NOW Outdoors Wilderness Adventure Group

Join us for this beautiful laid-back trip in the northwoods. We start with a quick gear shakedown and group paddle instruction before put-in. Then, we navigate a series of lakes and portage trails to reach our site for the weekend. From there, you'll have lots of free time to paddle, swim, fish, practice new skills, or just kick back and relax. There is also a substantial trail system for hiking that is accessible right from our campsite. The initial travel time from our put-in spot to camp is roughly 3 hours.

This is a perfect trip for anyone interested in canoeing and a great trip to prep for a Boundary Waters adventure later in the summer. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out. This trip always draws a fun group.

Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate
While this is a great beginner trip, participants MUST be comfortable in the water. Paddling and backpacking experience is a plus. You should have your own personal items such as clothing and tent. We also have rental gear available on a first-come, first-serve basis including packs, hammocks, mess kits, etc. Participants should be in good physical health, able to carry their personal gear, and able to help portage group gear including our lightweight canoes.

Upon registration, you will have access to the group page for this event. All of the trip information including gear lists and directions can be found there.

Price: $425 Registration closes April 28th

Join us for this week long paddle adventure through the vast Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Northern Minnesota. This is a true wilderness experience far from any roads or towns. Wildlife includes moose, otter, beaver, wolves, eagles, and more. We provide lodging before and after the trip, all necessary group gear, amazing food, permit reservation and user fees, and of course your licensed professional wilderness guide committed to your successful adventure.

This trip starts in Ely, MN. We will arrive on the evening of June 1st at a designated lodge to go over gear and trip details. Sunday morning, we head out for an early start to our adventure.

Enjoy 7 full days of paddling expedition style through 45+ miles of pristine lakes and wilderness. We plan for a couple layover days during the trip to relax at camp, practice outdoor skills, fish, etc. The itinerary may change due to weather conditions or group interest. Everyone will paddle tandem canoes, help with portages, set up/take down camp, process firewood, share cooking and cleaning up of meals and any other activity of the day. We not only have years of experience in all aspects of the BWCA, but we are teachers, cooks, leaders, storytellers, fishermen and naturalists. We can assure you that our team leads a safe, fun, and educational trip!

Menu items: We believe cliff bars and ramen soup have their place but not on our trips. We love a varied menu that includes delicious meals. A few camp favorites include our famous BBQ pork spaghetti, Rumchata French toast, fruit and yogurt parfait, and the ultimate burrito bowl. We can accommodate some special diets as well. Just let us know how we can help.

Difficulty: Challenging
This trip is not for first-time campers or paddlers. You should be comfortable in a canoe and in the water. You should be able to provide sufficient clothing and personal gear items as per the gear list. Everyone will be expected to help around camp and on the water including portaging gear and canoes between waterways. Expect to carry 50 - 60 pounds of gear or a canoe for short distances on portage trails. The pace will be relaxed at times and challenging at others. Expect to paddle several hours on paddle days and portage over land when necessary. We plan to have 2 zero-travel days for time to fish, swim, relax, etc.

Price: $1,300

Upon registration, you will have access to the event group where the gear list and directions can be found.

Escape the busy campgrounds and join us for a more remote experience backpacking on the Ice Age Trail! Our fully guided trips are designed to help you gain more skills, knowledge, and confidence outdoors. Join us for this beautiful 15-mile hike featuring several small lakes and streams along a dense forest trail. We will hike each day and set up a primitive camp off-trail each night. This trip not only gives you that backcountry feel but also offers countless opportunities for real wilderness and backpacking skill development such as hanging bear bags, purifying water, rigging a group tarp if it rains, and fire building! With the help of expert guides, the types of skills gained on our trips not only help develop a deeper connection with nature but they strengthen confidence and general awareness in the outdoors.

NOTE: This trip is great for beginners based on miles/terrain, ease of water access, and expected weather conditions. The pace will be steady. If you have any reservations about your ability to participate in this trip, please reach out and let us know. We are happy to answer any questions or talk through your concerns. It's common for a beginner to NOT have all of the gear necessary for a trip like this so we're going to make it a little easier for you. Don't worry about food, stoves, pots, pans, or water filters. We have you covered! If you wish to take care of your own meals, thats great too. Just let us know so we can adjust our group meal prep.

Meals are included and here's why: It's not just about planning your meals right for high activity in the woods but also how you plan to cook your meals. You can cook over a fire, on a stove, or in a bag with boiled water. By including meals on this trip, you don't have to make these decisions or purchase a camp stove and fuel or a proper mess kit. That's $100+ in savings right there! A simple plastic Tupperware with a fork, spoon, and cup is all you'll need for this trip. We will have hearty group meals cooked over a fire or prepped on the trail every day. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know well in advance so we can make accommodations.

Purified water will be available in camp and on the trail at all times. If you need gear items such as, hammocks, backpacks and more, we have some items available for rent. Quantities of these items are limited so make your rental requests early.

You will have access to the gear list and directions on the group page upon registration.

Price: $350.00 due June 9th

This is a true 5-star adventure with the highest caliber guides and the best quality gear and equipment in the industry!!!

This is an incredible 10-day itinerary that really has it all including a 2-day trek to the Rainbow Mountains for a sunrise to remember. It is both incredibly beautiful and challenging. We will trek to lake Humantay which sits roughly 13,800′ and you have the option of additional hikes at Machu Picchu. These hikes are Machu Picchu Mountain which sits high above the city of Machu Picchu and Wayna Picchu Mountain which is a true adrenaline rush for the bravest of us.

Extended trip opportunity:
Ask us about our 5-day Ausangate Trek add-on for a unique very remote high altitude trek off the beaten path. This trek is a perfect compliment to the first 10 days and very challenging in high altitude. You will see more wildlife than people and enjoy natural hot springs at a couple camps under starry night skies.

NOW Outdoors works with an award winning partner in Peru known for eco-friendly, sustainable, leave-no-trace travel. They support the local mountain communities and organize regular charity events in the Cusco region of Peru (donating clothes, medical supplies, medical intervention, building schools and clinics, planting trees, and more).

Cost: $3,400 due Dec. 1st, 2023
A non-refundable deposit of $700 can be made to secure your spot.