Ely-Buyck Rd. is a partially-paved route that runs between the northern Minnesota town of Ely and the unincorporated community of Buyck. This scenic Minnesota byway cuts through some of the most untrammeled parts of the Superior National Forest and makes for a fantastic day trip full of North Woods adventure.

Ely-Buyck Rd. runs between Ely and Buyck (or vice versa), through the Superior National Forest and Kabetogama State Forest.
Google Maps
Although you may run across the occasional home or resort, most of what you’ll see along the way is North Woods splendor.
Google Street View
You’ll see plenty of evidence supporting Minnesota‘s occasional nickname, “The Land of Sky Blue Waters.”
Trent Jonas/Google
Big Lake, for example, is a Boundary Waters entrance point and public water access just off the Ely-Buyck Rd.

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A portion of the route is comprised by the Echo Trail, so-named for Echo Lake, another Boundary Waters entrance point near Buyck.
Matt Faughn/Google
In fact much of the road skirts the Boundary Waters, so along the way, you’ll encounter several entry points and trailheads to explore.
Trent Jonas/Google
You never know what you’ll encounter on one of the hikes along the trail, whether it’s a massive moose or little gems, like these lady’s slippers in bloom on Big Moose Trail.
Trent Jonas/Google
Or the surprise waterfalls along Sioux Hustler Trail.
Amy Bowles/Google
Ely-Buyck Rd. is also the route you’ll need to take to find the Hegman Lake pictographs, a hike that you can do in the wintertime across the frozen lake.

The pavement will end at about the midway point, and then you’ll be traveling on a gravel national forest road. No worries, though, under normal conditions, a standard passenger vehicle will be just fine. Make sure you have plenty of fuel before you leave, as there are no services or amenities along the way. We recommend establishing your base camp in the wonderful town of Ely. It’s an ideal hub for adventures in Minnesota’s North Woods.

Have you traveled the Ely-Buyck Rd.? What are some other scenic back roads in the North Star State that would make for an awesome day of adventuring? Let us know in the comments!

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Ely-Buyck Road, Ely-Buyck Rd, Minnesota, USA