Spirit of the Wilderness is a family owned business. Steve, Kathy and Ginny offer you the expertise and enthusiasm that comes with over 30 years of canoeing and outfitting in the BWCA and Quetico.
Our reputation, quality equipment, and educational approach to outfitting are some of the reasons people give for booking our services. We’ve introduced many folks to their first taste of the Northwoods – and watched as they develop skills to go it alone – but they keep using our services, year after year.
We invite you to explore the BWCA or Quetico and allow Spirit of the Wilderness to outfit your needs. Visit our website for more information on Canoe Rentals, Guided Trips, Live Bait, Tackle & Gear.
Providing appliance sales & service to the Ely community. Delivery, installation, and service available. Contact us for details and quotes.
Mike’s Drive In Liquor in Ely is home to numerous varieties of beers brewed at microbreweries across the country along with wines from around the globe.
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!
We are enablers of nostalgia. Whether your pastime is downhill sledding, family time at the cabin, winter camping, ice fishing, or doing traditional work on the land, we craft the finest toboggan sleds still available.
Our designs reflect the time-tested traditions of the first people in Northern Canada. Following processes handed down to our craftsman from his mentor, who was taught from his mentor before him, the 150+ techniques we embrace consistently produce sleds that last generations.
Our sleds are hand-crafted, and our design reflects the time-tested traditions of the first people in Northern Canada. Our sleds have endured the punishment of daily use in the northern wilderness by those who choose to create their own trails.
Don’t settle for less than the best. Own an heirloom, and start your own enduring traditions.
At Ely’s Old-Fashioned Candy you can step back in time, be a kid again or have your kids experience something NEW that’s OLD. Featuring candy from as early as the 1800’s up to favorites of today and a touch of history. Select from over 100 bulk candies and Salt Water Taffy to create a personal mix.
Handcrafted Chocolates, Truffles, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Maple Syrup, old time pure cane sugar Sodas, Wildflower Honey, Jams and more. Our candies are sorted by the decade in which they were invented. Come see historic photos of Ely and read interesting stories/facts about how your favorite candy came to be… let us make your day a little sweeter!
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.
We are a small family business that started in north west Iowa that it is now located on the iron range of northern Minnesota, in the little town of Ely. Our background was in agriculture with a love of the outdoors and old styled craftsmanship. Working in blacksmithing, fine woodworking, and leather, leather soon became our medium of choice.
With over 100 years of combined experience in the Lumber Industry, serving not only the Ely area but also Illinois, Central and Southern Minnesota, the staff at Voyageur Lumber has just about seen it all. This combination of experience and adaptability is Vital in an ever changing Industry and an ever changing world. So, whether you’re looking to build your dream Rustic Getaway or an Energy Efficient Green Building, you can count on Voyageur Lumber to answer your questions and provide you with the materials and service you need.
Free estimating
Help in product selection
Helpful displays
Delivery
Helpful employees to help load your vehicle and secure the load
Help in finding local contractors and other sub contractors
Helpful local information
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.