Your Basecamp for the Boundary Waters

Tucked against the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Ely, Minnesota is where everyday noise fades into still water and starry skies. Surrounded by over a million acres of protected forest and interconnected lakes, it's a place where loons call across glassy mornings and the Northern Lights ripple overhead. Spend your days canoeing, fishing, and hiking some of the country's most pristine wilderness, then return to a walkable downtown full of local cafes, shops, and small-town warmth. Summer or winter, Ely offers a rare kind of quiet, the kind that stays with you.