Area Attractions

Hiking Trails

Bass Lake Trail

Bass Lake Trail, with backpacking campsites available, stretches 5.6 miles around Bass Lake.   There is a total of approximately 11 miles of trails associated with the Bass Lake Trail.

The trail is historically and ecologically unique, and requires at least 4 to 6 hours to walk.   The trail is located on the Echo Trail, six miles north of Ely.

Both Bass and Low Lakes are located in a basin gouged out of pre-Cambrian rock.   Prior to 1925, the two lakes were separated by a ridge of glacial gravel which acted as a natural dam.

Logging operations led to the construction of a sluiceway to move logs through the gravel ridge -- a drop of 60 feet.   Seepage soon weakened the sluiceway as water moved through the gravel adjacent to the structure.

The sluiceway and glacial ridge eventually washed out in the spring of 1925, leaving a gorge over 250 feet wide. Bass Lake was lowered 55 feet in 10 hours, reduced to half its original size.

Two smaller lakes, Dry Lake and Little Dry Lake, became isolated in the old lake bed.   Approximatly 250 acres of land was then exposed and available to the establishment of pioneer plant species.

Angleworm Trail

A 14-mile trail, with 11 miles forming a loop around Angleworm, Home and Whiskey Jack lakes, Angleworm Trail has nine designated campsites, and is located 14 miles northwest of Ely on the Echo Trail.

Angleworm is a rugged trail through stands of red and white pine, with many high ridges and scenic overlooks.

Moose love to frequent the north end of the trail in the Home Lake area, and pink ladyslippers can be seen along the trail in the spring.

Secret/Blackstone Trail

This trail has scenic overlooks and assorted terrain, a campsite firegrate, tent area and latrine. The trail is 3-1/2 miles long, so allow two to three hours to walk it.

Located 20 miles northeast of Ely off the Moose Lake Road(Forest Road 438), this is a moderate-terrain trail with a few steep hills and includes a loop around Blackstone Lake.

The high vistas provide scenic views to low, moist areas. The trail also winds across small waterfalls. Habitat for various species of wildlife are provided by trees and vegetation.

The trail destination is a rock cliff overlooking Ennis Lake, which is frequently used for rock-repelling and climbing. &nbps;A back-country campsite is located on Blackstone Lake.

Trezona Trail

The Trezona Trail has flat-to-rolling terrain, and is located just three blocks north of Sheridan Street in Ely.

The trail is just over five miles in length, and goes around Miners Lake, a former iron-ore mining pit. History abounds in the area, providing a glimpse into the economic lifeblood of the past.

The south side of the trail is flat to gently rolling, following old railroad grades and mine-haul roads.

The north side of the trail is rolling to hilly, passing through white pine stands, residential areas, and the historic Pioneer Mine buildings and headframe.

Hidden Valley

Located one mile east of Ely on the Hidden Valley Road, the Hidden Valley trails pass through rolling hills, paper birch and pine stands and newly planted red and white pine plantations.

Snowbank Lake Trail

Located 23 miles east of Ely, with trailheads on the Snowbank Lake Road and on the Fernberg Trail, Snowbank Lake Trail winds about 25 miles along the shorelines of Snowbank and Disappointment Lakes.

Side trails spur off to Flash Lake on the west and to the Old Pines Loop on the east.

The trails offer some of the most scenic hiking terrain in the area, including ledge rock outcroppings, pine stands, shoreline bluffs, red and white pine stands and abundant wildlife.

BWCAW campsites can be found along the trail.