moosetrackadventures.com

Moose Track Adventures is a lakeside resort and Boundary Waters (BWCA) canoe outfitter based just outside Ely, Minnesota. It combines two services in one location: six lakeside cabins for guests who want a comfortable base, and full or partial canoe outfitting for paddlers heading into the Boundary Waters or Quetico Park. It also runs guided canoe and fishing trips. If you're deciding between a cabin stay and a wilderness paddle — or want both — this is the kind of operation that covers either choice.

Where It Is

The resort sits just outside Ely in northern Minnesota, on a lake with private dock access for cabin guests. Ely is the main gateway town for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which is why the area has a dense concentration of resorts and outfitters.

The Two Sides of the Business

Lakeside Cabin Resort

• 6 lakeside cabins, described as clean, modern, and furnished with essentials (including pillow-top mattresses).
• Private dock for each cabin stay, with lake access right at the shore.
• Boat, canoe, kayak, and fish finder rentals available to cabin guests.
• Dog, kid, family, and couple friendly — the site explicitly lists all of these.
• Positioned for getaways with family, friends, a group of guys or ladies, or as a couple.

Boundary Waters Outfitting

• All-inclusive Kevlar canoe outfitting and partial outfitting options.
• Kevlar canoes, paddles, life jackets, tents, food, and essential gear included in comprehensive packages.
• Permits and pick-up handled as part of the service — the site cites over 30 years of outfitting experience.
• Route planning help for Boundary Waters or Quetico Park trips.
• Guided canoe and fishing services for those who want a guide rather than self-guided travel.

What Makes It Distinct

Most Ely businesses lean one way: either a resort with cabins or an outfitter that equips trips. Moose Track Adventures does both, so you can stay in a cabin and rent a boat one day, then launch a fully outfitted BWCA canoe trip the next — without switching providers. The site also states it was voted the highest Traveler Ranked resort in Ely, Minnesota by TripAdvisor and describes itself as a 5-star rated Ely MN resort.

Who It Fits

Practical Next Step

If you're comparing Ely options, the useful question is whether you want lodging, outfitting, or both. Moose Track Adventures is set up for "both," which reduces coordination if your trip mixes cabin time with wilderness paddling. Check the BWCA trip planning resources on the site for permit and route details before booking, since Boundary Waters permits are limited and tied to specific entry points.

Moose Track Adventures is an Ely, Minnesota resort and Boundary Waters outfitter that can handle the logistics of a BWCA trip for you — from permits and Kevlar canoes to food and gear — while also offering lakeside cabin stays if you want a comfortable base before or after paddling. The best fit is a group that wants either all-inclusive or partial outfitting and would rather not assemble gear and permits on their own. Start by deciding whether you want a cabin-based stay, a full outfitted canoe trip, or both, then work through the steps below.

Step 1: Decide what kind of trip you want

The site describes two main ways to use Moose Track Adventures, and they can be combined:

• Cabin stay at the resort — 6 lakeside cabins just outside Ely, with boats, canoes, kayaks, and fish finders available to cabin guests. Described as kid, family, dog, and couple friendly.
• Boundary Waters canoe trip — outfitting and guide service into the BWCA or Quetico Park, with over 30 years of outfitting experience.

If you want a soft bed and a private dock between paddle days, book a cabin. If you want to be immersed in the Boundary Waters, go with the outfitting side. Many people do both — a cabin night before entering the wilderness and after coming out.

Step 2: Choose your outfitting level

Moose Track Adventures offers two tiers, and the difference matters for how much you pack and plan:

Both tiers are backed by the outfitter's experience "managing everything from permits to pick-up," so permit handling and transportation can be part of the arrangement. Confirm exactly which items fall under partial outfitting before you commit, since "partial" means different things at different outfitters.

Step 3: Use the trip planning resources before you book

The site points to a BWCA trip planning tips page under its Boundary Waters resources. Read it before finalizing dates — permit availability, entry points, and route difficulty are the usual bottlenecks, and the outfitter's routing help is one of the services mentioned. If you have a specific entry point or route in mind, raise it early so the permit and route can be matched to your group's experience level.

Step 4: Match the trip to your group

• Families — cabin stays are described as kid friendly, and the resort setting with a private dock and boat rentals keeps younger paddlers occupied without committing to a full wilderness route.
• Couples — cabins are listed as couple friendly, so a cabin plus a day paddle is a workable low-stress option.
• Pet owners — the cabins are described as dog friendly. If you plan to bring a dog into the BWCA itself, check that separately, since wilderness rules differ from resort rules.
• Groups of friends — the site explicitly names "the guys, the ladies" as cabin guests, and the outfitting side scales to group canoe trips.

