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International Wolf Center, Ely, MN

Photo: ShakataGaNai, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily FavoriteRainy-Day PickLocal Gem

International Wolf Center

1396 Highway 169 · Ely, MN

Why you should go…

The International Wolf Center opened its interpretive center in Ely to the public in 1993, inside Superior National Forest. Through large glass windows you watch the ambassador wolves in their 1.25-acre wooded enclosure, then move on to exhibits, documentaries and presentations on wolf biology, pack life and reintroductions. Everything in general admission is indoors, and the center takes no side on how wolves should be managed, aiming to give you accurate information.

  • #wolves
  • #wildlife center
  • #nature exhibits
  • #kids activities

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to International Wolf Center, ordered by straight-line distance.

  • Sport & Outdoor
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    Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

    Under $25

    Paddle and portage through more than 1,100 wilderness lakes and camp at remote lakeside sites.

    35 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
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    Iron Range

    Free

    A collection of small mining towns on Minnesota's Iron Range, promoted by the region's tourism bureau.

    44 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Split Rock Lighthouse

    Under $25

    Tour a 1910 lighthouse and keeper's home perched on a 130-foot cliff above Lake Superior.

    53 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Lutsen Mountains

    $50+

    Ski and ride across four peaks above Lake Superior, or take a summer gondola and alpine slide in the Sawtooth Mountains.

    54 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Gooseberry Falls State Park

    Under $25

    Walk to the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls of the Gooseberry River where it meets Lake Superior on the North Shore.

    55 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor