A Stay Inn Ely
Ely
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Ely is the largest gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the federal wilderness of lakes and portages along the Canadian border. Most outfitters are in town or out the Fernberg Road toward Moose, Snowbank and Lake One; the Echo Trail runs north-west to the quieter entry points.
An outfitter can supply a whole trip: canoe, packs, tent, cooking gear, food, permit help and a tow up Moose Lake. Lodges and resorts on Burntside, White Iron, Birch and the Fernberg lakes cover the nights before and after.
I. The lodges
Where to stay
Stay in Ely for restaurants and shops, on the Fernberg for the shortest drive to Moose Lake and Lake One, or on Burntside and the Echo Trail for the quieter western routes.
9 places to stay
Ely
Motels, lodges and the in-town outfitters along Sheridan Street and Shagawa Lake.
Adventure Inn
Ely
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Ely Pioneer Resort & Lodge
Ely
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Grand Ely Lodge Resort & Event Center
Ely
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Lake View Lodge
Ely
From $200–$800 / night (peak range $260-$800, off peak $200-$750; year not stated) · year not stated
Northernair Lodge
Ely
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Northwoods Inn & Suites
Ely
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Paddle Inn Motel
Ely
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Voyageur North Outfitters & Resort
Ely
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20 places to stay
The Fernberg Road & White Iron
East of Ely toward Fall, Moose, Snowbank and Lake One: the busiest entry points, most of the outfitters with their own docks, and resorts on White Iron, Farm and Birch lakes.
Birch Lake Campground
Ely
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Deer Ridge Resort
Ely
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Fall Lake Campground
Ely
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Garden Lake Resort
Ely
From $185 (nightly and weekly rates) · 2026
Kawishiwi Lodge & Lake One Outfitters
Ely
From $1,799–$4,699 / week · 2026
Mattila's Birch Lake Resort
Babbitt
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Moose Track Adventures
Ely
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Packsack Canoe Trips & Log Cabins
Ely
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Pine Point Lodge
Ely
From $300–$500 / night (weekly $1,000-$1,825) · 2025
River Point Resort & Outfitting Co.
Ely
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Silver Rapids Lodge
Ely
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Snowbank Lodge and Outfitters
Ely
From $105 (nightly and weekly rates) · 2025
South Kawishiwi River Campground
Ely
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The Retreats on White Iron Lake
Ely
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Timber Trail Lodge
Ely
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Veterans on the Lake Resort
Ely
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Vosburgh's Custom Cabin Rentals
Ely
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White Iron Beach Resort
Ely
From $1,095–$3,099 / week · 2026
Wilderness Bay Lodge
Ely
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Williams & Hall Outfitters
Ely
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8 places to stay
Burntside & the Echo Trail
Resorts on Burntside Lake and the gravel Echo Trail to the north-western entry points, including the lodge that took over Echo Trail Outfitters.
Big Lake Wilderness Lodge
Ely
From $2,500 / week (2-cabin package) · 2026
Burntside Lodge
Ely
From $285–$786 / night (early season to high season) · year not stated
BWCA Getaway Cabins (Log Cabin Hideaways)
Ely
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Camp Van Vac
Ely
From $440–$1,400 / night (unconfirmed; Explore Minnesota range, year not stated) · year not stated
Echo Shores Resort
Ely
From $1,195–$2,245 / week · 2026
Fenske Lake Campground
Ely
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Lodge of Whispering Pines
Ely
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Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge
Ely
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II. Into the wilderness
What canoe outfitting costs
Complete outfitting covers canoe, packs, tent, sleeping gear, cooking kit and food for the whole trip. The range below mixes aluminum and Kevlar packages; Piragis and Cliff Wold's publish Kevlar only.
| Package | Per person, per day | Typical | Outfitters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete outfitting | $95–$150 | $102 | 10 |
| Partial outfitting | $60–$74 | $69 | 3 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Complete outfitting usually means canoe, packs, tent, cooking gear and food; check what each includes and the minimum trip length.
