Ely, Minnesota is a charming town of about 3,200 folks situated in the heart of Superior National Forest and adjacent to the famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Four hours north of the Twin Cities and two hours north of Duluth, Ely is about as “Up North” as you can get without needing a passport.
Directions (Getting There): For the fastest route from Duluth to Ely, take Highway 53 north to Virginia, MN then take the MN 169 exit east, and follow this to Ely. For a longer but more scenic route from Duluth, take US Highway 61 and head up the shore of Lake Superior. Turn northwest onto Highway 1 just after passing Tettegouche State Park. This route parallels part of the Superior Hiking Trail and passes several other great State Parks. From the Twin Cities, take Highway 35 north to Cloquet, MN, at exit 237 turn onto Highway 33, and then follow that until it merges onto Highway 53 and take the MN 169 exit east to Ely once you get through Virginia, MN.
About the Town: Ely, MN and the Superior National Forest are part of the traditional homeland of the Anishinaabe people and were ceded under the 1854 Treaty of La Pointe. Treaty rights, including the rights to hunt, fish, and gather, continue to be exercised throughout this land. In the mid-1800s, miners came to the area that would become Ely in search of gold, but instead found rich deposits of iron. Iron mining flourished for much of the late 1800s and into the mid-1900s, and logging has been ongoing since the late 1800s. Tourism plays a large role in Ely’s economy, beginning in the early 1900s with recreational opportunities in the area that would eventually become the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Things to Do and See: Ely is home to endless opportunities. Ely’s festivals range from the Blueberry Arts Festival in July to the Ely Winter Festival and Ely Film Festival in February. Several of Ely’s historic mines can be seen along the Trezona Trail, a great hiking, biking, and skiing loop just a few blocks from downtown. The International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center allow you to learn about some of the wildlife you may encounter on the North Country Trail in this region. For some history, stop by the Ely Winton Historical Society and the Dorothy Molter Museum. Check out Ely’s great outdoor gear stores and vibrant arts community. Camping is available outside of town, at the Fall Lake Campground, the Fenske Lake Campground, and numerous dispersed National Forest campsites.
The Ely Northwoods Chapter is responsible for the North Country Trail section through Ely.
Additional Resources
- ely.org
- Ely Chamber of Commerce
- Piragis Northwoods Company, Outfitter and Guides
- Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters & Outdoor Store
- Snowbank Lodge & Outfitters
- Log Cabin Hideaways
- Additional Businesses, Services, and Public Amenities
Header photo by Matt Davis