Downloads & Maps

Kinsey Houseboats is located in Babbitt, MN and services the areas of Birch Lake and Babbitt, Minnesota with 33′-36′ houseboat rentals and 42′-50′ houseboat rentals. For more information, or to reserve one of our boat rentals, contact us at (218) 827-3763.

• Map of Birch Lake
• Directions & Preparation
• Brochure
• Rental Rates

Babbit and the surrounding areas offer many fun activities and attractions for the whole family to enjoy on your way to or from your Kinsey Houseboat vacation.

Activities and Attractions

Ely Minnesota Chamber of Commerce Log Cabin/Information Center
1600 E. Sheridan Street (Intersection of Hwy. 169 & Hwy.1)
(218) 365-6123 or (800) 777-7281
[email protected]
Winter Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am to 5 pm
Summer Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, Sundays, Noon to 3pm.
This cabin, once located on Basswood Lake, was built in 1938 by Finnish Lumberjacks. Using an axe, they shaped and fitted the logs. The winter of 1975 & 1976 the cabin was dismantled log by log, moved over the ice and rebuilt at the present location in Ely Minnesota.

Kawishiwi Wilderness Station
From the Ely Chamber of Commerce: 1/2 Mile E. Hwy 169, on the right at the International Wolf Center Building
(218) 365-7561 or 7562
May 1 to September 30: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
Oct 1 to April 30: Closed
BWCAW permits issued, hiking, biking, backpacking, canoeing, and federal campground information

Dorothy Molter Museum
From the Ely Chamber of Commerce: 1/4 Mile E. Hwy 169, on the right
218/365-4451
OPEN: May 3- Saturday 10 am – 5:30 pm, Sunday Noon – 5 pm
Fee: $4.00 For ages 13 & UP, $2.00 For ages 6 – 12, ages 5 & under are free, Group rates available
Best known as the Root Beer Lady of the Wilderness, Dorothy lived on the Isle of Pines, on the Canadian border, for over 50 years. She was a registered nurse from Chicago, using her skills several times in this remote area.

International Wolf Center
From the Ely Chamber of Commerce: 1/2 Mile East on Hwy 169, on the right
(218) 365-4695 OR 1 800-WOLF (359-9653)
Exhibit Fee: Adults and Teens – $6.50, Senior Citizens age 60 and over, $6.00, Children 6-12, $3.25, Children under 6 are free. Members free.
May 10-June 30 & Sept 1-Oct 20: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily
July 1-August 31: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm daily
October 21-May 9: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday
Special Holiday Hours Please call the above number for specific times on viewing the five resident wolves and other programs the center offers.

US Forest Service Kawishiwi Ranger District
Superior National Forest (Government Services Building-118 South 4th Avenue East Ely, Minnesota)
From the Ely Chamber of Commerce: Left on 169 to 4th Avenue East, Left 2 blocks
(218) 365-7600
Year Round: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday
Information on hiking, backpacking, skiing, BWCAW, & federal campgrounds

The North American Bear Center
21 E. Sheridan St. Ely, Minnesota
(218) 365-7879
Featuring a museum quality photographic exhibit, “Into the Hidden World of Bears”, the photography of Lynn Rogers, Wildlife Research Biologist.

Ely-Winton History Museum
Vermilion Community College
From the Ely Chamber : Right on 169 1 block, left one block
(218) 365-3226
Memorial Weekend through Sunday after Labor Day. 10 am – 5 pm
After Labor Day open by appointment-Call the above number
Fee: Adults – $3.00, Youth 6-15 – $1.00, Children 5 & under-Free
History of Ely including Indian culture, Voyageur’s logging, mining, Will Steger/Paul Schucke’s North Pole Expedition of 1986 and Paul Schurke’s expedition of 1989. Video films on topics of local interest are shown upon request.

Soudan Underground Mine and Hight Energy Physics Lab Tours
1379 Stuntz Bay Road, (20 miles west of Ely on Hwy 169)
(218) 753-2245
Memorial Day – Labor Day
Underground Mine Tours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, tours every half hour
High Energy Physics Lab Tours: 10:30 am and 3:30 pm
September: Call after Labor Day for tour times & group schedule.
Warm clothing & shoes are needed
$4.00 Daily/$20.00 Season State Park Permit is required (These can be purchased on site).
Fees for each tour: $8.00/person-adults $5.00/person-children ages 5 through 12 (under 5 are free) Special rate available if you want both tours

Pillowrock (Greenstone)
From the Ely Chamber: Turn left on 169, go 4 blocks and follow historical marker sign across from the IGA store.
Pillow Rock is an ellipsoidal greenstone outcrop of an age estimated at 2.7 years. The pillowed structure is characteristic of lava that solidified under water. Please note there is a sculpture in Whiteside Park also.

Hidden Valley Ski Jump
From the Ely Chamber: Turn right on 169, go 1/4 mile, turn right on the hidden Valley road-go about 1/2 mile, ski jump will be on the right
This ski jump was built in about 1922, has a 72-meter jump and a 47 meter jump stand on the facility. People from throughout the world, form the U.S. Ski Team to jumpers from Finland, have come to Hidden Valley to practice and compete. Plastic was installed on the hill in 1985 so jumpers could utilitze the facility year round. (Hidden Valley is not currently being used for jumping or downhill skiing due to budget cuts; however, there is a very nice trail for cross-country skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Map available at the Ely Chamber of Commerce.)

Pioneer Mine Site
From the Ely Chamber: Turn left on 169, go to the 3rd stop light, make a right and go 1 mile.

Burntside Heritage Tours
(218)365-5445
Historical pontoon boat ride on Burnside Lake. Tours are 2 hours long, daily, by appointment.

Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary
Travel Hwy 53 til one mile south of Orr Minnesota. Continue on Hwy 23 west for 13 miles.
Open Memorial Day though Labor Day, 5 pm until dusk. Closed Mondays and during heavy rain.
No pets, motorcycles, RV’s or trailers.
Admission is free, however donations are appreciated.

Bois Forte Heritage Center and Cultural Center
Next to Fortune Bay Casino Lake Vermilion
Open Tuesdays- Saturdays 10 am – 5 pm and Sundays Noon to 4 pm. Closed Mondays and some holidays.