Things to do in Ely

Ely is a vibrant town full of history, community, and of course, lots of nature. There are things to do for everyone in and around Ely, but if you like being outside, you'll love our town. Here are some things to do! This list doesn't have everything and if we missed your favorite activity or event let us know and we can add it.

Summer activities:

Hiking:

• Kawishiwi falls- a short hike to a beautiful waterfall.  Fun to see in all the seasons!
• Bass Lake and Dry Lake- a longer hike with a wild story and good views.
• Kekekabic Trail- 46 miles through the BWCAW, make sure to get a permit!

Fishing:

• Area lakes are great for catching northern pike, walleye, trout, and more, just make sure to bring your license!
• A lot of local guide services can point you towards the right lakes to try.

Camping:

• Ely is surrounded by Superior National Forest which has countless great places to camp.  Options for folks who prefer tents and RVs and everything in-between.
• The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness offers the best canoe camping in the country and is a spectacular way to see the Wilderness.  Make sure to do research and acquire a permit!

In Town:

• Farmers market every Tuesday from 5-7 during the summer at Whiteside Park
• 4th of July Parade and fireworks
• Blueberry Arts Festival shop from hundreds of local and regional vendors!
• Watch a movie at Ely's Historic State Theater
• Jake Forsman Memorial Car Show and Burnout Competition
• Shopping
• Several great restaurants and food trucks

Winter Activities:

Hiking/Snowshoeing

• Depending on snow conditions, local hiking trails can be walked or snowshoed! Kawishiwi Falls is usually compacted enough to hike and its always fun to see how much of the falls are frozen over.
• Hegman Lake pictographs offer a peak into some of the area's older history and often have a fairly defined path leading to them.  Make sure to bring get a day use permit (available at the parking lot) and make sure the ice is safe!

Skiing

• The Trezona Trail offers a nice groomed XC ski loop right in town.  Several stores rent skis.
• Hidden Valley has a more extensive trail system and a Chalet!  Don't forget your MN Ski Pass!
• North Arm Trails are vast and some are quite challenging.  Lots of great pines and forests.  A BWCAW permit is needed for some of the trails.

Dogsledding- enjoy a trip or watch a race:

• White Wilderness a bit south of town but offers a diverse range of trips.
• Chilly Dogs is located just south of Ely, great for families and individuals.
• Hauling Dogs is a great way to get out deep into the BWCAW to fish or camping.
• Watch the Wolf Track Classic

Snowmobiling- Ely is a hub for hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails! Bring your snow machine up and do some exploring!

Contact us below if we missed your favorite thing to do in Ely, we'll add it to the list!