Hi, so when do you all think the Ely area, Kek and Border Route trails will be free of snow and somewhat dry to hike?

To your question specifically: there are still areas of knee-deep snow in the woods at higher elevations in Cook and Lake counties as of today. This week has brought temps in the low 40's and some mixed precip to the Cook County region - not exactly fast-thawing weather. It is another late spring with a lot of snow. Second week of May would be my prediction for drier conditions where there is sun, but still muddy/quasi-frozen in areas of deep shade. We are stuck in a system of nights near or below freezing, mixed precip and not a lot of sunshine.

Less specifically, here are some direct contacts:
BRT Assoc. has an active friends association with a presence on FaceBook. North Country Trail Association has a Kek chapter that covers the Kek maint and conditions. And all of the trail assoc (incldg BWAC and Ice Age) will be at Midwest Mountaineering Spring Expo this weekend if you're in the cities area. Coinciding with this presence will be an excellent two hour presentation on Sunday 1 - 3pm with all the trails represented, needing volunteers to help with trail promotion, preservation and clearing.

BRT has trail crew trips planned that begin as early as May 5th, but that doesn't mean "dry and free of snow" conditions.

Thanks for info Jillpine

Toward the shore, the snow is gone. Toward higher elevations, the woods look like the photo below.
It is currently foggy, thick cloud cover and 42 degrees above the ridge in cook county. I am still using snowshoes or Mucks (with some post-holing into the deeper snow). There are hummocks starting to dry but it is very wet, muddy and still snowy. Maybe some sun mid-week. Bear in mind, this is cook county / Gunflint - Tofte - Brule region, - not Ely or Isabella area.