Just a heads up for those of you who take Lake County 2 on the way to the BW; it’s going to be closed from Whitepine rest area to Greenwood lake this Summer. According to what I got it’ll be July to September.

Hope they repave it. Not fun pulling a boat.

This year they are replacing culverts. Not sure the schedule for re-paving.

marsonite: "Just a heads up for those of you who take Lake County 2 on the way to the BW; it’s going to be closed from Whitepine rest area to Greenwood lake this Summer. According to what I got it’ll be July to September. "

Where do they post this info? I will be up that way multiple times this summer.

plander: "Where do they post this info? I will be up that way multiple times this summer."

Not sure given it's a county road. I'm a landowner on Highway 2 so I got a letter. Someone on the What's up Isabella MN Facebook page will know.

From what I can see on the Lake County highway project bid sheet, (only item I can find on their website for it.) it looks like the tentative project dates are June 2nd to October 4th. It's approximately 5.5 miles from Greenwood lake public landing south to Murphy Creek.

Bid sheet has a line item for full depth reclamation and a lot of culvert, so probably a full closure for most of the duration.

marsonite: "

plander: "Where do they post this info? I will be up that way multiple times this summer."

Not sure given it's a county road. I'm a landowner on Highway 2 so I got a letter. Someone on the What's up Isabella MN Facebook page will know. "

Thanks. Found this on the Ely Echo website.

Hwy 2 announcement



“Lake County is planning an improvement project on Highway 2 between Forest Highway 11 (CSAH 15) and MN Hwy 1 for the 2025 summer construction season.

The specific project limits are between the White Pine Picnic Area and the public water access to Greenwood Lake. The proposed project includes replacing culvert pipes, reclaiming the pavement surface, and resurfacing the road.

The culverts carrying Murphy Creek (near Upland Trail) and Greenwood Creek will be replaced with concrete box culverts.

To complete this work, Lake County will allow the contractor to close Highway 2 to traffic for an estimated duration of six weeks. A detour will be posted, routing traffic along Forest Highway 11, Lax Lake Road (CSAH 31), and MN Hwy 1.

The exact timing for the closure and posted detour has not been finalized but is planned to occur between July 1 and Sept. 20.

Access to properties within the project work limits will be maintained throughout the project, however access may be from either the south or north end of the project. Property owners are encouraged to contact the Highway Department to set up notification contacts for access changes.

During other construction operations, travelers can expect lane closures with traffic flagging and travel delays during daylight hours. Delays are expected to be 15 minutes or less.

Highway 2

Travelers can also expect to encounter unpaved, dusty, and possibly rough road surface conditions until the project is complete.

Lake County recognizes that the road closure is a significant inconvenience for travel between Fall Lake Township/City of Ely and the Two Harbors area so the county will be working with the contractor to expedite the project to the extent possible.

Exact timing of the closure and detour posting will be provided by notification on the Lake County Website at: https://www.co.lake.mn.us/ under the News and Announcements page.“

Wow, that is one heck of a detour.
For those who may get caught in it and are not towing a trailer or afraid of gravel, consider the Stoney River Forest Road as a short cut. This is the old railroad grade from the Tomahawk timber sale out of Forest Center. The short cut goes from Forest Hwy 11 to Isabella, 20 miles of gravel, but will save you around ~40 miles.
I used to drive it all the time when I lived in Isabella, the road is straight and level since it is was an old RR track/grade.

LindenTree: "Wow, that is one heck of a detour.
For those who may get caught in it and are not towing a trailer or afraid of gravel, consider the Stoney River Forest Road as a short cut. This is the old railroad grade from the Tomahawk timber sale out of Forest Center. The short cut goes from Forest Hwy 11 to Isabella, 20 miles of gravel, but will save you around ~40 miles.
I used to drive it all the time when I lived in Isabella, the road is straight and level since it is was an old RR track/grade."

Was going to type the same thing. I'll also add - hanging a left on 11 and then heading up through Aurora Hoyt Lakes Babbitt to Ely would be quicker than the giant loop they've proposed.

LindenTree: "consider the Stoney River Forest Road as a short cut. This is the old railroad grade from the Tomahawk timber sale out of Forest Center. The short cut goes from Forest Hwy 11 to Isabella, 20 miles of gravel, but will save you around ~40 miles.
I used to drive it all the time when I lived in Isabella, the road is straight and level since it is was an old RR track/grade."

Things must have changed since Lake Co Rd 15 went all the way to Silver Bay.
There used to huge rocks to dodge on the north end before getting to Hwy 1.

LindenTree: "Wow, that is one heck of a detour.
For those who may get caught in it and are not towing a trailer or afraid of gravel, consider the Stoney River Forest Road as a short cut. This is the old railroad grade from the Tomahawk timber sale out of Forest Center. The short cut goes from Forest Hwy 11 to Isabella, 20 miles of gravel, but will save you around ~40 miles.
I used to drive it all the time when I lived in Isabella, the road is straight and level since it is was an old RR track/grade."

Of course if you are coming from Two Harbors, and you know about the closure, you would be better off continuing up 61 to Silver Bay/ Illgen city to 1 than taking the proposed detour. Still a long way around and the Stony grade is probably the shortest, though if it gets a lot of traffic it might get to be in tough shape.

I have a cabin near Sand Lake and this is going to suck though the bright side is it will doubtlessly be quieter up there!

marsonite: "

LindenTree: "Wow, that is one heck of a detour.
For those who may get caught in it and are not towing a trailer or afraid of gravel, consider the Stoney River Forest Road as a short cut. This is the old railroad grade from the Tomahawk timber sale out of Forest Center. The short cut goes from Forest Hwy 11 to Isabella, 20 miles of gravel, but will save you around ~40 miles.
I used to drive it all the time when I lived in Isabella, the road is straight and level since it is was an old RR track/grade."

Of course if you are coming from Two Harbors, and you know about the closure, you would be better off continuing up 61 to Silver Bay/ Illgen city to 1 than taking the proposed detour. Still a long way around and the Stony grade is probably the shortest, though if it gets a lot of traffic it might get to be in tough shape.


I have a cabin near Sand Lake and this is going to suck though the bright side is it will doubtlessly be quieter up there! "

Certain Duluth-based day trippers/early season grouse hunters who are unafraid of gravel are hoping for the same thing once word of this closure spreads. :-)

marsonite:
I have a cabin near Sand Lake and this is going to suck though the bright side is it will doubtlessly be quieter up there! "

I'm in the neighborhood on Marble. I agree - it's going to suck. I head that way north on 2 countless times during the season.

So bottom line. Coming up june 19.
Should I come up Wisconsin Duluth Virginia over.
Or Wisconsin Duluth 61 to Hwy 1. Or 2 day trip from Minnetonka up thru Cloquet. I like the wisconsin rt. But ill b 7 weeks after back surgery

I'd do the Wisconsin, Duluth, Virginia to Ely.

Coming from the south, if Ely was the destination, and I didn't need or want to stop along the north shore I'd go through Virginia to get to Ely. Other wise I would use one of the Alt routes other have suggested before using the published detour.

Published detours need to accommodate 18 wheelers, which I am not driving to Ely.

yogi59weedr: "So bottom line. Coming up june 19.
Should I come up Wisconsin Duluth Virginia over.
Or Wisconsin Duluth 61 to Hwy 1. Or 2 day trip from Minnetonka up thru Cloquet. I like the wisconsin rt. But ill b 7 weeks after back surgery "

Hwy 2 closure is scheduled for July so take whatever route you want.