Ely: A Tucked Away Inclusive Summer Getaway

Located in the Superior National Forest near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Ely, Minn., is an outdoorsy town of about 3,200 residents. Despite its small size, Ely offers year-round recreation.

Popular activities include canoeing and kayaking in the Boundary Waters, as well as fishing, hiking and camping in the warmer months. In the winter, visitors can enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and ice fishing.

“There are millions of acres around us of forested landscape, so visually, the landscape is quite stunning,” says Jess Edberg, the executive director of the Dorothy Molter Museum. “If you’re taking the main highway coming into town, there are some large hills with beautiful vistas, and you can see how gorgeous the landscape is.”

Tourist favorites include the International Wolf Center, the North American Bear Center and the Dorothy Molter Museum.

Edberg says that although there is no direct evidence that Dorothy Molter was part of the LGBTQ+ community, she has become a queer icon for many because of her decision not to marry.

“Dorothy chose to remain unmarried because she understood the expectations placed on women at the time, including the likelihood that she would have to follow her husband’s lifestyle rather than her own.”

Edberg and her wife, both members of the LGBTQ+ community, say Ely’s connection to its natural surroundings is part of what makes it welcoming.

“We feel very strongly that people should feel safe and welcome both in the outdoors and in the Ely community,” Edberg says. “With the arts and culture evolution and the mindset here in the community, there’s a greater emphasis on working together and being inclusive, not just of the residents who live here, but also the visitors who come here.”

She says Ely’s arts and culture scene has grown in recent years, becoming more prominent since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Theater, film and craft artistry, you can’t really go anywhere walking on the main street in Ely without seeing art, so that’s really neat,” she says.

Outdoor spaces are also becoming more visibly inclusive. Outdoor Safe Space pins, patches and stickers are increasingly common, signaling that all are welcome.

Edberg says she keeps one on her name tag to give visitors an immediate sense of belonging. Similar items are available in local shops, and some outfitters display them as well.

She noted that the meaning behind these symbols is not always widely understood outside LGBTQ+ communities, highlighting the need for continued education and visibility. Still, she says progress is being made as more organizations and businesses work to create welcoming environments for LGBTQ+ visitors and people in BIPOC communities.

International Wolf Center

The International Wolf Center in Ely is an educational nonprofit that helps people better understand wolves and their role in the ecosystem. Visitors can watch documentaries, observe a pack of ambassador wolves in a natural enclosure and attend educational programs led by staff throughout the day.

“We have a large interpretive center with one main interactive exhibit called Discover Wolves,” says Krista Woerheide, the interpretive center director. “That exhibit has information on wolf biology, research and communication, and also gets into the social side of wolves.”

A new children’s area, called Little Wolf, is under construction and will offer imaginative play and hands-on learning opportunities.

Woerheide says the center prioritizes inclusivity.

“We have a diversity statement on our website that we take a lot of pride in,” she says. “We have a diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging board committee, as well as a staff-led team working to make sure we live out those goals. We are trying to make sure everyone is welcome.”

“For being a really small town, I would say we’ve got some pretty great diversity happening this far north of Minnesota,” she adds. “It is a pretty welcoming community.”

The center also offers daylong and weekend programs for adults, families and students, including photography workshops, art programs and educational sessions focused on wolf behavior and careers in natural resources.

Ely Outfitting Company

Ely Outfitting Company, owned by Jason Zabokrtsky, provides guided outdoor trips with a focus on inclusivity, including experiences designed for LGBTQ+ participants.

Zabokrtsky says creating a welcoming space for the LGBTQ+ community has been part of the company’s mission from the beginning.

“We started out with the goal of sharing the Boundary Waters with people from all over and providing the best outfitting and guide services so they could have successful adventures,” he says. “Our goal has always been to help everyone enjoy the Boundary Waters regardless of their background or experience level. That has grown to include offering queer-led and all-queer guided Boundary Waters experiences.”

The upcoming annual LGBTQ+ Boundary Waters Trip is scheduled for Aug. 19-23 and requires no prior outdoor experience. The trip is queer-guided and open to those who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Participants can sign up individually or with a friend or partner.

“It’s a really special experience because it’s often unique for people to be on a backcountry wilderness trip where everyone else identifies as LGBTQ+, including the trip leader,” Zabokrtsky says. “Historically, backcountry wilderness experiences haven’t always been welcoming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Participants often describe the trips as transformative.

“Sometimes people come off trail and say they’re life-changing experiences,” he says. “It’s a unique opportunity to travel with others who identify as LGBTQ+ and enjoy the outdoors together.”

This is the fifth year the company has offered these trips. Financial aid is available based on need, and group sizes are kept small.

Zabokrtsky says the trips are especially well-suited for first-time Boundary Waters visitors and those with limited outdoor experience who want to learn in a supportive environment.

“We’re a welcoming and inclusive environment for people who want to plan custom trips with friends or family and get help with all the details,” he says.