Up in Ely again and hit Back on the Rack twice. Picked up some plates, glasses, and a very nice…read moresilver plated serving platter for the cabin, plus some books for the kiddo. One of my favorite places in Ely

Great to have a place like this in Ely. The owner was so helpful to us and even went out of her way…read moreto call me back when she missed my call. Nice selection of items at fair prices.

Five stars isn't enough for this crew. We fish with Craig at Lake Vermilion Fishing Guides just…read moreabout every year, and our Boundary Waters trips into Basswood are the ones we talk about all winter. From the first phone call he asks the right questions about what you want out of the day, then builds the whole trip around it. Getting into the BWCA on your own takes real planning, but Craig handles all of it, and once you're out there you've got world-class fishing with almost nobody around. He reads the water, adjusts constantly, and genuinely cares that everyone on board catches fish. He handles the big fish with real care too, quick photos and healthy releases. This is what a professional guide service should be. We're already planning next year's trip.

I don't have enough great things to say about Steve and Ginny and the rest of the crew at Spirit of…read morethe Wilderness. We were out on Knife Lake on Tuesday July 14 2026 (the day of the closure and evacuation of the wilderness). I had rented a one way Spot and picked up my permit from Spirit. Unfortunately with the device we had no one could communicate with us, but the crew at Spirit was tracking us and keeping everyone back home aware of our situation. After we got back into Ely, they even offered a bunkhouse for us to stay the night before heading home.

Piragis bookstore was a great place to browse. Quiet, well lit with lots of interesting unknown and…read morealso known titles. Books seemed thoughtfully chosen; a good nature section and kids section. Will return!

Was in town, shopping for souvenirs. I probably should have purchased the hot sauce they were…read moreselling, but at $6 a bottle, I thought it was overpriced. I would have been thrilled if you could get all 3 bottles for a discount, but that wasn't happening. They have a ton of t shirts for sale here. We picked up one for Ely, MN for about $25. They have a men's side and a women's side. The women's side had a ton of apparel. I found a cute shirt and shorts on sale. The fitting room is right there by the stairwell. I love a good sale. These times were not for Ely, they were just hiking/camping brands of clothing, but that's ok. A lot of the women's stuff was fairly plain. The back of the store has restrooms, art, and camping/fishing supplies. The front of the store has weapons and shoes. In fact, the gal who makes the moccasins was right there in the store, putting them together in real time! It was so cool to see how she was manipulating the leather. We did not take the stairs up to the second level; it appeared to be more of a bookstore up there. Parking is on the street.

I received outstanding support from SpokeNGear after my online purchase. I Highly Recommend them!read more

Top notch independent bike shop. Great service, excellent staff people. Awesome selection of…read morebikes and accessories. This is THE place to gy o north of Duluth

Chances are you've seen Brandenburg's work without evening knowing it…read more I bought a card a long time ago of a photo of a rabbit on its haunches chewing at a stick in the snow. Apparently, it's one of his most famous shots and I've had it hanging in my locker for months. I was blown away by the simplicity and beauty of this gallery. I wanted to stay in tranquility forever. To me the prices were fine. You can really spend however much you want depending on the size of print. His subjects range from native animals of MN to landscapes and animals all over the world.

Glistening expanses of snowy plains, baby caribou running side by side, stark white Arctic foxes…read morecurled against the wind or perched high up on the side of an icy bank, and the iconic photograph of one of the white wolves of Ellesmere Island leaping from one ice floe to another....If you grew up reading National Geographic, you remember these photographs. And you already know Jim Brandenburg. An internationally renowned photographer, he opened his gallery in Ely, where he makes his home in the nearby forest. The gallery began in a small space upstairs in a local outfitters shop, but eventually moved up the street to its own independent location whose modest interior belies the reputation of its occupant. While most people know Brandenburg especially through his photographic chronicles of Arctic animals, his material is wider-ranging yet highly personal as well, encompassing the North Woods, expansive prairies of the upper Midwest, the Inuit people, and African wildlife. His work is simple, with beauty highlighted as fleeting and natural violence as an element of existence. And sometimes both together. The gallery itself has an extensive selection of prints, posters, and other Brandenburg products in a fairly wide price range, and there is a small theater where you can view some of his associated video projects as well. A perfect place to lose yourself in a landscape, an eye, or petaled tendrils drifting forever in a breeze.

I'm in town for the week , trying to find somewhere open in this winter tundra for gifts…read more Jackpot,found this adorable shop! Mmmm the lovely smell as you walk in. Lots of Ely stuff here. Saunas are a big thing up here, they have a whole section dedicated to sauna stuff. Lots of essential oils! Jewelry,kitchen stuff,garden deco. And lots more! The girl working here was very friendly and helpful. You need to stop in here!

We found this gift shop exploring around the city of Ely. It had lots of unique items and Ely…read moregifts we could not find at any of the other Ely shops. It has a section dedicated to soaps and sauna stuff. It became our favorite gift shop in Ely.

Amazing collection of herbs that you would find in a big city nursery that chefs would drool over…read more Sure they have basil but the wasabi and spivia was quite a suprise to find. Here fishing for the governor's opening weekend, hoping the walleyes are as bountiful as Gracie's garden.

This is a must stop for anyone visiting or living in Ely. The owner (a Master Gardener) can select…read moreexactly what you need for this climate and issues with our furry friends. The shop/greenhouse itself is a delight to visit with one of the best gift shops and definitely the best plants in Ely. Snow Birds should order early, before returning, and she will have all your hanging plants and pots ready for you when you arrive before everything gets picked over.

High quality crafted boots of all sizes and styles! They will keep your feet toasty warm!…read more Susan Eastman

Beautiful showroom, attentive assistance, excellent product display, human engineered product fit,…read moreand assured product maintenance materials. Superior product design offers the utmost in comfort under the coldest temperature conditions.