Ely, MN Summary

photo by akrsouth

Ely bills itself as “the Canoe Capital of the World.” The village has 4,000 residents and is located above Lake Superior near the Canadian border, 112 miles from Duluth and 255 miles from the twin cities of Minneapolis-St Paul.

This small town offers excellent access to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quantico Provincial Park. It is encompassed by Superior National Forest, which has 2,021 lakes over 10 acres in size, with a total of 314,545 acres of water; it also contains 1,975 miles of streams. Within Boundary Wilderness, 1,000 lakes of 10 acres or more can be reached by water.

Cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are popular in winter, taking place on hundreds of miles of groomed trails in the area. Many resorts offer cabins for skiers and snowmobilers. Ely is at the end of the Taconite Trail, which runs through three state and one national forest, countless historical landmarks and numerous communities. Downhill skiing is offered at nearby Giants Ridge.

Berry picking is a very popular summer activity. Strawberries (in late June to mid-July), blueberries (from mid-July to mid-August), and raspberries (from July into August) are abundant. Waterskiing, fishing, boating, hiking, and golfing can also be enjoyed in the warm months. Walleye, lake trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, rainbow trout, largemouth bass, and bluegill all keep anglers busy. Beginners as well as experienced canoeists can enjoy boating the 1,500-plus miles of the Boundary Wilderness water trails. Canoe outfitters will often assist on choosing routes, selecting campsites, and supplying food or equipment. Motorcraft are not allowed in designated areas so that canoe trips can be peaceful getaways and reach into areas that are not often visited.

Ely is home to the International Wolf Center, a multi-million-dollar complex that examines one of the most elusive and misunderstood animals in the world.

Ely is the home or part-time residence of a number of artists, writers, photographers, and adventurers. The late Charles Kuralt, of “On the Road,” bought the local Ely radio station in 1995.

Jim Bradenburg is best known for his book on wolves and his work for National Geographic. Will Steger and Paul Schurke wrote the best-selling book North to the Pole! and they were once featured on a cover of National Geographic. Dorothy Molter, best known for her nursing skills and as “the Root Beer Lady of Knife Lake,” was the last Boundary Wilderness resident. Dr Lynn Rogers, considered by many as “the Jane Goodall of black bears,” is known for his innovative research and award-winning wildlife photography. Another resident, Bob Cary, once ran for the presidency on the independent Fishing Party ticket.

The Chippewa people have lived in Ely for centuries. In the eighteenth century, French traders known as “voyageurs” explored the area in search of fur, usually beaver pelts. In the early nineteenth century, prospectors moved in. They searched for gold, which was never found. However, there were some rich and abundant ironore deposits that were found along the Laurentian Divide.

Ely was incorporated as a village in 1888, just near the east end of Shagawa Lake. When the ore was discovered further west, the town moved in that direction to its present location south of Miners and Shagawa Lakes. At one time, Ely had 11 ore mines, the last of which closed in 1967.

Ely can be reached by car by following Hwy 169 and Hwy 1. The nearest airport in the area is in the town of Hibbing.