The Boundary Waters Journal is a quarterly magazine designed to help you plan great wilderness trips to the BWCAW and Quetico.
This quarterly magazine features trips stories from the BWCA and Quetico. Our writers and guides share detailed information and photos about their trips including fishing locations and techniques, camping tips, favorite camp sites, trip routes, seasonal information and more!
Photo Credit: Gary Hamer radiantspiritgallery.com
OzFab is a welding and fabrication service with top-quality expertise and an interest in finding creative solutions for all your welding projects.
We specialize in Aluminum, Steel, and Stainless Steel welding, marine fabrication, custom one-of-a-kind creations, and metal repairs of all shapes and sizes.
Located in Ely Minnesota and also servicing nearby areas with mobile welding capabilities.
Aluminum, Steel, and Stainless Steel Welding
Custom Creations and Repairs
Marine Fabrication (Pontoon, Hull, Dock, and Boat Lift Repairs)
Portable Capabilities
Starting a business can be overwhelming to say the least. The Social Loon Co. is here to help with the little things such as social media posting and advertising. Creating meaningful ads can be very time consuming. We take over your businesses Instagram account with your input to create social media ads that represent your product and vision.
Contact us, and together, we will reach your company’s goals.
Northern Expressions is a combination ice cream parlor and gift shop in downtown Ely. Try to choose from among the many flavors in the freezer case and then go for a homemade waffle cone, or skip the cone part altogether and opt for a highly rated root beer float. A local favorite.
Since 1973 Henry’s Shoe Repair has been supplying hand-made quality outdoor gear for Loggers, Trappers, Mushers and Miners that stands up to the rigors of outdoor work and lasts for years, not just a season!
All products are guarantee to be the most durable, practical, finest quality available.
We specialize in:
Moosehide Chopper Mittens
Work Gloves
Copper Riveted Moosehide Belts
Custom made Kilt Belts
Handmade Leather Wallets and Checkbook Covers
Custom Dog Collars
Open Weekends, some Holidays and by Appointment
Sundog Sport, more familiar to some as Kondos Outdoors, was born in Ely in 1980, while Dan and Vicki Kondos were active in the mushing sport and saw a need for quality, dependable mushing equipment. With a roll of fabric, some thread, and the determination to craft the best gear, Dan and Vicki Kondos started Kondos Outdoors. For 35 years, Kondos developed the gear that has been tested on the Iditarod, the Scandinavian Arctic, and races worldwide.
In 2015, I took on the task of carrying that legacy forward. I grew up venturing into the Boundary Waters from age three and spent much of my formative years exploring the Ely wilderness. In 2017, I married my wife, Corissa, who had been guiding BWCA trips for seven years and has been the director of Rock Ridge Christian Camp since 2015. We enjoy being able to take our personal experiences and knowledge and incorporate that into how we design and build products for Sundog Sport.
By bringing in state-of-the-art cutting and sewing equipment, implementing continuous improvement philosophies, researching the best materials, and having a 1.4 million acre test lab to vet our products, we strive to craft for you the toughest gear that will last you and the next generation a lifetime.
From our families to yours,
Michael and Corissa Larson
Shop online for: Dog Harnesses, Dog Booties, Dog Jackets and Gear, Dog Sled Equipment, Collars and Leashes, and Joring gear!
Since 2005, the WEE CABIN Company has been building craftsman timber-frame cabins and other structures in the northern landscape of Ely, Minnesota. We build for people who want to live in the woods, close to nature seeking a simpler lifestyle. Our structures are all built with care, attention to details and made to last for generations.
The original focus when we started this business, was to build small cabins in remote locations around the Ely area. We’ve since expanded to larger family-sized cabins for year round living and associated structures creating what we affectionately call WEE CABIN Hamlets.
The WEE CABIN Company is a licensed and insured Residential Building Contractor in the state of Minnesota. We design and custom build structures to satisfy your wants, needs, and budget. We will work with you to understand what size structure will best suit your lifestyle and family size. We can develop the plan, or cooperate with your architect.
PO Box 746
Ely, MN 55731
Bear Island Boats builds and sells handmade wood strip canoes that are functional works of art to honor the heritage of traditional boat building. Our functional works of art are made available to nonprofits at cost to serve as a funding model to support their organizations’ mission.
Sweet Fern Soap Company created products are long lasting, consumable made with high quality ingredients, in small batches and proudly made in Ely, Minnesota. Our products are inspired by the Northwoods of northern Minnesota and from travels around the world.
The purpose of Incredible Ely is to revitalize Ely’s downtown and support innovative growth in the Ely area by connecting businesses, people, knowledge, ideas, and resources. IE’s vision is a dynamic, innovative, and distinctive community with a diversified and seasonally-balanced economic base.
Explore our projects and join our beautification efforts while supporting innovative growth.
Like many rural communities, the Ely area has struggled to maintain a vibrant economy in the wake of the 2007-08 economic recession. Empty storefronts are a visible reminder of the challenges we face in attracting and retaining young people and ensuring that they have employment opportunities throughout the year – not just during the summer tourist season. Yet there are signs of an Ely renaissance — in the re-opening of Wintergreen Northern Wear, in the expansion of Steger Mukluks, with the opening of the Folk School, and especially in the property developments being undertaken by the Ely Economic Development Authority.
The Ely area has no shortage of talent, and it’s many volunteer organizations are enthusiastically adding to Ely’s offerings in the arts, recreation, and tourist attractions. Incredible Ely (IE) in conjunction with the City and the Chamber of Commerce is part of the community-wide effort to make the area a great place to live, work, and raise a family.