Breakfast
Eggs and a big coffee in Ely
A hearty breakfast in a small-town cafe, to set you up for a day of gear and wolves.
Local tip Cafes here open early for people heading out, so go early.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. The wilderness needs a permit and some preparation, so plan these first.Details
- Getting here
- Most visitors fly into Duluth and drive a little over two hours to Ely, or fly into Minneapolis and drive much of a day. You do not need a car on the water, but you need one to get here and to see the range on the last day.
- Permit and plan
- Entering the wilderness takes a permit for your group, and the number allowed in on a given day is limited, so apply early and check ahead with the forest service. An outfitter in Ely can rent canoes, packs and tents and help you pick a route, which is the easiest way to start if you have not carried a canoe before.
- The wilderness
- It is far from help. Phones often have no signal, the lake water is cold even in summer, storms come fast, and black bears live here. Wear a life jacket on the water, hang or seal your food, bring maps you can use without a signal, and tell someone your route.
- First evening
- Day 1 is in town, so settle in, check your gear with the outfitter and eat early. In early summer insects can be heavy, so bring repellent and a head net.
Day 1. Ely, where the wilderness begins
3 stops · 1.4 miA day in town to get ready. Meet the wolves, learn who lived on a lake in the wilderness for decades, see the street where the outfitters are, then pack early for the water.
- 1MorningWorth the time
International Wolf Center
A center on the edge of Ely about wolves, with exhibits and a pack of wolves that live in a large enclosure with big windows. A good place to learn what lives in the woods you are about to enter. Check ahead on opening.
Go when Morning, before the day gets busy.
Local tip The wolves live in a large enclosure behind windows. Sit and watch for a while, because the pack moves as it likes. Check ahead on opening.
Photo by M. Zonderling on Unsplash About 7 min walk0.3 mi - 2MiddayWorth the time
Dorothy Molter Museum
The museum in Ely for Dorothy Molter, the “Root Beer Lady”, who lived on a lake in the wilderness for more than fifty years and made root beer for passing canoeists. Her story is part of how this place became a wilderness. Check ahead on the season and on opening.
Go when Midday, between the wolves and the street.
Local tip It is a small museum with a big story, so allow a slow hour. Check ahead on the season and on opening.
Photo: Dorothy Molter Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A walleye sandwich or a burger
Walleye, the fish of these lakes, in a sandwich or on a plate, or a plain burger from a main street cafe.
Local tip Ask whether the walleye is local that day.
About 20 min walk1.0 mi - 3AfternoonWorth a slow walk
Ely
The small town at the end of the road, with the outfitters, outdoor shops and cafes along its main street. Check your gear, buy anything you forgot and ask about the weather and the water before you go in.
Go when Afternoon, to check the gear and the weather.
Local tip Ask the outfitter about the water level, the wind and the insects before you leave, and give your route to someone who is staying behind.
Photo by Britta Preusse on Unsplash - Dinner
A big pasta dinner before the paddle
A plate of pasta or a pizza, with bread, on a main street that is used to canoeists.
Local tip Eat early, because you will start early tomorrow.
If it rains. Rain suits the town day. The museum and the wolf center are indoors, and the outfitter is the best place to talk through the forecast for the next two days.
Two days of canoe camping in the wilderness
2 days, 1 night on the way. Days 2 to 3Two days by canoe in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, paddling the lakes and carrying the canoe and your packs across the portages between them, with a night camping on a lake. All food and gear go in with you.
Check ahead: Check ahead on permits, group limits, fire and food rules and the weather. The line on the map shows only a rough direction. Your route comes from your permit entry point, so plan it with an outfitter or the forest service.
Day 2. Into the wilderness
1 stop · 5.6 miCollect the canoe and your permit and push off from an entry lake near Ely. Paddle across the first lake, carry the canoe and the packs over a portage and make camp on a shore or an island. The route comes from your permit.
→ Ely to a lake campsite
- Travel from ElyAbout 22 min by car or transit5.6 miWhere Day 1 ended.
- 1All dayGo with a plan
Fall Lake
One of the entry lakes near Ely, where many trips begin. From here the lakes link by short portages into the wilderness. Your own entry point comes from your permit, so choose it with an outfitter or the forest service.