Step 5: Confirm the details that aren't on the page

The website does not publish prices, so ask directly about:

• Cost of all-inclusive versus partial outfitting
• Cabin rates and minimum stays
• Whether permits, shuttles, and pick-up are included in your chosen package or billed separately
• What you still need to bring under partial outfitting

Get these in writing before you pay a deposit, and confirm the cancellation terms for both the cabin and the outfitting portions, since they may be handled separately.

Common snags to plan around

• Permit timing — BWCA permits are limited by entry point and date. The outfitter handles permits as part of its service, but that only works if you lock in dates early enough.
• Assuming "partial" means the same thing everywhere — verify the item list rather than guessing.
• Mixing cabin and wilderness expectations — a cabin stay and a backcountry canoe route are very different trips; decide which one you actually want before booking.
• Pet rules — dog friendly at the cabins does not automatically mean dog friendly on your chosen BWCA route.

If you want the shortest path, pick all-inclusive outfitting plus a cabin night on each end, and let the outfitter handle permits, gear, food, and pick-up. If you already own gear and just need a canoe and food, partial outfitting plus a cabin is the leaner option.

Moose Track Adventures offers two outfitting formats for Boundary Waters (BWCA) and Quetico Park trips: all-inclusive Kevlar canoe outfitting and partial outfitting with Kevlar canoe and food packages. The all-inclusive option covers high-quality Kevlar canoes, paddles, life jackets, tents, food, and essential gear, plus permit handling and pick-up coordination. Partial outfitting is the choice if you already own some equipment and only need the canoe, food, or both.

What the all-inclusive package covers

Based on the outfitter's own description, the comprehensive package is designed so you don't need to source gear yourself. It includes:

• Kevlar canoes — lightweight boats suited to portaging between BWCA lakes
• Paddles
• Life jackets
• Tents
• Food
• All essential gear for the trip

The stated goal is a "seamless" trip where everything needed is provided. The outfitter also says it manages "everything from permits to pick-up," which means permit acquisition and transportation logistics can be part of the arrangement rather than something you handle separately.

What partial outfitting covers

If you don't need the full package, Moose Track Adventures lists two partial options:

Partial outfitting makes sense if you already own camping gear, tents, or paddling equipment and want to avoid paying for duplicates. The canoe-and-food package suits groups who have their own gear but would rather not plan and pack meals.

Route planning and experience

The outfitter states it brings over 30 years of experience as a Boundary Waters outfitting service and will help route your BWCA or Quetico Park wilderness adventure. That means route selection — which lakes and entry points fit your trip length and skill level — can be part of the service rather than something you research alone.

Who each option fits

• Choose all-inclusive if you're new to BWCA trips, flying in, or don't want to buy or transport gear.
• Choose partial outfitting if you own most equipment and only need a Kevlar canoe.
• Choose the canoe-and-food package if you have gear but want meals handled.

For current package details, pricing, and availability, check the outfitter's Boundary Waters trip planning page or contact them directly, since inclusions can vary by trip length and route.

Yes—Moose Track Adventures in Ely, Minnesota, states that its cabins are kid, family, dog, and couple friendly, so it accommodates all three traveler types. The resort has 6 lakeside cabins, each with a private dock, and offers boats, canoes, kayaks, and fish finders to cabin guests. It suits families, groups of friends, couples, and pet owners who want a comfortable base near the Boundary Waters rather than a remote wilderness campsite.

Who each type of traveler gets from a stay

Families with children

The cabins are described as kid and family friendly and furnished with the essentials for a stay. A private dock gives kids a contained place to be near the water, and boat rentals are handled on-site, so you don't need to arrange your own. The resort sits just outside Ely, which keeps town access close while still putting lakes and nature at every turn.

Couples

The same cabins are listed as couple friendly, and the resort highlights a pillow top mattress and an evening fire as part of the experience. With only 6 cabins, the setting is small rather than a large complex. A private dock and easy boat rental support a low-effort two-person getaway.

Pet owners

Dogs are explicitly welcomed—the cabins are described as dog friendly. If you're traveling with a pet, confirm the current pet policy and any cabin-specific rules when you reserve, since the source material doesn't detail fees, size limits, or which cabins are set aside for pets.

Groups of friends

The resort names "the guys, the ladies" among the groups it's perfect for, and the mix of cabins, boats, canoes, kayaks, and fish finders fits a group that wants to fish and paddle without hauling all its own gear.

What's included for cabin guests

When Moose Track Adventures is the right fit

• You want a cabin with modern comforts and a private dock instead of camping in the Boundary Waters.
• You're bringing kids, a partner, or a dog and want all of them accommodated.
• You want boats and canoes available without owning or transporting them.
• You'd like to be close to Ely for supplies and town access.

