Minnesota Winter Resort Activities

Enjoy a Winter Wonderland

Minnesota is known as one of America’s snowiest locales, and the northeast corner of the state is no stranger to heavy snowfall and thick ice. When winter hits, it isn’t reason for worry at Grand Ely Lodge. Instead, the area surrounding our Minnesota winter resort becomes a snow-packed playground.

Snowmobiling

With hundreds of miles of well-groomed snowmobile trails accessible from the front door of Grand Ely Lodge, the wooded hills and rolling terrain of northeast Minnesota is easily within reach. Feel the need for speed and head south to Soudan for a full day of snowmobiling through the quiet white wilderness.

Cross Country Skiing

The cross country skiing season in Ely is longer than anywhere else in Minnesota, so our guests can strap on their skis and explore before other areas even see their first flakes of snow. With an array of machine-groomed or user-tracked trails to choose from, Grand Ely Lodge gives easy access to the Trezona Trail, Hidden Valley Cross Country Ski Trails, and more. Take in the splendor of the Ely area with just a pair of skis and the sounds of nature around you.

Snowshoeing

One of the best ways to get around the backcountry of Ely in the winter is by snowshoe. Snowshoes can take you into places not easily accessed by ski or snowmobile, so bundle up, strap on a pair of the flat, wide shoes complimentary from Grand Ely Lodge and set out on a wintertime adventure into Downtown Ely or down a nearby hiking trail into the pristine Ely, Minnesota forest.

Ice Fishing

Who says you have to stop fishing because of ice and snow? The fish bite all year long on Shagawa Lake, and the ice fishing is plentiful. Winter is the ideal time for trout fishing, which swim shallower during the colder months. Rent a heated ice fishing house from the Grand Ely Lodge for hours of fun angling on Shagawa Lake right in front of the Grand Ely Lodge.

Dogsledding

Did you know that there are more sled dog providers in Ely, Minnesota than anywhere else in the world? Enlist our four-legged friends for a spectacular adventure in the Minnesota snow. Drive your own dog team, or simply hang on for the ride as they bound through miles of trails with one of Ely’s many sled dog guides. Don’t worry—there’s no need to be an expert. Your guide can show you everything! Enjoy a unique experience in the Sled Dog Capital of the World. Contact any of our local dogsledding outfitters for more information.

Winter Hiking

Bundle yourself up and embark on a wintery adventure on Ely’s best hiking trails. Take a lengthy daytrip through the forests of Ely or just a few hours to enjoy the scenery. Hiking in the winter is a completely different experience than the rest of the year, with the entire forest frozen in white.