Ely, Minnesota Itineraries for every type of Adventurer!
guidebook
FAMILIES • SEASONED ADVENTURERS • HISTORY BUFFS • ARTS & CULTURE LOVERS
itineraries inside
© ELY AREA TOURISM BUREAU / VISIT ELY, MN
Welcome to Ely
land of 10,000 adventures
Ready for yours?
CONTENTS DIRECTORY - 03 FAMILY FUN SEEKERS - 04 EXPERIENCED ADVENTURERS - 06 ARTS & CULTURE LOVERS – 08 HISTORY BUFFS – 10
Cover photo credits, Left Column: (1) Visit Ely, MN (2) Dona Diamond Middle Column: (1) Ely Folk School (2) Visit Ely, MN (3) NLAA Right Column: (1) Ely-Winton Historical Society (2) Visit Ely, MN
visit ely, mn guidebook
02
Attractions
Trails & Parks
Dorothy Molter Museum Pioneer Mine*
Trails and Parks Kawishiwi Falls Trail Semers Beach Park Secret/Blackstone Trail Bass Lake Trail & Waterfall
Ely-Winton Historical Society Listening Point Foundation International Wolf Center North American Bear Center* Soudan Underground Mine State Park Tour Ely Walking & Driving Tour
Trezona Trail Mesabi Trail
Shops
Outfitters
Piragis Northwoods Company's bookstore Sisu Designs Yarn Shop Ely Mercantile
Piragis Northwoods Company Ely Outfitting Company Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters Boundary Waters Outfitters Voyageur North Canoe Outfitters North Country Canoe Outfitters Canadian Waters Cliff Wolds Outfitting Co. LaTourell's Moose Lake Outfitters
Blue Loon Boutique Gracies Plant Works Potluck Kitchenware Lobo Leather Steger Mukluks Wintergreen Northernwear Ely Surplus
Way to Go Canoe Outfitters Williams and Hall Outfitters Ely Outdoors Company Echo Trail Outfitters
Food & Drink
Northern Grounds Boathouse Brewpub Britton’s Cafe Insula Restaurant Sheridan Street Delicatessen Boundary Waters Kitchen Log Cabin Coffee Evergreen Restaurant and Antlers Lounge at Grand Ely Lodge Hammerheart Brewing Burntside Lodge*
Arts & Culture
Ely Folk School Ely’s Historic State Theater Northern Lakes Arts Association Brandenburg Gallery The Meadows Gallery and Studios Art & Soul Gallery & Gift House Kekekabic Studio
recommendations
03
*Seasonal, check hours before you visit.
F
y
amil
un Seekers F
puddle jumper park, chapman street
Ely is the kind of place where kids can still be kids. A day might include exploring the woods, learning about wolves, reading a new favorite book by the lake, and enjoying a sweet treat. The pace here is gentler, the distractions are the good kind, and there's enough wonder to wear out even the most energetic little explorers. Start at the edge of the wilderness and work your way into town, or the other way around. Good memories are waiting to happen!
visit ely, mn guidebook
04
itinerary
Get face-to-face with wolves at the International Wolf Center .
Meet the residents of the North American Bear Center *.
Stretch your legs on the Kawishiwi Falls Trail, a 1.5-mile round trip hike to a stunning 70-foot waterfall with interpretive signs along the way.**
Let the kids run loose at Semers Beach Park .
Browse the selection at Piragis Northwoods Company's bookstore .
Grab a treat at Ely’s Old-Fashioned Candy or Northern Expressions Ice Cream Parlor * to enjoy at Puddlejumper Park .
Take a family photo in front of the new Ely mural at Puddle Jumper Park on Chapman Street!
Photo: Brett Ross / Boreal Roots Media
*Seasonal, check hours before you visit.
**Be aware of drop-offs and fast moving water along this trail.
family fun seekers
05
FOR THE
Experienced Adventurers
Experience the quiet of a lake at dawn, the burn in your shoulders after a long portage, and the particular satisfaction of earning your rest. Ely is your gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, with over a million acres of lakes, rivers, and forest waiting for you to explore on your own terms. Whether you're here for a day paddle or a week- long expedition, the outfitters in town can set you up with gear, maps, permits, and advice tailored to your skill level and ambition.
