Discover Ely Minnesota For Family Sled Dog Adventures & More!
Discover the Ely Difference! Here, you’ll experience the best of both worlds – the relaxed atmosphere of small town living yet many of the advantages of big city living. Ely, Minnesota is the gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the ultimate canoeing destination in the world. With over a thousand pristine lakes and expansive untracked wilderness, the area attracts visitors year round with its reputation for canoeing, fishing, dogsledding and remote wilderness character. Ely offers not only the ultimate in wilderness experiences but also some fine dining and artisan shopping opportunities as well as many relaxing resorts and varied year-round recreation experiences.
By Air
The best way to get here by air is via the Hibbing or Duluth International Airport. Delta has flights arriving daily. From the airport you will need to arrange for ground transportation to Ely. You can click on the tabs above to show some of the options that you can choose from.
Airport Links
Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport (Twin Cities)
Duluth International Airport (Duluth MN)
Range Regional Airport (Chisholm – Hibbing MN)
Car Rental
In Duluth Minnesota (Duluth International Airport):
Alamo 800-462-5266
Avis 218-727-7233
Budget 218-727-7685
Hertz 218-654-3131
A Car Auto Rental 218-722-4181 – Free Shuttle from the Airport
National 218-727-7426
In Hibbing Minnesota (Range Regional Airport):
A Car Auto Rental 218-263-8943
Hertz 218-829-6008
Taxi Service
Allied Taxi:
Allied Taxi in Duluth will transfer you to and from Ely. They can be reached at 218-722-3311. The rates are about $220 one way from the Duluth airport to your lodge. Be prepared, as they only accept Traveler’s Checks or cash. Phone: (218) 722-3311
Ely Shuttle:
Shuttle service for groups from Ely or Duluth to your lodge. (218) 349-1383, elyshuttle@gmail.com. Cash or Check Only. Rates from Duluth to Ely: for 2 people:$225 one way, $450 round-trip
By Car
Driving is usually not a problem as the roads in the winter are kept in very good shape. Be sure to fill your gas tank before arriving at your lodge and as an added precaution you may want to put a bottle of “Heat” in it to prevent possible gas line freezing. Good tires and conservative driving times are recommended.
Carpooling Options
Contact us for an update on the other participants and their travel plans if you would like to try to set up a carpool with other people on your trip. If flying to Duluth, you may wish to carpool from there, sharing in the cost of a taxi or a rental car.
Directions to Ely
The best route to Ely is by taking Hwy 53 to Virginia. If coming from the Twin Cities on I-35, you may wish to bypass Duluth by going through Cloquet on Hwy 33, cutting across to Hwy 53. Stay on Hwy 53 until you get to the right-hand Ely turn-off onto Hwy 169 (~4 miles from the last Virginia exit). Ely is about 44 miles from this turn. Once in Ely, follow the directions to the lodge where you start your trip. (Your lodge is listed on the letter found in the confirmation packet). Winter drive times from the Twin Cities to Ely is 4.5-5 hours and Duluth Airport to Ely is 2-2.25 hours.
Alternate Route From the South
If coming directly to the kennel, or Lake Gegoka Condos from the south (Duluth/Two Harbors) DO NOT take Highway 169 to Ely. Here is the fastest most direct route: In Duluth, follow 61N to Two Harbors. Take a left on to Hwy 2 and follow it until it ends at Hwy 1, roughly 50 miles. Take a right on to Hwy 1. See lodge or kennel directions, for the remainder of the directions. Note that this route is remote with no amenities. Fill up your gas tank in Two Harbors, and allow extra time if winter weather is stormy.
Directions
The White Wilderness Kennel, as well as most of the trailheads, is located on Hwy 1 south of Ely.
If coming from downtown Ely:
Pick up Hwy 1 by the Chamber of Commerce, on the east edge of town and about a quarter mile before the International Wolf Center. The kennel is located on Deep Lake Road, roughly 27 miles south of Ely, via Hwy 1. (It is about 22 miles from the Hwy 120 turn-off.) When you pass Hwy 2 (a right-hand turn-off on a relatively straight stretch of road), continue on Hwy 1 for almost two more miles. At mile marker 313, on the crest of a small hill, turn LEFT onto Deep Lake Road. Drive just over a mile and bear LEFT onto Forest Service Road 1491C (blue fire #10121). At the “Y” intersection, stay to the RIGHT and you will drive directly to the kennel. You will have gone exactly 1.5 miles after turning off from Hwy 1. Winter drive time from Ely to the kennel is 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on road conditions.
If coming from Lake Gegoka, Isabella or the North Shore:
Follow Highway 1 west to green mile marker 313. You will pass a small river overlook a half mile before the turn. Turn RIGHT onto Deep Lake Rd. (If you miss this turn, you will come to Highway 2 and a closed rest area on your left within a mile.) Drive just over a mile and bear LEFT onto Forest Service Road 1491C (blue fire #10121). At the “Y” intersection, stay to the RIGHT and you will drive directly to the kennel. You will have gone exactly 1.5 miles after turning off from Hwy 1.
If coming directly to the kennel from the south (Duluth/Two Harbors):
Follow 61N to Two Harbors. Take a left onto Hwy 2 and follow signs north to Hwy 1. This route includes a quick dogleg turn to stay on Hwy 2. Pay attention. Once Hwy 2 ends at Hwy 1, take a right on Hwy 1 (you’ll see a closed Rest Area on the right). Follow Hwy 1 for roughly two miles. At green mile marker 313, on the crest of a small hill, turn LEFT onto Deep Lake Road. Drive just over a mile and bear LEFT onto Forest Service Road 1491C (blue fire #10121). In winter, follow the main tracks and you will drive directly into the kennel. You will have gone exactly 1.5 miles after turning off from Hwy 1.
(Note: taking Hwy 61 up to Finland and then west on Hwy 1 will take you very very far out of your way if coming from the south.) We are a solid 1 hour drive north of Two Harbors and a solid 1.5 hours from Duluth. Remember to fill up on gas, etc. in Two Harbors, as there are no amenities between Two Harbors and our kennel.
If coming from the Lutsen area:
Take Hwy 61 south to County Rd 6. Turn right on to County Rd 6/Little Marais Road and follow it 7.1 miles until it ends at Hwy 1 in Finland. Turn right and follow Hwy 1 for 28.1 miles, through Isabella, past the Knotted Pine to green mile marker 314. Turn right on to Deep Lake Road. Drive just over a mile and bear LEFT onto Forest Service Road 1491C (blue fire #10121). In winter, follow the main tracks and you will drive directly in to the kennel. You will have gone exactly 1.5 miles after turning off from Hwy 1.
If coming from the Babbitt/Virginia area:
From Babbitt, take Hwy 21 north to Hwy 120 (this turn is just past the St. Louis County Solid Waste Facility). Turn RIGHT on to Hwy 120 and follow until it ends at Hwy 1. Turn RIGHT onto Hwy 1. The kennel is located on Deep Lake Road, roughly 27 miles south of Ely, via Hwy 1. (It is about 22 miles from the Hwy 120 turn-off.) When you pass Hwy 2 (a right-hand turn-off on a relatively straight stretch of road), continue on Hwy 1 for almost two more miles. At green mile marker 313, on the crest of a small hill, turn LEFT onto Deep Lake Road. Drive just over a mile and bear LEFT onto Forest Service Road 1491C (blue fire #10121). In winter, follow the main tracks and you will drive directly in to the kennel. You will have gone exactly 1.5 miles after turning off from Hwy 1.
Note that Hwy 1 and the other northern roads used are very windy, remote and often snow covered. Distances seem longer than they actually are.
Please drive carefully!