| Outfitter | Complete / day | Partial / day | Canoe rental | Tows | Rate year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boundary Waters OutfittersEly | Call | – | – | Moose Lake water tows $50-$130 per person one way; land shuttles to Lake One, Snowbank, Moose $65 a group (undated) | not stated |
| Canadian WatersEly | $100 | – | $60/day Kevlar 4-person; $52 Kevlar tandem; $30 aluminum 18ft; $28 aluminum 17ft | Moose Lake tows to Ensign, Prairie or Indian Portage $33 a person; Washington Island $80; Back Bay Portage $90 | not stated |
| Canoe Country OutfittersEly | $99 | – | – | Towboat service | not stated |
| Cliff Wold's Outfitting Co.Ely | $112 | – | – | – | not stated |
| Ely Outfitting CompanyEly | $125 | – | – | Shuttles and motorboat tows | not stated |
| Jordan's Outfitters Inc.Ely | Call | – | – | Tow boat and fly-in trips | not stated |
| Kawishiwi Lodge & Lake One OutfittersEly | Call | – | – | – | not stated |
| LaTourell's Resort & Moose Lake Canoe TripsEly | $102 | $69 | $51/day 17-18ft Kevlar; $56 3-person Kevlar; $31 17ft aluminum | Towboat one way per person: Ensign, Indian or Prairie Portage $36; Washington Island $95; Back Bay Portage $105 (undated) | 2026 |
| Lodge of Whispering Pines (incl. Echo Trail Outfitters)Ely | Call | – | $30/day 17ft Alumacraft; $35 20ft Alumacraft; $40 solo Kevlar; $50 tandem Kevlar; $55 3-person Kevlar; $60 23ft Kevlar | Canoe and gear shuttles to Echo Trail entry points, free to $60; Crane Lake drop $150 | not stated |
| Moose Track Adventures (BWCA Outfitters)Ely | Call | – | – | Shuttles | not stated |
| North Country Canoe OutfittersEly | $150 | – | – | Van or towboat to entry points | 2026 |
| Packsack Canoe Trips & Log CabinsEly | Call | – | – | Boat tows on most motorized BWCA lakes | 2026 |
| Piragis Northwoods CompanyEly | $130 | $60 | $65/day 4-person; $60 3-person; $55 tandem; $45 solo | – | not stated |
| River Point Canoe Outfitting Company (River Point Resort)Ely | $95 | – | Kevlar upgrade +$12 per person per day on Ultralight; solo Kevlar example $42/day | Exit transport on request | 2026 |
| Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitting and Outdoor StoreEly | $102 | $74 | $54/day 2-seat Kevlar; $58 3-seat; $64 4-seat; $30 aluminum 17ft; $40 solo Kevlar | Towboat to the main entry points | not stated |
| Voyageur North Canoe OutfittersEly | $99 | – | – | Free transport to many entry points with 2026 specials | 2026 |
| Way To Go Canoe OutfittersEly | Call | – | – | – | not stated |
| Williams & Hall Guides & OutfittersEly | Call | – | – | – | not stated |
III. On the water
What a guided day costs
| Boat | Full day | Typical | Half day | Typical | Operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | $650 | $650 | $475 | $475 | 1 |
"Typical" is the median of published rates. Most operators don't put a year on their rates.
