Things to Do in Ely and the Boundary Waters
A million acres of lakes and portages, with a small outfitting town at the door.
See top-rated activities »The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness covers more than a million acres of the Superior National Forest along the Canadian border, with over a thousand lakes linked by rivers and portage trails. There are no roads inside and motors are banned on nearly all of it, so you travel by canoe and carry it, and your gear, between lakes. Visitors camp at designated sites with a fire grate and a wilderness latrine. On the Canadian side, Quetico Provincial Park continues the same country.
Ely, a former iron-mining town at the end of Highway 169, is the busiest gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, with outfitters on every corner who rent canoes and camping gear, pack food and plan routes. Overnight trips from May 1 through September 30 need a permit for a specific entry point and date, reserved through Recreation.gov, and popular entry points fill early. Day trips need a free self-issued permit. If you are new to wilderness travel, a fully outfitted or guided trip is the easiest way in.
Ely is worth a stop even without a canoe. The International Wolf Center has a resident wolf pack you can watch through big windows, the North American Bear Center houses black bears in a large wooded enclosure, and the Dorothy Molter Museum keeps the cabins of the last resident of the wilderness, known as the Root Beer Lady for the drink she brewed for passing paddlers. Nearby, Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park takes visitors half a mile underground in a historic iron mine. In winter the town is known for dog sledding and its winter festival.
To the northwest, Voyageurs National Park near International Falls is a water park in the literal sense: its lakes are explored by boat, houseboat or kayak, with ranger-led boat tours in summer to the historic Kettle Falls Hotel. Both areas are among the best places in the Lower 48 to hear wolves and, on clear autumn and winter nights, to see the northern lights.
Don’t Miss
Over a million acres of lakes and portages; permits are required for overnight trips from May through September.
Exhibits on wolves and a resident pack seen through large viewing windows.
Black bears in a wooded enclosure, with exhibits on bear research and behavior.
The relocated cabins of the Root Beer Lady, who lived on Knife Lake inside the wilderness until 1986.
A lake-filled park explored by boat, with summer boat tours, houseboats and island campsites.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Ely and the Boundary Waters
Tours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. Best in Minnesota may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Ely and the Boundary Waters — FAQ
Do I need a permit for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area?
Yes. Overnight visits from May 1 to September 30 need a quota permit for your entry point and start date, reserved through Recreation.gov. Day trips and off-season trips use a free self-issued permit.
Can beginners do a Boundary Waters trip?
Yes. Many first-timers go with an Ely outfitter that supplies the canoe, gear, food and a route with short portages, or hire a guide for the first trip.
How far is Ely from Duluth?
About two hours north, by Highway 61 and Highway 1 along the shore or inland through Virginia on Highways 53 and 169.
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