Anybody know a good route from Ely to Grand Marais? On google maps it wants me to head south east to Little Marais on the north shore then head north east to Grand Marais! Basically making a big V. Is this the quickest way? It seems crazy to head so far south only to head back up north! Is there a road that cuts across that isn't a curvy gravel road that will take me just as long?

Yes. The quickest way would be on paved roads. I am I right to think Google Maps suggested taking Co Hwy 6 at Finland to Little Marais? You might be pushing it to think you could travel faster than 30 mph on the forest roads. Logging trucks use them too.

Yup, unless you want to hit a lot of gravel roads. That's the only paved route and quickest.

Don't forget to stop and smell them roses along the way. It's been a while since I've been on the nort shore.
I think I'm due for a drive this year from ely.
Years ago I stopped at a little shop on nort shore and bought a nice sweat shirt that had a wAlleye stencile in as a neck tie. Really nice and I need another.

Won't have time to do much stopping along the way. Heading up in February. Staying at a buddies cabin in Ely then heading to Grand Marais in the morning to go winter camping and lake trout fishing. Trying to get up there as early as we can to get to our destination before dark. I would like to just stay on the Ely side but not near as many nice lake trout lakes on that side that I can find. Unless someone knows some good trout lakes on the Ely side with in a 5 mile walk from an entry point. Bringing up some newbies to winter camping and lake trout and want to give them a good shot of catching one.

Even more reason to stay on the paved roads. Many of those forest roads are not even plowed in the winter.

My mapping program (Map Point) suggests coming south on Hwy 1 all the way to Illgen City (just north of Silver Bay at Tettegouche) and then up the north shore to G. M. Calculating it at 112 miles and about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Going across #6 will save about 5 miles and a few minutes but I am not sure how good a road it is. Winter, I would stay on Hwy 1. You might be better finding a place to stay in G. M. than making the drive over.

Hwy 6 is a regular paved highway with good sight lines. I take it regularly from my place up north to Hwy 61 near Tofte. The question remains though; which road gets plowed sooner after a snow event? I think Hwy 6 is a state aid highway however.

Not much to see in-between Ely and Little Marais. I rode my bike from Ely to Beaver Bay one day. Can't remember the route off hand.

I took Hwy 1 from Ely to Hwy 61 and headed north. Took about 2 hours or so. Not a bad drive.