion and
your Interpreter helps build a trip that matches what you want and what conditions allow.
See the questions to answer first →What if I get hurt out there?
Your Interpreter carries an emergency radio or satellite phone and contacts base immediately.
Be realistic though: the primary evacuation method is
by canoe, so it can take several hours or even
multiple days. That's why every crew needs an advisor with Wilderness First Aid and CPR, and a well-stocked first
aid kit.
More on emergencies →Is the food actually good?
Genuinely, yes — three balanced meals a day from an expertly built menu, plus a full spice
kit, condiments, hot and cold drink mixes, and baking supplies for bannock, fish fry and popcorn. Plus four meals
in the dining hall on base.
Can I bring my own canoe chair?
Not the kind that clips or straps into a canoe — they damage the seats and make portaging
harder. A standard Crazy Creek style camp chair is fine, and it doubles as a sleeping pad.
Parents ask…
What does it cost?
Current fees are published on the Northern Tier registration page at
ntier.org/canoetreks/summer-details/. Our BWCAW permit fees are
included in the trip cost. Budget
separately for maps (about $8 each, 2–4 per canoe), map cases (about $17), the Trading Post (about $150 per
person), a Minnesota fishing license, crew photos, and a $75 special diet fee if applicable.
See the payment schedule →Is financial aid available?
Yes — camperships are available to youth with special financial needs. Applications
are at ntier.org/resources/parentinfo and are due January 31 of the year you attend. Don't let cost be the
reason a Scout misses this.
Can I get refunded if my Scout can't go?
No. All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable — Northern Tier commits money to
staff, food and supplies based on your reservation. They strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance to
cover cancellation or illness.
How will I know they're okay?
You largely won't hear anything, and that's normal — Northern Tier does not maintain regular
contact with crews on the water. If there's an emergency at home, call 218.365.4811 and they'll get the
message to the crew as soon as they can, realistically once they're off the water. In the case of injury or
illness, the crew advisors notify parents; if they can't, the base General Manager contacts the emergency contact
on the medical form.
Is there insurance?
Northern Tier fees include accident and sickness insurance covering travel to and from base plus
the expedition — but it is secondary to your family policy. Put your insurance details on the medical
form and include a copy of the card.
Can I come along or visit?
Only as a registered adult participant in the crew. Unregistered guests and family members are
not permitted to camp at Northern Tier — there's no housing or program for them. If you want to come, get
registered, get Safeguarding Youth trained, and paddle.
What about my Scout's dietary needs?
Report them on the roster form well in advance and provide a direct email and phone —
Northern Tier uses CampDoc and their food service staff contacts you directly. There's a $75 fee for special
diet food, or you can send your own prepackaged, shelf-stable food at no charge. They try hard but cannot
accommodate every need.
Getting to Ely, MN
The Ely base sits 20 miles northeast of Ely — 130 miles from Duluth, 270 from
Minneapolis, 100 from Hibbing. You are responsible for your own transportation, and crews using public transport
need to arrange charter service to the base.
| Charter operator | Location | Contact |
|---|
| Bemidji Bus Line / Voyageur Charter | International Falls, MN | 218.751.5311 • 888.285.8514 • bemidjibus.com |
| LCS Coaches | Cloquet, MN | 888.743.3527 • 218.879.3391 |
| Voyageur Bus Co. / MN Coaches | Duluth, MN | 218.724.1717 • voyageurbus.com |
| Shubat's Transportation | Hibbing, MN | 888.874.8228 • shubat.com |
| Spirit of the Wilderness | Ely, MN | 218.365.3149 • elycanoetrips.com |
| Blue Sky Adventures | Tour package to Northern Tier | blueskyadventures.net |
Where to stay en route to Ely
- International Wolf Center, Ely MN — overnight stays with educational programs. 218-365-4695, wolf.org
- Giants Ridge Ski Resort, Biwabik MN — lodging and food service. 800.688.7669, giantsridge.com
- Spirit of the Wilderness — bunkhouses for Scout groups. elycanoetrips.com
- Blue Sky Adventures — handles the complicated logistics as a package.
Worth stopping for
Ely, MN
International Wolf Center • North American Bear Center • Dorothy Molter
Museum • Ely-Winton History Museum • Ely Folk School • Listening Point
Iron Range, MN
Soudan Underground Mine • Bois Forte Heritage Center • US Hockey
Hall of Fame • Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary • Minnesota Discovery Center • Bob Dylan's childhood home
Duluth, MN
The Depot • Lake Superior Zoo • Great Lakes Aquarium • Marine
Museum at Canal Park • Northwest Company Fur Post
More trip-planning ideas: Explore Minnesota 800.657.3700
(exploreminnesota.com) • Ely Chamber of Commerce 800.777.7281 (ely.org) • Iron Range Visitors Bureau
800.777.8497 (ironrange.org)
| What | Where |
|---|
| Northern Tier main office | 218.365.4811 • info@ntier.org |
| Website & trip planning | ntier.org • ntier.org/tripplanning |
| Fees & session dates | ntier.org/canoetreks/summer-details/ |
| Trading Post | store.ntier.org |
| Crew photos | photos.ntier.org |
| Menus & food info | ntier.org/resources/food |
| Camperships / parent info | ntier.org/resources/parentinfo |
| Mailing address | Northern Tier, Attn: Registrar, 14790 Moose Lake Rd., Ely, MN 55731 |
One source of truth. This site summarizes the Northern Tier Advisor’s Planning Guide to help our Scouts
get ready. Fees, policies and program availability change — always confirm the current details at
ntier.org or with our crew advisors.