The BWCAW is the largest federally designated wilderness east of the Rockies, consisting of more than one million acres of primitive forest and over 1,200 miles of canoe routes. It lies within the 3.9 million-acre Superior National Forest.
visit ely, mn guidebook
06
itinerary
Stop by one of Ely's outfitters to plan your route: paddling, hiking, camping, or all three. See page 3.
Hit the water or the trail for a backcountry stay or a day-trip into the Wilderness.
Catch your dinner and cook it over an open fire .
Become one with the universe as you stargaze away from the campfire - the BWCA is one of the world’s largest International Dark Sky Sanctuaries !
Experience the quiet of a lake at dawn, the burn in your shoulders after a long portage, and the particular satisfaction of earning your rest. Ely is your gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, with over a million acres of lakes, rivers, and forest waiting for you to explore. Whether you're here for a day paddle or a week-long expedition, the outfitters in town can set you up with gear, maps, permits, and advice tailored to your skill level and ambition.
Clean up and head to one of our restaurants or pubs for a well-earned burger and local brew . See page 3.
experienced adventurers
07
Northern Lakes Arts Association Theatrical Production
FOR THE
Ely Folk School Blacksmithing Class
Arts + Culture Lovers
Made in Ely: Lobo Leather
Made in Ely: Wintergreen Northern Wear:
Made in Ely: Steger Mukluks
A strong creative spirit sets Ely apart.
Known for its local art, live music, and handcrafted goods, this end-of-the-road destination is a magnet for creatives and makers. Explore local galleries, catch a theatrical performance, do-si-do at a barn dance, shop for locally made items, and learn a new craft.
You'll find excellent coffee shops, brewpubs, and restaurants nearby to fuel your visit.
visit ely, mn guidebook
08
Ely Folk School Barn Dance at Ethel’s Acres | Photo: Andy Vogl
itinerary
Wander the downtown galleries and studios to see what local and regional artists are up to. See page 3.
Take a class or attend an event at the Ely Folk School . Offerings range from felted sauna hat making classes to writing workshops to community dances. Visit their website for details.
Catch a Northern Lakes Arts Association theater production . Visit their website for details.
See a film or catch some live music at Ely's Historic State Theater , a beautifully restored downtown community hub. Visit their website for details.
Refuel with a coffee and a pastry, or a full meal, at one of Ely's local cafes or restaurants. See page 3.
Shop locally made goods at Wintergreen Northern Wear, Steger Mukluks, Lobo Leather, and more. See page 3.
NLAA Production
Northern Grounds Coffee & Wine Bar
Ely’s Historic State Theater | Photo: Chris Ellerbroek
Felted Sauna Hats - Ely Folk School
arts + culture lovers
09
FOR THE
History Buffs
History isn't a memory in Ely, it's the foundation.
This is Bois Forte Band of Chippewa homeland, a place shaped by wild rice, waterways, and centuries of Ojibwe presence long before European settlers arrived.
Native (and then settler) fur trading took place here for over 200 years.
Later came mining and logging, and eventually wilderness guides and outfitters, as tourism in the area became increasingly popular. You can trace these stories through museums, walking tours, and the landscape itself if you take the time to look.
Photo: 1890, Little Long Lake, Ely | Iron Range Research Center
visit ely, mn guidebook
10
itinerary
Visit the Dorothy Molter Museum , dedicated to the "Root Beer Lady" who lived alone in the Boundary Waters and served homemade root beer to passing paddlers until 1986. Explore mining history at Pioneer Mine , where tours bring Ely's iron mining past to life, and a self-guided walking tour around Miners Lake tells the story of its past as an iron ore mine pit.
Browse artifacts and archives at the Ely-Winton Historical Society .
Take the Tour Ely Walking Tour through downtown's historic buildings and landmarks.
Paddle in the summer - snowshoe in the winter - to the 1,000-year-old Hegman Lake Native American pictographs .
Spend time at Listening Point Foundation , the restored property where writer Sigurd Olson found the stillness that shaped his conservation legacy. Visit their website for details.
Check out Pillow Rock - a rare ellipsoidal lava flow formed beneath primeval seas 2.7 billion years ago .
Photos to right: Guide Marie Sarkipato | Ely-Winton Historical Society, Opie Brothers 1900 | IRRC, Tourist Park | EWHS, St. Croix Lumber Co. Logging Train | EWHS
history buffs
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@visitelymn
Tour Ely bit.ly/tourelymn
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