Bringing the family of four (two kids ages 7-10) to Ely the first week of August. Staying on White Iron lake. Looking for day trip ideas into the BWCA. Also looking for recommendations of an outfitter for renting canoes.

Can we do this ourselves or should we get a guide? Thanks for any recommendations.

South Hegman to see the pictographs and Voyageur North Outfitters. Bring a couple of the type of folding chairs which ride very low to the ground for the kids. No need for a guide but do have a paper map and compass.

You may be interested in the bear and wolf centers too. There’s also a self guided tour around the pit lakes that explain Ely’s mining history. I found all to be both interesting and educational.

Not BWCA - but not too far from Ely is the Soudan Underground Mine. It's a cool experience and I would definitely have it on my list.

Kawishiwi Falls is a good too. Quick little hike over to it.

Kawishiwi Outfitters on Lake One. Start off the dock/beach so no need to get a canoe delivered anywhere. This is the only canoe only outfitter in the BWCA area (and the world so far as I can tell). From there, you can paddle Lake One or down the Kawishiwi River. (End of the Fernberg Trail).

Also NW on the Echo Trail is Big lake, attached to the BWCA and there's at least one outfitter on the lake.... Whispering Pines maybe..? Likely the same idea though where you can start on the lake instead of getting a canoe transported.

Second on having low slung chairs for the kids btw. Did that for mine many times, works great.

If you'd rather motor around... Farm, Snowbank, Moose, Burntside, White Iron where you're staying anyway..... likely a thousand others around as well.


@BigPaul, where's the pit lake tour? I've not heard of it. Thanks

Probably the pit lake tour referenced is the paved Trezona Trail around Miner’s Lake. There are information displays along the walk and nice views of the lake along the way.

DTrain: "Probably the pit lake tour referenced is the paved Trezona Trail around Miner’s Lake. There are information displays along the walk and nice views of the lake along the way."

Yep.

Not exactly sure of your criteria.... How far from Ely???

A non-BWCAW waterfall just outside of Ely off the Fernberg road just before you reach the Fall lake campground. Kawishiwi Falls

Sioux falls are on the LIS south. Reachable on a day trip.


The Moose river north has some interesting spots just north of Nina Moose that are reachable on a day trip.

Kawishiwi Lodge and Outfitters can rent you a canoe and you'll leave right from there into the BW. It will be going to the number lakes which will be more populated, but the portages are easy and it will give you a taste of the BW with the kids. You won't need a guild for that . I agree with the Underground mine tour. It's awesome

Here are the paddling day trips we've done with our kids (now 8 and 12):

Lake One
Wood Lake (often see swans here)
Fall Lake to the waterfall between Newton and Pipestone
S Hegman to pictographs
Slim Lake (there are hiking trails you can get to from the lake)
Fenske Lake to Grassy Lake (these are not in the BW but past Fenske they have a very similar feel (including paddle-up campsites))
Little Gabbro

There could be more but that's what comes to mind. My favorites of all of these are Fenske and Lake One. Little Gabbro is really nice too. Actually, you really can't go wrong with anywhere up there!

We usually take it easy on day trips with the kids so we have time for swimming and exploring on land in addition to paddling.

Also, if you make time for one short hike, definitely do Kawishiwi Falls. If you have time/energy for a longer hike I highly recommend the Bass Lake Trail to Dry Falls (bring a suit and you can swim at Dry Falls). And afterwards stop at Northern Expressions for the best ice cream in Ely.

Do you want to do the BWCA or see Ely or both? Do you want to canoe or would you also motorboat? Here are some suggestions.

Ely has an amazing history that is worth learning about. The BWCA is only part of that.
*Take in the Bear and Wolf centers.
*Visit the Dorothy Molter Museum.
*Tour the mine by Trezona Lake across from Grand Ely Lodge. Some of the guides are former miners with great stories. After that eat lunch at the lodge on the deck.
*Take in the Ely Winton history center at the college.
*There is an online site that shows all the historic buildings. Mix that walking tour with visits to local shops.
*Talk to local residents and learn more.
*Take in the Ely Veterans memorial on the edge of the Trezona Trail. Ely has had one of the highest war enlistment rates of any city.
*Make a brief stop at BW headquarters to see some of the displays and pick up day permits for Hegman and maybe Fall Lakes. The BW HQ is close to the Molter Museum and Wolf Center so you could do them together.
*You might want to try lunch or dinner at Burntside Lodge, which is a historic log building on Burntside Lake.
*Rent a canoe from an outfitter and arrange a shuttle to Hegman.
*Take a picnic lunch to Hegman and see the pictographs. While at Hegman, bring rods and try fishing.
*If you are ambitious, arrange with an outfitter for a canoe at Fall Lake. It is a short paddle to the Newton Lake portage which is easy. Take in the portage and try fishing Newton, especially the area below the rapids.

*If hiking is more your thing, there are several nice trails. The Trezona Trail, named after a former mine supervisor and mayor, is nice and many do it on a bike.

*The trail by Kawishiwi Falls is another great trip. You could mix it in with the possible Fall Lake trip.

*In Ely, the park on Shagawa is nice and has a swimming beach. You could do a picnic & barbecue there. It is near what once was the country’s busiest floatplane base so you might see one of them take off.

*If you catch the schedule right the local baseball team might have a game.

*On your way into or out of town, be sure and tour the Soudan Mine. It is worth the trip.

Throughout the summer there are events like Fourth of July and the Blueberry Festival. There are also interesting talks about history in the evenings and live performances at various places. Check with the Chamber of Commerce & city websites for other ideas.

The Ely website has info on places to stay and see, outfitters and restaurants. You don;t say where you are staying, but there are a lot of great options if you haven't booked a place.

Search out the city history online so you have some background and stories you can tell kids.

Too many people make the town an afterthought on their way to the BW. It shouldn’t be. It is an amazing place to visit with some equally amazing people.

Lots of great day trip suggestions.
But what about a couple days in the BWCA with the kids?
When I was that age and there I would be asking why we are not going in.
A very simple trip could be planned with one of outfitters.
Our daughter was about 5 on our first trip and is still going.
Our goal was always to get kids in the woods and teaching them to enjoy and take care of them.
Carl

A couple of more daytrip ideas:

Schedule a tow from your resort over to the Farm Lake entry and then paddle up the North Kawishiwi River (no current except at portages) however far you want, but I'd advise turning around at the 220 rod portage. You could also head over to Clear Lake.

Start at the Lake One entry or Outfitters and head west down the Kawishiwi River to the small waterfall at the 4th portage and back or head west over the first portage and instead of continuing down stream turn upstream. In 2 portages you'll be on Lake One proper and then can navigate back to your put in.

Put in at the Little Indian Sioux River North and paddle up to the north end of Lower Pauness Lake and then hike the portage to see the Devils Cascade waterfall.

I'll 3rd the suggestion of low folding chairs for the kids. They fit very well in the kevlar Wenonah rentals.

JD