Things To Do
Ely, Minnesota offers activities and attractions for all ages year round.
Discover all the things to do...
Ely offers activities and attractions for the whole family. Outdoor activities include canoeing, hiking, biking, dog sledding, fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, birding, ATVing, and camping in the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). You can also golf on one of our golf courses, shop in downtown Ely, or enjoy a meal in one of our unique restaurants.
Looking for a little Northwoods culture? Visit the International Wolf Center, North American Bear Center, Ely Folk School, Dorothy Molter Museum, and the Ely-Winton History Museum. Learn about native history and culture at the Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Museum.
Ely is the perfect Northwoods vacation destination all year round! Summer is magical, with thousands of lakes to explore, stunning sunsets, and endless camping options. Autumn features dazzling colors, breathtaking hikes, scenic drives, and ATV rides. Winter in Ely offers unique activities like dog sledding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. Spring is bustling with wildlife, open water fishing, and waterfall hikes.
Kid Friendly Adventures
Bring the whole family to Ely! It’s never too early to teach your kids about how beautiful and magical the BWCAW is, and how lucky we are to have this treasure in our state. One great place to start is with kid-friendly hiking trails. A popular choice for families is the Kawishiwi Falls Trail, a 1.5-mile round-trip hiking trail that offers stunning views of the 70-foot-drop Kawishiwi Falls and Fall Lake Dam. For a half-day excursion, head six miles north to Bass Lake, this trail runs 5.6 miles and is historically and ecologically significant to the area … but all your kids need to know is there are some really huge boulders to climb over!
After your hike, take a picnic to Whiteside Park Pavilion in downtown Ely. The park’s recently installed play equipment is a magnet for kids, if they’ve not worked off all of their energy hiking on the trails. You’ll love the acre of mature pines and community flower gardens, too. On Tuesdays in the summer, enjoy the Farmers Market with live music and food trucks!Â
Pack your swimsuits or enjoy a nature hike over the historic bridge on Shagawa Lake. Semers Beach Park is a local favorite with sand beaches, picnic tables and volleyball nets. It’s also a stone’s throw from Stony Ridge Cafe, home to Ely’s biggest burgers. Unless your kids are big eaters, ask for the Wimpy burgers. Trust us! They are huge!Â
End the day with something sweet from Red Cabin Custard, home to some of the most delicious frozen custard you have ever had, Northern Expressions Ice Cream Shop offering homemade ice cream or Ely’s own Dairy Queen Grill & Chill.
