At Bear Island River Inn, our goal is to provide an enjoyable vacation experience and respite care in a home environment for developmentally disabled adults in the beautiful northwoods of Ely, MN.  We believe that all of God's children deserve to experience the beauty of His handiwork.
 
About the Inn:
Our 11 acres of private property adjoins thousands of acres of the Superior National Forest, yet we are only about 9 miles south of Ely and about 6 miles north of Babbitt.  Our private 753 feet of Bear Island River frontage is very near the mouth of Bear Island Lake allowing us easy access onto the lake.  The river is wide and calm in front of the Inn, making it feel more like a quiet bay of the lake.  Bear Island Lake is a beautiful 2,351 acre lake with 23 islands, a shore length of 21.3 miles, and a maximum depth of 62 feet.  The lake and the river both are great for fishing (especially Northern Pike, Walleye, Bluegill, Large and Small Mouth Bass, Perch, and Crappies) and also are home to many loons.

We provide trained staff ratio of at least 1:4 at all times.  A group home staff member may stay at no additional charge when acting as a chaperone and providing transportation for clients of a group home.

7-Day Packages include Pick Up and Drop Off at designated stops along the route.

The Drive to the Lodge:

The drive will be a day trip.  We will drive through Jay Cook State Park, and down into Duluth Harbor.  We will make stops at the Great Lakes Aquarium, shop at stores on Canal Street, and drive along Lake Superior.  (Summertime would allow us to stop at Two Harbors Lighthouse, as well.)  Continuing along Superior, we will stop and take pictures.  This lake is gorgeous to see in the winter.  We will go through Silver bay, and take a 40 mile drive up Hwy 1 through Superior National Forest, and into Ely.  This trip should take nearly all day.

The places we visit will depend on the time of year and weather.