10 Best Things to do in Ely, Minnesota

October 5, 2024

Tucked away at the edge of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, Ely is one of Minnesota’s best small towns for outdoor lovers! From the best hiking to where to eat and cabins stays, here are the best things to do in Ely, Minnesota:

why this blog? hi there! My name is Maddy and I’m an adventure guide and guidebook writer committed to helping people explore the outdoors, with a focus on Midwest adventure. I’ve been working as an outdoor guide since 2018, and am stoked to help you find your next adventure!

Oh hey there! This blog uses affiliate links; that means if you choose to make a purchase based on my recommendation, I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links help keep all my guides free!

hiking near ely minnesota Kawishiwi Falls

What to pack for a trip to Ely, Minnesota

Depending on the season, weather in Ely can range from very hot in the summer to subzero and dry cold in the winter. Summers see crowds for the BWCA crew, but Ely remains one of the best destinations for fall colors and escaping the leaf-peeping crowds. Here are a few essentials for your trip to Ely, Minnesota:

Study hiking boots. I like my Bridger Mids. Working in outdoor retail I literally never had anyone try on these shoes and not buy them! For a lightweight, quick dry trail runner inspired option, I also really love the Keen Zionics.
hiking sandals: I’m obsessed with Bedrocks, designed for the most natural fit and for long days guiding on rivers and to islands!
Day hiking pack: lately I’ve been loving the Cotopaxi Del Dia series
A raincoat. I love the Moss Raincoat from Helly Hansen for a heavy weight raincoat for downpours, or the Outdoor Research Helium for a lighter-weight raincoat better for hiking and light rain than for staying dry at camp in downpours.
A fleece. Any fleece will do, but I really love my Patagonia Synchilla
Wool baselayers. Five years of heavy paddling and my Smartwool baselayers are the only wool baselayers I’ve had that have really stood the test of time.
A puffy jacket. It can be cool even in the summer, especially evenings. My partner Andy (also a wilderness guide) swears by the Patagonia Nano Puff. I like my Helly Hansen Liftloft.
One outfit to wear around town and out to eat!

Best things to do in Ely, Minnesota:

From where to eat to the best hikes and hidden gems, here are the best things to do in Ely, Minnesota:

1) Hike the Onamani Overlook in Lake Vermillion State Park

For a beautiful, beginner-friendly hike near Ely, head out to Armstrong Bay in Lake Vermillion State Park and begin the two mile hike out to the Onamani Overlook. This hike takes you along the lake through beautiful cedar groves and eventually up to the lovely Onamani Overlook of dozens of islands on Lake Vermillion.

a hiker at the onamani overlook in Ely, MN, one of the best easy hikes in Minnesota for fall color

Looking out over islands at a rocky overlook in Ely Minnesota

Lake Vernillion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park is easily one of the best places to visit in Ely, Minnesota.

2) Visit Wintergreen and get an heirloom-quality winter coat

Ely, Minnesota is one of the ultimate winter destinations in the Midwest with access to winter camping in the BWCA, dogsledding, ice fishing, northern lights, and more! A visit to Ely isn’t complete without visiting the home of the iconic Wintergreen jackets.

Gorgeous and locally-made in Ely with the harshest winters in mind, a Wintergreen coat is a lifetime investment and a wonderful souvenir.

3) Stay at the off-grid Ely Log Cabin

One of the best things to do in Ely, Minnesota is to stay off-grid at the quintessentially Northwoods Ely Log Cabin. This cabin is complete with solar power and running well water, tucked away in the woods, and has the ultimate cozy cabin vibes.

Intieror of cozy cabin Ely Log Cabin in Northern Minnesota, one of the cutest off grid cabin stays in the midwest

looking out the window of Ely Log Cabin in Northern Minnesota

The Ely Log Cabin is absolutely adorable and had been on my bucket list for such a long time. I love finding incredible places to visit in the Midwest and strongly believe that the Great Lakes region is one of the most underrated places in the world, and cabins like this really hit that nail on the head for me. There is something so special about the Northern Wilderness.

[disclosure: my stay here in Autumn 2024 was hosted in exchange for photo use!]

blue hour in an off grid cabin in the northwoods making coffee

ely log cabin wood fire stove "cabin porn" book

Check out all of the cozy cabins by the local Ely Cabin Collective.

4) Hike the Bass Lake Loop and Dry Falls

For one of the prettiest hikes in Minnesota, head up to the Bass Lake Loop and Dry Falls. On this six-mile hike, you’ll trek along Bass Lake past several beautiful overlooks of the lake and eventually reach the lovely Dry Falls, a double-tiered waterfall with a center pool you can swim in!

hiking the bass lake loop to swim in dry falls in ely minnesota | quick hike to a waterfall you can swim in

overlooks for fall color in ely minnesota | hiker sits at a beautiful overlook of Bass Lake in Ely, Minnesota

The Bass Lake Loop and swimming in Dry Falls is easily one of the best things to do in Ely, Minnesota!

5) Visit the North American Bear Center

Ely’s North American Bear Center is one of the best places in Ely to visit for outdoor enthusiasts! Here, you can learn about bear behavior in Northern Minnesota and beyond, and even have a chance to spot some of the resident black bears.

The black bears in the Ely North American Bear Center are all bears who could not be rewilded (many of whom were scheduled for euthanasia) and found a forever home at the bear center.

Black Bear notes from the North American Bear Center:

There is so much information here that I could’ve spent hours reading and learning, and hope to come back some day and do just that! Major takeaway from the bear center: bears are not something you need to fear, rather simply respect.

Both in my experience as a wilderness guide and in what I read at the bear center I’ve definitely noticed that people are far more afraid of bears than they need be. Black bears do not go into your tent at night, and so long as you’re practicing proper food storage while camping and familiarize yourself with bear behavior, you’re more than likely not going to have issues with black bears. They are far more afraid of you than anything else.

Whether you’re camping or day hiking, don’t let a fear of black bears keep you off the trail or up at night, but at the same time be sure to travel knowing that you’re in the black bears home; clean up your food and be conscientious!

check out a guide to Leave No Trace in Northern Minnesota

6) Make an appointment at Steger Mukluks for the best cold weather winter boots

Steger Mukluks is another iconic Ely winter-wear company worth checking out. Here, you can find the best winter boots for cold weather on the market. Steger Mukluks are warm and built to withstand cold temperatures.

They are ideal for winter hiking in deep snow, snowshoeing, dogsledding, and general winterwear. They are not, however great for life in a city in the winter as the salt from the roads will damage them.

7) Grab lunch at Gator’s Grilled Cheese Emporium

In between adventures in Ely be sure to check out the Grilled Cheese Emporium for a delicious sandwich and cup of soup to go with it!

8) Canoe the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Ely is one of the best entry points for canoeing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness! This is a quintessential Minnesota adventure and definitely worth planning a trip.

Check out a guide to canoeing the Boundary Waters here!

9) Hike Kawishiwi Falls

Looking for a short and scenic hike to a popular waterfall in Ely? Check out the hike to Kawishiwi Falls just outside of town! This hike is less than two miles and features some of the best views in Ely, Minnesota.