When it may not be the right fit

• You want to be immersed inside the Boundary Waters itself. For that, the resort points to its Ely outfitting services instead of a cabin stay.
• You need a large resort with many cabins or extensive amenities—this property has 6 cabins.
• You want a guaranteed pet arrangement without checking first. The site says dog friendly, but specific pet terms aren't stated in the available material.

Beyond the cabins: outfitting and guiding

If a cabin isn't what you had in mind, Moose Track Adventures also operates as a Boundary Waters outfitter and guide service with over 30 years of experience. Its offerings include:

• All-inclusive Kevlar canoe outfitting — high-quality Kevlar canoes, paddles, life jackets, tents, food, and essential gear.
• Partial outfitting — Kevlar canoe and food packages.
• Trip support — handling everything from permits to pick-up.
• Guiding — Boundary Waters canoe guides and fishing guides, plus help routing a Boundary Waters or Quetico Park wilderness adventure.

Practical next step

Decide which trip you want—cabin stay, outfitted canoe trip, or guided trip—then check availability and confirm the details that matter to you: pet policy, cabin assignment, and what's included in your chosen package. The resort's BWCA trip planning tips page is a reasonable starting point for route and permit questions.

Before you book at Moose Track Adventures, confirm four things: whether a lakeside cabin or a Boundary Waters canoe outfitting package fits your trip, how many people your cabin or canoe group includes, whether pets and boats/fish finders are covered, and how permits and guide services are handled. The property sits just outside Ely, Minnesota, with 6 lakeside cabins and more than 30 years of Boundary Waters outfitting experience, so the right choice depends on whether you want a comfortable base or a full wilderness launch.

Start by deciding: cabin stay or outfitting package?

These are two different products, and the site presents them separately. Pick based on how you want to spend your nights.

If you want both — a cabin before or after a wilderness route — ask whether the two can be combined, since the site describes them as one operation rather than a single bundled package.

Confirm cabin capacity and pet policy

The site states the cabins are "kid, family, dog and couple friendly," which is the clearest signal that pets are welcome in the cabin product. What it does not publish is a per-cabin occupancy limit or a pet fee. Before booking, ask:

• How many guests each of the 6 cabins sleeps, and whether that changes for couples versus families or groups.
• Whether dogs are allowed in every cabin or only some.
• Any pet conditions (leash rules, where dogs can and cannot go, cleaning expectations).

This matters most if you are booking for "the guys, the ladies," a family, or a couple — the same cabin type may not fit all four.

Check what watercraft and gear are included versus rented

The excerpt lists boats, canoes, kayaks, and even fish finders as available to cabin guests, and describes "hassle-free boat rental." That wording suggests availability to guests rather than automatic inclusion, so treat each item as something to confirm:

• Boats, canoes, kayaks, fish finders — ask whether these come with the cabin or are rented separately, and whether they need to be reserved in advance.
• Outfitting gear — the all-inclusive and partial packages are described differently. The all-inclusive package covers Kevlar canoes, paddles, life jackets, tents, food, and essential gear. Partial outfitting covers Kevlar canoes and food packages. Confirm exactly which items fall on each side before you commit.

Match the package to your trip length and route

The site says the outfitting team manages "everything from permits to pick-up" and will help route your Boundary Waters or Quetico Park adventure. Two things to nail down:

1. Trip length — food and gear quantities scale with days, so give your exact number of nights when requesting a quote.
2. Route and entry point — permit availability drives the whole plan. Because permits are part of the service, ask early, especially for popular summer entry dates.

Confirm booking method and guide add-ons

The site shows Reservations and Cabins/Amenities sections but does not publish an online booking flow or rates in the material available. Plan to contact them directly to confirm availability, pricing, and deposit terms. Also ask specifically about:

• Guided canoe and guided fishing services, and whether they must be booked with the cabin or outfitting package.
• Pick-up and drop-off logistics if you are using the outfitting service.
• What to bring versus what is supplied, so you do not double-pack.

A quick pre-booking checklist

• [ ] Cabin or outfitting package (or both)?
• [ ] Exact guest count and whether a dog is coming
• [ ] Which watercraft and fish finders are included vs. rented
• [ ] All-inclusive vs. partial outfitting — item-by-item
• [ ] Trip dates and entry point for permit planning
• [ ] Guide service add-ons
• [ ] Rates, deposit, and cancellation terms by direct contact

Work through these before you reserve, and the choice between a lakeside cabin week and a Boundary Waters route becomes a straightforward one.