Whitewater Canoeing on the Brule
It's like a roller coaster you can WIN!
Ages: 14+
Group Size: 3-10 people
Trip Length: 6 days / 5 nights
Cost: $6000/group
About the location
The Bois Brule River flows into the South shore of Lake Superior, and is renowned for it’s exciting paddling & excellent trout fishing opportunities. The current can range from wide and calm to windy and swift, and every day features some fun white water sections to navigate.
Towering white and red pine line the river’s banks, sheltering abundant wildflowers and blueberries. If you pay attention you could see over 100 species of birds who spend their summers on the Brule before heading to South America for the winter.
Fun Fact: The Brule is sometimes referred to as “The President’s River” because five presidents have visited and fished on the Brule (Grant, Cleveland, Coolidge, Hoover, & Eisenhower). Calvin Coolidge is said to have run the country from a cabin on the Brule for a whole summer.
Trip overview
On the first day of your trip you’ll come to Amnicon’s base camp (30 minutes outside Duluth) to meet your guides and begin learning everything you need to know to have a fun, safe, and successful trip. Brule groups get an additional full day in base camp to practice their paddling & steering skills on the Amnicon River. You’re gonna need it!
frequently asked questions
Who can come on a Brule trip?
Trip participants must be:
- At least 14 years old on the first day of the trip,
- In reasonably good health,
- Able to lift and carry 30 pounds over a short distance,
- Able to swim 25 yards and tread water for 30 seconds while wearing a USCG certified Personal Floatation Device (life jacket)
- Able to walk half a mile over uneven terrain without assistance, AND
- Have a licensed medical practitioner sign a health form certifying that they are healthy enough to engage in the kinds of activities we’ll do on this trip.
Anyone with a chronic medical condition must:
- Be able to manage their own care without assistance,
- Bring all their own medications and supplies,
- Be willing and able to communicate with Amnicon staff if they’re not doing well,
- Have experience managing their condition during prolonged periods of increased stress & activity, AND
- Have not had any medical emergencies within the last year.
If you have questions about whether this trip will be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to contact us! Call 715-364-2602, email info@amnicon.org, or click the button below.
What are the guides like?
Our wilderness guides are amazing, and you’ll love them. We send two highly trained individuals with each group. They will be at least 19 years old, and have been chosen because they have demonstrated an impressive level of maturity, centhusiasm, and a desire to connect with and serve our campers. We do our best to hire a diverse staff every year, and often hire staff from overseas! Amnicon does not discriminate in our hiring based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, country of origin, or religious affiliation.
What are campsites & bathrooms like?
The first two nights on the river we stay in campgrounds at State Parks along the river. They are beautiful and well maintained, although they do tend to be popular with other people, including people who are car-camping. We try to choose campsites that are more private, and closer to the river, but sometimes you can only take what’s available. These campgrounds have sturdy outhouses & artesian wells.
On the third night on trail, we camp at a small town-run campground that feels like sleeping in a wide field beside the river. It’s much more rustic and secluded, just the way we like it!
Is there time for swimming?
Most days yes, but it’s not as easy to find swim time on the Brule as it is on most of our trips. We all love to swim, but the Brule River is unpredictable and can throw us unexpected challenges during the paddle that take up a lot of time, so sometimes there isn’t time to swim when all is said and done. If swimming is a priority for you, let your guides know, and they’ll do what they can to make sure there’s as much time for swimming as possible.
ready for an adventure?
