Food Scene
Watch a sunset from the bar and enjoy fine food and cocktails in this historic lodge. Open only in the summer. Call for reservation during peak times. Listed in 1000 Places to See Before You Die book.
Burntside Lodge
2755 Burntside Lodge RdWatch a sunset from the bar and enjoy fine food and cocktails in this historic lodge. Open only in the summer. Call for reservation during peak times. Listed in 1000 Places to See Before You Die book.
Great food, cocktails, and service year-round. Pool tables, darts, karaoke. Full bar.
10 Einheimische empfehlen
Ely Steak House
216 E Sheridan StGreat food, cocktails, and service year-round. Pool tables, darts, karaoke. Full bar.
SIR G's
520 E Sheridan StThe best pizza in town!
Food is pretty standard, but it's a nice patio to enjoy on a summer evening. Sometimes live music.
Rockwood
302 E Sheridan StFood is pretty standard, but it's a nice patio to enjoy on a summer evening. Sometimes live music.
Best food in town with craft cocktails made with regional craft spirits and a wide variety of fusion American menu items, some locally sourced. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Highly recommend.
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Insula Restaurant
145 E Sheridan StBest food in town with craft cocktails made with regional craft spirits and a wide variety of fusion American menu items, some locally sourced. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Highly recommend.
Many options for gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and much more on the menu. Kids meals are served on a frisbee that they can keep.
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Gator's Grilled Cheese Emporium
955 E Sheridan StMany options for gooey grilled cheese sandwiches and much more on the menu. Kids meals are served on a frisbee that they can keep.
Decadent frozen custard made on site. New flavor of the day each day. Buy sundaes, cones, or to-go containers. Only open in summer.
Red Cabin Custard
1114 E Sheridan StDecadent frozen custard made on site. New flavor of the day each day. Buy sundaes, cones, or to-go containers. Only open in summer.
Entertainment & Activities
Learn about wolves and get to know the pack. Saturday nights they feed the wolves roadkill and it is a fascinating look at pack behavior, if you can stomach it!
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Internationales Wolfzentrum
1396 MN-169Learn about wolves and get to know the pack. Saturday nights they feed the wolves roadkill and it is a fascinating look at pack behavior, if you can stomach it!
Experience the health benefits of a Finnish sauna. Public or private rooms. Historic (old) place, but clean and friendly.
Ely Steam Bath
127 S 1st Ave EExperience the health benefits of a Finnish sauna. Public or private rooms. Historic (old) place, but clean and friendly.
Ely Bowling Center
43 E Camp StClassic bowling alley.
North American Bear Center
1926 Minnesota 169museum and live bear exhibit.
Ely Folk School
209 E Sheridan StLearn the old ways of the north woods and the people who have lived here.
Important and interesting historical site. Ride down a mine shaft elevator and mine cars.
27 Einheimische empfehlen
Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
1302 McKinley Park RdImportant and interesting historical site. Ride down a mine shaft elevator and mine cars.
Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge, Inc.
1101 Ring Rock RoadDog sledding day trips for an unforgettable experience.
Lossing's Cat Shack
30 North DrSnowmobile rentals.
Arts & Culture
Learn about "the root beer lady", the last resident of BWCA.
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Dorothy Molter Museum
2002 E Sheridan StLearn about "the root beer lady", the last resident of BWCA.
Amazing wildlife and nature photos from a National Geographic photographer and author who decided to call Ely home.
Brandenburg Gallery
11 E Sheridan StAmazing wildlife and nature photos from a National Geographic photographer and author who decided to call Ely home.
Ely-Winton Historical Society
1900 E Camp StSee their walking tour guides.
Explore and learn about the history and culture of the Ojibwe, the native people who have lived in this area for generations.
Bois Forte Heritage Center
1500 Bois Forte RdExplore and learn about the history and culture of the Ojibwe, the native people who have lived in this area for generations.
Shopping
Skilled massage therapists in a beautiful Northwoods spa. Beautiful retail store with clothing, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, childrens items, and gifts as well.
Pebble Spa Company
229 E Sheridan StSkilled massage therapists in a beautiful Northwoods spa. Beautiful retail store with clothing, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, childrens items, and gifts as well.
Great selection of outdoor gear, clothing, and books. They also rent outdoor gear such as snowshoes, paddle boards, etc. Check out their outlet store on Sheridan St, around the corner from the main store, for huge deals on closeout items.
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Piragis Northwoods Company
105 N Central AveGreat selection of outdoor gear, clothing, and books. They also rent outdoor gear such as snowshoes, paddle boards, etc. Check out their outlet store on Sheridan St, around the corner from the main store, for huge deals on closeout items.