Go when Early morning, when the water is calm.
Local tip Wind builds across big lakes through the day, so start early. Wear a life jacket, keep the canoe loaded low and pack a rain jacket within reach.
Photo by Ralph Katieb on Unsplash
If it rains. Rain and thunder are the main reasons to wait. If lightning is near, get off the water at once, and if the forecast is rough, ask the outfitter about a shorter route or a later start.
Day 3. Paddle back out
Trek, day 2 of 2Break camp early, when the lake is calm, and paddle and carry back the way you came. Allow plenty of time for the wind and the portages, and be out before dark.
→ The campsite back to Ely
If it rains. Paddle early if the wind is rising, and keep the packs dry in a liner. If the weather turns, stay in camp until it passes, and keep a day in hand for that.
Day 4. The iron range and the big lake
3 stops · 78.9 miA road day. Down into an old iron mine, a look at the long lake beside it, then the long drive to Lake Superior and its harbor bridge. Duluth is a little over two hours from Ely.
- Breakfast
A pasty or a pastry on the range
The pasty, a hand pie of meat and potato, came to this range with the Cornish miners and is still eaten on the iron range.
Local tip A pasty keeps well for a snack on the drive.
- 1MorningWorth the time
Soudan Underground Mine State Park
A state park on the site of Minnesota’s oldest and deepest iron mine, where a tour goes down into the old workings. It tells the story of the iron that shaped this region. Check ahead on tours and opening.
Go when Morning, as a first stop on the drive out.
Local tip The mine is cool all year, so bring a layer even on a hot day. Check ahead on tours and on opening.
Photo: The original uploader was…, CC BY 2.5 on Wikimedia Commons About 16 min by car or transit3.8 mi - 2MiddayWorth a short stop
Lake Vermilion
A large lake beside the mine. Its name comes from the Ojibwe name for the red tint the evening sun gives the water. A pause for a view and a walk by the water before the drive.
Go when Midday, for a break from the car.
Local tip Find a public landing or a viewpoint for a few minutes by the water. The lake is large, so do not try to see it all.
Photo: Willplais, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Lunch
A fish sandwich by the lake
A walleye or whitefish sandwich at a lakeside stop, with a view of the water.
Local tip Small lake places keep the season, so check ahead on opening.
About 1 h 50 min by car75.2 mi - 3EveningWorth the time
Aerial Lift Bridge
The landmark bridge over the ship canal in Duluth, which lifts to let ships through. Watch it work from the pier, and look out at the big lake that is the end of the trip. Check ahead on ship times.
Go when Evening, when the ships come in (about 9:02 PM).
Local tip Watch from the pier beside the canal. Check ahead on when a ship is due, because the bridge lifts for each one.
Photo: Mfield , Matthew Field, h…, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons - Dinner
Lake Superior fish by the canal
Whitefish or lake trout, smoked or grilled, in the harbor district, a fitting end to the trip.
Local tip Tables fill on summer evenings, so book ahead.
If it rains. Rain suits the mine, which stays cool and dry underground. The bridge is just as good in a gray sky, with the ships and the waves.
Departure day
After the last day. Duluth is a long way from the wilderness, so leave more time than you think.Details
- The drive out
- Duluth is a little over two hours from Ely. The roads are two-lane and wildlife on the road is common at dawn and dusk, so drive slowly and leave early for a flight.
- Your gear
- Dry out the tent and the packs before you load the car, and keep wet boots in a bag of their own. Tell the outfitter and the forest service that you are out, so nobody is looking for you.
- If you have a few hours
- Walk the bridge and the canal once more in the morning, or sit on the shore of the big lake before the airport.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Ely?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, May to September are the most comfortable months for walking around Ely. This plan is built for mid July, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 4 days in Ely, planned for mid July. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
Each day has about 1.4 to 78.9 miles between its stops, and 80.3 miles in all across 4 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Keep exploring
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3 slow days in Door County, WisconsinAbout 290 miles awayMore like this
Make this plan yours
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated November 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.