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North of North Resort & Outfitters

Dark skies, endless waters, located in the heart of Minnesota's Protected Lands.

About The Resort

NOW OPEN! (Summer 2024)

North Of North Resort is located on MN Highway 1, just 10 miles south of Ely. The resort is surrounded by the Superior National Forest wilderness and is approximately a mile from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Unlike many resorts in Ely or elsewhere in MN, North of North Resort is at the edge of one of the world’s largest dark sky sanctuaries, where you can view the northern lights and the Milky Way. 

With no year-round neighbors and virtually no development around the property, this is a paradise for travelers looking for tranquility and a serene nature experience. One can do a day trip through the BWCA, starting and finishing at the resort, without the need for an overnight permit. On this end of Birch Lake you will experience the quiet and calm of the wilderness and hear loons, great horned owls, and wolves. Bear and Moose are frequently spotted around the resort and the International Wolf Center and Bear Center and just a short 10-minute drive from the resort.

Cabins & Amenities

Each cabin has a little over 1,000 square feet and sleeps up to eight people. The main level is completely accessible and includes a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living room area. Each cabin also has a lofted sleeping area. All decking, trails, boardwalk (~415 feet), and docks on the property are fully accessible.

Amenities: Each cabin is fully furnished and stocked with items needed for a short-term stay (towels, bedding, toilet paper, soap, kitchen cooking utensils, dishware, etc.). Each cabin also has a washer/dryer, dishwasher, and other modern appliances. The units have high-speed internet and entertainment systems that allow guests to stream their favorite shows and work remotely. Cabin exteriors feature a large, panoramic deck with furniture, grill, Solo Stove, and adjacent sauna building. Each cabin will also have outdoor games like bags, swing golf, etc.

Outfitting & Activities

We also serve as an outfitter for our guests looking to explore the BWCA and Birch Lake by providing kayaks, canoes, personal flotation devices, and other gear. 

The property has an amazing 400-foot-long boardwalk to an island (actually a peninsula that looks like an island) and guests will be able to use kayaks and canoes from the resort.  Motorboat rentals are available in Ely and they will deliver a boat to the resort for guests. Wintertime is great too with Birch Lake having groomed cross country ski trails and some of the best winter and summer fishing in MN. The area also has some of the top snowmobile and ATV trails in the nation.

About The Ely Area

Ely has excellent restaurants and bars, art galleries, shops, museums, outfitters, hospital, grocery store, and everything one could need when heading “in-town”. The area has many great hiking trails, waterfalls, and endless miles of lakes and streams to explore. Because the resort is 10 miles south of Ely, the quickest way to get there is by going up the north shore through Two Harbors. The resort is less than four hours from downtown Minneapolis. The drive has a lot to offer, with stops in Duluth, Two Harbors, or Grand Marias, and a drive down Highway 1, one of the most scenic roadways in MN.

Accessibility

Anyone can rent our cabins, but we will be partnering with our non-profit, Adaptive Wilderness Within Reach, to set up people with physical disabilities in our cabins while they participate in various wilderness experiences that we facilitate (kayaking, canoeing, fishing, cycling, dog sledding, etc.).

A view of the resort from Birch Lake.

Reservations

Note: We are now taking online reservations. Click the link below to book online or give us a call.

  • 12265 Highway 1
    Ely, MN 55731

  • (320) 267-8894

  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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