Ely Municipal Airport (LYU)

Ely Municipal Airport (LYU), also known as KELO, serves as the primary aviation gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) in northeastern Minnesota. Situated approximately 4 miles south of the city of Ely, the airport is a vital logistical node for wilderness enthusiasts, researchers, and government agencies. It is a designated Airport of Entry (AOE) with U.S. Customs landing rights, allowing for direct international arrivals from Canada with just one hour of advance notice, making it an essential stop for cross-border travel between the northern U.S. and the Ontario wilderness. The airport features a modern, well-maintained passenger terminal that is attended daily during standard business hours. Inside, travelers and pilots have access to a dedicated pilot lounge equipped with flight planning tools, high-speed Wi-Fi, and comfortable seating for relaxation between legs of a journey. Technical facilities include a robust 5,596-foot asphalt runway (12/30) capable of handling light to medium-sized corporate jets and regional turboprops. 24-hour self-service 100LL Avgas and Jet A fuel are available, supported by on-site hangar space and tie-down areas for those requiring overnight stays in this remote region. A unique component of the Ely aviation ecosystem is the nearby U.S. Forest Service seaplane base on Shagawa Lake, which is the only such federal facility in the country. This base is critical for aerial firefighting, search and rescue, and wildlife monitoring within the roadless wilderness areas. During the extreme northern winters, the base transitions to an ice runway on the frozen lake surface, where aircraft exchange their floats for skis to maintain year-round operations. While the main airport provides traditional fixed-wing services, the combined infrastructure of LYU and the seaplane base makes it one of the most versatile and strategically important regional aviation hubs in the Midwest.