Northern Tier

Explore true Minnesota and Canadian wilderness through canoeing trips and winter camping

Gateway to Adventure in the North Woods

Northern Tier is the Boy Scouts of America's gateway to adventure in the Great Northwoods. In the Summer, Scouts from Northern Tier's three wilderness canoe bases explore millions of acres of pristine lakes, rivers, forests, and wetlands in Northern Minnesota, Northwest Ontario, and Northeast Manitoba. In the winter, Northern Tier is home to the OKPIK Cold-Weather Camping program, the BSA's premier winter high adventure program.

Summer Adventures

Starting from one of three bases, Northern Tier Crews will paddle in almost 6 million acres of canoe-only wilderness.

Charles L. Somner's Canoe Base: Ely, Minnesota

The flagship base for Northern Tier is the start of canoe trips for the Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area and the Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario.

Donald Rogert Canoe Base: Atikoken, Ontario

Crews leaving from here paddle far into the northern Quetico and the Crown Lands park-and area rich with wildlife and fur trading history.

Northern Expeditions Canoe Base: Bissett, Manitoba

Unofficially, the most rugged experience in the BSA! All crews start their trip by float plane into the Northern Canadian Wilderness.

Winter Adventures

The Boundary Waters and Northern Tier are great for winter High Adventure too. The Somner's Base in Ely Minnesota offers winter camping and dog sledding trips all winter long.

Get More Information

Visit the Northern Tier website to learn more and register a trip visit

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