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The Southwestern Area

The southwestern part of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is isolated from the rest of the Boundary Waters by the Echo Trail corridor. Perhaps for that reason, it is often overlooked by visitors. This area contains six entry points. Five are easily accessible from the Echo Trail. A sixth is reached from State Highway 1-169, but because of its proximity to the other entry points in the southwestern area, it is included here.

Ely is one of the special small northern Minnesota towns that serve visiting canoeists in the BWCAW’s Western Region. Originally the commercial center for iron mining and logging operations, Ely gradually evolved into the Canoe Capital of America. It is a modern, bustling community with supermarkets, motels, and automotive service stations, a variety of restaurants, a plethora of bars, a laundromat, a hospital, and surely the most canoe trip outfitters per capita in the world.

Located near the east edge of town, at the intersection of highways 1 and 169, is the Ely Chamber of Commerce. It occupies an attractive log building and is staffed by knowledgeable and friendly folks who can supply you with up-to-date information about Ely and the surrounding attractions, including nearby resorts and campgrounds.

The place to pick up your permit for most of the entry points is the USFS Kawishiwi Ranger District. On your way, stop at the International Wolf Center, which is located on Highway 169 5.5 miles west of town. Opened in 1993, the extraordinary “Wolves and Humans” exhibit found its home in Ely after attracting more than 2.5 million people during a multi-year tour across North America. In addition to the exhibit, a captive pack of timber wolves lives here in a relatively natural environment where you can observe their interactions. You should definitely allow time (at least a couple of hours) either before or after your canoe trip to visit this fascinating and informative center. It is located right next to the USFS Kawishiwi Ranger District office where the BWCAW permits are issued.

A tranquil moment

BWCAW entry points near the far west end of the region lie in the La Croix Ranger District and are closer to the town of Cook, where the USFS headquarters is located. Unless you are using an outfitter in Ely, you can save driving time for some entry points by picking up your permit at the visitors’ center in Cook. Though much smaller than Ely, Cook does offer visitors all the essentials, including two modern supermarkets, several restaurants and gas stations, and a hospital. The USFS visitors’ center is adjacent to Highway 53 in the middle of town.

The Echo Trail is a winding, hilly, scenic road that most people find delightful to drive, if they don’t have to drive it every day. To get to it from the International Wolf Center, drive a half mile east on State Highway 169. Turn left onto CR 88 (Grant McMahan Blvd.) and follow this good highway for 2.5 miles to its junction with CR 116, which is most often referred to as the Echo Trail. (For directions from Cook to the northwest end of the Echo Trail, see Entry Point 12, Location.)

The Echo Trail winds its way north and west 46.5 miles to CR 24 near Echo Lake. The road surface is blacktop for the first 10 miles, but gravel the rest of the way. The curves do straighten out near the Moose River entry points and, from there on, you can make better driving time.