Ely, MN

The last town before the Boundary Waters, with a main corner that stays open all year.

Ely is the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Outfitters, cafes and shops line Sheridan Street and Central Avenue.

3 placesUpdated Oct 10, 2026

Places in Ely

Coffee & Bakeries · Ely, MN

Coffee roasted a few doors down, and by its own count the biggest wine-by-the-glass list north of the Twin Cities.

Outdoors & Recreation · Ely, MN

Permits, a Kevlar canoe and a route into the Boundary Waters, all from the same counter on Central Avenue since 1979.

218-365-6745105 N. Central Ave, Ely, MN 55731piragis.com

Stay · Ely, MN

Closed for the 2026 season

Guests have been coming to this log lodge on Burntside Lake since 1913, and the LaMontagne family has run it since 1941.