The Great American Canoe Festival Wraps Up in Ely

But It's Not Just the Festival. Canoeing is a Part of Ely's Culture.

ELY, Minn.-

Ely is known as the gateway to the boundary waters canoe area. Some even call it the canoe capital of the world. And thousands of people visit to paddle the pristine waters surrounding the town each year.

“The people here are very dedicated to it and we like to show other people what we do here, and we like to send other people on trips of their own,” said Jake Hway, a paddler.

But canoeing isn’t just a fun hobby for many people in Ely.

With a big portion of the city’s economy being supported by tourism, the sport is a part of Ely’s culture, history, and many of the city’s residents’ life styles. And it’s not just about paddling either. The Ely Community keeps the tradition of Birch Bark Canoe building alive through programs at the Ely Folk school.

“It seems to be a popular project that not only teaches the traditional canoe building, and really brings the community together,” said Erik Simula, the Lead Instructor for the Birch Bark Canoe Building Program at Ely Folk School.

The Canoe made last year was even on display for all to see, at the American Canoe festival this weekend.

“It’s about a 13 foot long Ojibwe tribal style traditional canoe, which was built over 5 months last summer,” said Simula.

So from the workbench to the water, some say Ely is not only the Gateway to the BWCA, but also to outdoor education and adventure.