Where the road ends and the wild begins.
Twenty entry points into one million acres of Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Paddle in summer. Ski in winter. Watch the wolves any time of year. This is Ely.
Ely is four different places.
Each season opens a different door to the wilderness. Pick your moment — every one of them is the best time to be here.
One million acres.
Zero engines.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is the largest motor-free wilderness east of the Rockies — 1,200+ miles of paddle routes through old-growth forest, glacial lakes, and night skies you can't find anywhere else. Ely is the closest town to nearly half its entry points.
Where paddlers begin.
Pick a verb. Pick a season.
From walleye-opener weekend to dogsled treks under the Northern Lights — this is the full Ely activity index. Scroll →
Fishing
Walleye, lake trout, northern pike, smallmouth bass — across hundreds of lakes.
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Canoeing
& Kayaking
The Boundary Waters' headquarters. 1,200+ miles of routes.
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Camping
Backcountry sites, drive-in campgrounds, and remote canoe-in camps.
Explore →ATV
& Offroad
Hundreds of miles of designated trails through the Superior National Forest.
Explore →Hiking
From the Bass Lake loop to the Kekekabic — trails for every level.
Explore →Hunting
White-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, black bear, and waterfowl seasons.
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Biking
Mountain singletrack, paved Mesabi Trail, and the Hidden Valley network.
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Golf
A wooded 9-hole course tucked between two lakes.
Explore →Dogsledding
North America's dogsled capital — book a half-day mush or a multi-day expedition.
Explore →Snowmobiling
500+ miles of groomed Taconite, Tomahawk & North Shore trails.
Explore →Cross-Country
Skiing
Hidden Valley, Trezona & Bass Lake — groomed daily through the season.
Explore →Snowshoeing
Quiet trails through old-growth pine and frozen wilderness.
Explore →Ice Fishing
Lake trout, walleye & crappie — guided trips and rentable ice houses.
Explore →Kicksledding
A Finnish tradition — propelled by foot, no batteries required.
Explore →
Fat Tire
Biking
Year-round riding on snow-packed singletrack & groomed routes.
Explore →From cabins to canoes — your basecamp.
Ten lodging styles. Whether you want a full-service resort with the boat ready, a quiet B&B downtown, or a remote bunkhouse you canoe to — we have it.
Mark your calendar.
Festivals, races, opener weekends, and the things that only happen here. Plan your visit around them — or stumble into them on the way through town.
The places we're known for.
The wolves. The bears. The forest behind both. And the downtown where everyone meets in between trips.
International
Wolf Center
Live ambassador wolves and the world's leading wolf education facility.
North American
Bear Center
Resident black bears, live cams, and groundbreaking research.
Superior
National Forest
The wilderness Ely sits inside — old-growth pine, 2,000+ lakes.
Downtown
Ely
Outfitters, breweries, galleries, and the Chocolate Moose since 1991.
From the trail.
Stories from outfitters, locals, and seasoned guides — what's biting, what's blooming, what's open this weekend.
The Ely Visitor & Adventure Guide.
Every outfitter, every lodge, every paddle route — printed, mapped, and mailed to your door. Or downloaded today.
Get our monthly newsletter.
Trip ideas, event reminders, and what's just opened — straight from the Ely Visitor Center. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.