Evergreen Cottages
146 E Chapman StOrganic and natural foods grocery store, wellness spa, gifts.
Unique selection of home furnishings, gifts, and toys.
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Mealey's Gift & Sauna Shop
124 N Central AveUnique selection of home furnishings, gifts, and toys.
Fabulous selection of quality toys and games for all ages. Fun activities and learning events for the kids as well.
Legacy Toys
5 N Central AveFabulous selection of quality toys and games for all ages. Fun activities and learning events for the kids as well.
Steger Mukluks
100 E Sheridan StSnow boots, shoes, clothing, and misc. fun stuff.
Wide variety of classic and hard to find candy for all generations. Our kids love going there to get a treat when we're in town.
Ely's Old Fashioned Candy
228 E Sheridan StWide variety of classic and hard to find candy for all generations. Our kids love going there to get a treat when we're in town.
All the granola varieties available at the store and a small coffee/pastry shop as well.
Crapola World Headquarters
402 N 1st Ave EAll the granola varieties available at the store and a small coffee/pastry shop as well.
Babes Bait & Tackle
451 W Sheridan StBest bait shop in Ely.
Essentials
Enjoy a healthy & delicious organic meal or take out. Deli and baked goods options. Grocery store for organic, natural, gluten free, or other specialty items.
Organic Roots
141 E Chapman StEnjoy a healthy & delicious organic meal or take out. Deli and baked goods options. Grocery store for organic, natural, gluten free, or other specialty items.
Good selection of grocery staples, plus organic and natural foods section, deli, and homemade sausages.
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Zup's Food Market
1500 East Sheridan StreetGood selection of grocery staples, plus organic and natural foods section, deli, and homemade sausages.
If you need any pet food or supplies while you visit Ely, this is the place for a good selection.
Ely Flower & Seed Store
145 W Camp StIf you need any pet food or supplies while you visit Ely, this is the place for a good selection.
Drinks & Nightlife
Growlers of craft beers brewed on site and available for sale. Many menu selections. Sports on TV if you can't miss a game. They do have a full restaurant as well.
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Boathouse Brewpub & Restaurant
47 E Sheridan StGrowlers of craft beers brewed on site and available for sale. Many menu selections. Sports on TV if you can't miss a game. They do have a full restaurant as well.
Parks & Nature
Kawishiwi Trail
Kawishiwi TrailShort, easy hike to an amazing waterfall.
Our favorite hike… 1.7 miles to the waterfall and back. Great place to picnic on the rocks and look for frogs and crayfish in the pools, and jump in the lake.
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Bass Lake Trail
1548 Echo TrailOur favorite hike… 1.7 miles to the waterfall and back. Great place to picnic on the rocks and look for frogs and crayfish in the pools, and jump in the lake.
Fenske Lake Campground
2229 Echo TrailA short hiking trail and a small sandy swimming beach.
Cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, walking, running trail. If you want an accessible paved trail, this is the one.
Trezona Trail
Cross-country skiing, biking, hiking, walking, running trail. If you want an accessible paved trail, this is the one.
Whiteside Park
Nice playground for kids. Tuesday night Farmer's Market in the Summer.
2.7 Billion year old rock formation moved by glaciers off the beaten path. So unusual that the Apollo 15 crew visited the rocks in 1970 to prepare for their moon landing.
Pillow Rocks
1305 E Main St2.7 Billion year old rock formation moved by glaciers off the beaten path. So unusual that the Apollo 15 crew visited the rocks in 1970 to prepare for their moon landing.
Hegman Lake Pictographs: for an unforgettable winter day hike, snowshoe to the Hegman Lake Pictographs. The Hegman Lake trail head is located approximately 15 miles north of Ely off the Echo Trail. The parking lot is plowed in the winter so you can park off the road. Make sure you fill out a free BWCAW Day Use Permit located in the brown box at the trailhead. The distance from the parking lot to the pictographs is about 1.8 miles. You will follow the portage trail a short way down to the lake, with most of the hike on South and North Hegman Lake.
Hegman Lake Canoe Access
2348-2358 Ely-Buyck RdHegman Lake Pictographs: for an unforgettable winter day hike, snowshoe to the Hegman Lake Pictographs. The Hegman Lake trail head is located approximately 15 miles north of Ely off the Echo Trail. The parking lot is plowed in the winter so you can park off the road. Make sure you fill out a free BWCAW Day Use Permit located in the brown box at the trailhead. The distance from the parking lot to the pictographs is about 1.8 miles. You will follow the portage trail a short way down to the lake, with most of the hike on South and North Hegman Lake.