Come explore the wilderness by canoe in the summer and fall!
Offered for groups and individuals!
Canoe camping treks are our bread and butter here at Northern Tier. With the thick Boreal Forest making trails difficult to navigate and maintain, canoes are the preferred mode of transportation in the Northern Forest. Northern Tier equips each crew with the necessary outfitting needed and a private interpreter to ensure their trip is a success. The Interpreter works alongside the crew and its youth leadership to make it a youth led experience and teaches them the skills they need to succeed in the wilderness.
Our locations
Ely
Atikokan
Which base should I attend?
Need assistance determining which base is best for you or your crew? Check out our resource page which proivdes an overview of treks that occur at the base and what to consider before booking your trek.
Summer
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Crew Treks
Paddle across North America’s canoe country with your Troop or Crew. Experience the wilderness of Northern Tier and prepare for unmatched adventure of canoeing, camping, fishing, and exploring!
Ely Canoe Treks – Summer
ELY
Fee: $5,600 – $10,650 / Crew
You will arrive at Northern Tier on the date designated on the schedule, your first night will be in a cabin on base, your final night will be in a cabin on base and you will depart for home on the date noted on the schedule, all nights in between will be spent on-water.
Summer
Crew
14 years +
Extra category
Atikokan Canoe Treks – Summer
Atikokan
Fee: $7,550- $17,110 / Crew
You will arrive at Northern Tier on the date designated on the schedule, your first night will be in a cabin on base, your final night will be in a cabin on base and you will depart for home on the date noted on the schedule, all nights in between will be spent on-water.
Summer
Crew
14 years +
Extra category
Individual Treks
Not everyone can attend a trek with their Troop or Venturing Crew, but Northern Tier offers unique individual scout programs: the Order of the Arrow’s Wilderness Voyage; Forest Corps, a coeducational environmental leadership program; and Lone Voyageur program.
Lone Voyage Canoe Trips for Individuals
ELY
Fee: $850
The Lone Voyage program allows Scouts who are unable to attend Northern Tier with a traditional Scout Unit, experience a wilderness canoe trip. This program is a 7-night experience in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Summer
Individual
13 years +
Extra category
Forest Corps Explore, Understand, Advocate
Ely
Fee: $850
Forest Corps is a mobile classroom and is designed to educate participants in all aspects of the Northwoods. The goal is that every participant will gain an understanding and appreciation of nature through real hands-on experiences.
Summer
Individual
13 years +
Extra category
Order of the Arrow Wilderness Voyage and Canadian Odyssey
Ely
Fee: $325
Along with your one week trek completely designed by you, each Arrowman will be afforded the opportunity to leave their mark in history by helping maintain the portage trails and campsites in the wilderness areas .
Summer
Individual
13 years +
Extra category
Autumn
Crew Treks
Paddle across North America’s canoe country with your Troop or Crew. Experience the wilderness of Northern Tier and prepare for unmatched adventure of canoeing, camping, fishing, and exploring!
Autumn Fishing Adventures
ELY
Fee: $4,000 / Crew
Canoe the beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness during the fall, taking in the spectacular change in seasons. Customize your trip to be a fishing trip! With the winter months just ahead, autumn is feeding time for most species of fish.
Autumn
Crew
14 years +
Extra category
Get Your Feet Wet
Ely
Fee: $2,000 / Crew
Canoe the beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness during the fall, taking in the spectacular change in seasons. Customize your trip to be a fishing trip! With the winter months just ahead, autumn is feeding time for most species of fish.
Autumn
Crew
14 years +
Extra category
Autumn Wilderness Canoe Treks
Ely
Fee: $4,000 / Crew
Canoe the beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness during the fall, taking in the spectacular change of seasons! With the cooler nights and shorter daylight hours the fall season’s annual change of color peaks with vivid red, orange, and yellow, as the maple, and many others!
Autumn
Crew
14 years +
Extra category
Secure your spot on one of our unforgettable wilderness adventures. Whether you’re seeking a summer canoeing expedition or a winter camping experience, Northern Tier offers a unique and challenging opportunity for Scouts of all ages.
Advisor’s Guide
Reading the Advisors guide is a perfect first start for planning your expedition. Learn about requirements, recommended planning calendar, gear, and more.
Participant Guide
Get detailed information on preparing and attending a summer Summer Canoe Trek.
Frequently Asked Questions
Northern Tier provides all trail and base meals, aluminum canoes, packs, tents, cooking gear, and communication equipment. We also provide trained staff (i.e., interpreter) to assist your crew in having a great Scouting experience with a fun trip appropriate to the experience and abilities of your crew. The interpreter will enhance your Scouting skills along the way and deliver a memorable experience.
Extra weight puts strain on the back, joints and feet. The portage trails can be very muddy, slippery and rocky presenting a great potential for tripping and falling. Extremely small participants will have a very difficult time carrying canoes and heavy packs. A canoe’s load is another important reason to limit participant weight. Northern Tier assigns three people to a canoe. The total participant load per canoe must not exceed 600 pounds, averaging 200 pounds per participant.
Receive info on trek dates, openings, and offers.
Come to Northern Tier for a whole new level of adventure, up north! From incredible canoe journeys to wild winter wilderness camping, Northern Tier promises the Scouting adventure of a lifetime in the Great North Woods of northern Minnesota and Canada.
The mission of Scouting America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Remaining Off-peak treks for 2025 are 25% off if you sign up before December 31st!