Please suggest an easy 3-day trip out of Ely for party that will include four kids aged 10 to 4.

Without question EP30. The number chain. Easiest I've seen to date. Lots of people though.

Agree-Numbered Lakes is pretty easy for a first trip. Not too many portages and the ones that are there are easy.

Just be up on your navigation skills as there are plenty of islands to keep track of.

You won't be alone unless you travel a ways, but for a first trip with young kids its a good place to start.

I should have added that the adults in the party have done the Number Lakes. They're nice, but we'd like to take the kids on something a bit more secluded. I heard of a short route north of Ely where we can view pictos. Anyone know that one? Thanks.

You must be thinking of South Hegman EP where there is a great set of pictographs. It is easy to get into the Hegman's but to go north from there you need to get into Trease and then Angleworm. The portage from Trease to Angleworm is almost 500 rods and pretty tough. Not sure that one is made for kids. If you want to camp in Hegman it will be busy with day trippers but after dinner it should be pretty quiet. It is definitely not secluded though.

Try EP16 - Moose River. Quite a few portages, but all are easy - 6.5 hours up to Lac La Croix - My sons did this trip when they were 8-9 years old.

Warrior Hill - pictos - fishing - moose (often) 5 star campsites.

I would vote for Sawbill- base camp on Kelso or Alton and daytrip as much or as little as the kids have energy for.
Island River is also nice- you can putz around and head over to Isabella Lake or go down the river towards Bald Eagle.

Many years ago I took my family into entry 30 to Insula Lake. The youngest was about 11 mos old. We found a nice beach on the south side of Insula and stayed there for a week. The kids swam all week and played on the beach. Even made a rope swing- hours of fun!

Ojibway to Triangle into the Kawishiwi. Fun trip good fishing, easy