Towboat Service in the BWCA

Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters, Ely MN is specially permitted by the USFS to provide towboat service on the following lakes:

• Moose Lake to Splash Portage, Prairie Portage and on Basswood out to Washington Island or Back Bay
• Snowbank Lake to Disappointment Portage or Boot Lake Portage
• Across Burntside to Crab Lake Portage

We load at our Ely base facility and trailer boats to our drop-in landings. Our operators know the lakes and key in on being safe and punctual.  Set an appointment for your one-way or round trip tow today. Call Spirit of the Wilderness at 800-950-2709 or 218-365-3149.

Lake Ice Conditions - May 15, 2015

During May 14, 2014 USFS flight the pilot was unable to see lakes north of Alice Lake so
conditions for some border lakes are not known. Another flight is scheduled for Thursday morning

West Side:

• Except for Snowbank, most lakes in the west zone are open.
• Moose Chain to Prairie all open. All of Basswood, Knife and Ensign are open.
• Kekekabic and Knife are open.
• Burntside is open.
• White Iron, Bear Island, and Shagawa are open.
• Snowbank has ice in the center and on the east side.
• Rivers are open.
• Lakes One through Four, Insula, and Alice are open.
• Up the Echo Trail: Jeanette L. and Big L. are open.

East Side: Lakes on the east side of the forest on the southern half are mostly open.

• Outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Crescent, Fourmile, Toohey, and Lichen are open.
• Mid- Trail and West Bearskin not open--slim chance of it opening by the weekend.
• Gunflint Lake open up to Magnetic Lake but there is still ice on the shores.
• Round Lake Open
• Missing Link Lake open
• Saganaga and Greenwood are NOT open.
• Seagull open
• Ham Lake open- Cross River and Cross Lake- open
• Probably nothing open yet in the Vento area (Daniels, Duncan)
• Bog, Quadga, Kawishiwi, Isabella, Koma, Malberg, Polly, and Perent Lakes are OPEN.