Independent guides
Lodges that run their own guides are listed with the lodges above.
| Guide | Full day | Half day | Boat | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ely Fishing Guide CompanyEly | $650 | $475 | Guide boat, 1–2 anglers | walleye, northern pike, smallmouth bass, lake trout |
| Ely Ice Fishing CompanyEly | Call | – | walleye, lake trout, northern pike | |
| Jasper Creek Guide Service, Inc.Ely | Call | – | smallmouth bass |
IV. Hard water
Ice fishing: day houses and sleepers
Winter here is ice fishing for lake trout and walleye, mostly with a guide.
| Outfitter | Day house | Sleeper | How you get out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ely Ice Fishing CompanyEly | Yes | – | |
| Grand Ely Lodge Resort & Event CenterEly | Yes | – | |
| Snowbank Lodge and OutfittersEly | $60/day plus tax 2-person pull-over; $50/day 8x8 pop-up tent (year not stated) | – | |
| Veterans on the Lake ResortEly | Yes | – |
V. The almanac
Seasons at a glance
- Late JanuaryBWCAW quota permits open on recreation.gov (January 28 in 2026).
- May 1 – September 30Quota season: overnight groups need a permit for their entry point and date.
- May 9, 2026Walleye, pike and summer lake trout seasons open.
- September 30Summer lake trout season and the quota season end.
- January 1 – March 31, 2027Winter lake trout season on lakes entirely inside the BWCAW.
Fishing dates from the DNR's 2026 regulations; permit dates from recreation.gov and the Forest Service's 2026 announcement.
VI. Field notes
The 2026 fires
- Wildfires closed the whole BWCAW in mid-July 2026. The Forest Service reopened it in phases from late July.
- By September 8, 2026, more than 1,600 campsites were open again, and seven entry points (11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 21) were closed for the rest of the season. The 4,815-acre Little Knife Fire near South Arm Knife Lake was 95 percent contained.
- Fire restrictions have been lifted across the Superior National Forest. Check the Forest Service's alerts and your outfitter before booking a 2027 entry point.
VII. Regulations
Fishing rules
2026–27 season (May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027) and the 2026 BWCAW quota season (May 1 – September 30)
- From May 1 to September 30, every overnight paddle, motor or hiking group in the BWCAW needs a quota permit for its entry point and date, reserved on recreation.gov.
- One permit per group: no more than 9 people and 4 watercraft together.
- Walleye and sauger (inland lakes): May 9, 2026 – February 28, 2027. 6 combined, only one walleye over 20 inches.
- Northern pike (Northeast Zone): 2 in possession; release every pike from 30 through 40 inches; one over 40 allowed.
- Lake trout, summer: May 9 – September 30, 2 a day. Winter season on lakes entirely inside the BWCAW: January 1 – March 31, 2027.
- Ice shelters may be used inside the BWCAW but must come off the ice each night and whenever you leave the wilderness.
Fishing rules from the DNR's 2026 Minnesota Fishing Regulations (inland seasons and the Northeast pike zone; lakes on the Canadian border follow the Canada-Minnesota tables). Permit rules from recreation.gov. Each lake can carry its own special regulation; check before you fish.
VIII. Asked at the dock
Questions people ask
How much does complete canoe outfitting cost in Ely?
Published complete outfitting runs $95–$150 per person per day (typical $102), usually with canoe, gear and food. Most outfitters charge less per day for longer trips and more for one or two people.
How much does a fishing guide cost in Ely?
A guide boat for 1–2 anglers runs $650–$650 for a full day. Rates are per boat, not per person, and usually include bait and gas.
Do you need a permit for the Boundary Waters?
Yes. From May 1 to September 30 every overnight group needs a quota permit for its entry point and start date, booked on recreation.gov. Groups are limited to 9 people and 4 watercraft. Outfitters can reserve the permit for you.
Is the Boundary Waters open after the 2026 fires?
Mostly. After the July 2026 closure the Forest Service reopened it in phases. As of September 8, 2026, seven entry points (11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20 and 21) were closed for the season. Check the Forest Service's alerts before booking.
Sources and photo credits
Photos: The Boundary Waters, Minnesota, U.S. Department of the Interior, Public domain; Ely State Theater, McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0; ^30 Lake one access on the Kawishiwi river - panoramio, daakrolb (Panoramio), CC BY-SA 3.0; Burntside Lake BWCAW, Gerg (Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 2.5.
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