Timber Trail Lodge

& Boundary Waters Outfitters

Media Article

www.timbertraillodge.com

1.800.777.7348

bill@timbertrail.com

Field & Stream

The Best Fishing

Towns in America

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Ely, Minn.

#12

The Gateway to the Boundary Water

Along those lines of "every person who loves the outdoors should at least visit this place once in their life," Ely is the gateway to one of the most pristine water and wilderness regions in the world: the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Granted. Most of the man-made attractions in the community cater to a seasonal tourist trade, but it's never hard to tap into the north woods lifestyle, from gathering blueberries in summer to snowshoeing in the winter. The real beauty here is how easy it is to get off the beaten path. If you find yourself reflecting on your youth, imagining bygone fishing trips with your grandfather, check out Ely, because the sights, sounds (like loons on the pond), and experiences are almost exactly the same now as they were back then. Fishing-wise, the sky is (almost literally) the limit, as Ely is surrounded by rivers and lakes that offer opportunities to chase everything from smallmouth bass to walleye.