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| Name | Ely's Peak Tunnel |
| Built By | Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railway |
| Currently Owned By | City of Duluth |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 520 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Bored Tunnel |
| Substructure Design | Stone Bedrock |
| Date Built | 1911 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail) |
| Current Status | Open to Trail Traffic |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 6/23/2015 |
In 1909, the Canadian Northern Railway (CNOR) incorporated the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway (DW&P), with the goal to achieve access between the existing line at Virginia, Minnesota and the ports of Duluth, Minnesota. Work would be completed in 1912. The DW&P would operate as a separate subsidiary of the CNOR. The route provided a critical connection for iron ore to reach the ports at Duluth. In 1923, the CNOR was nationalized as the Canadian National Railway, which operated the DW&P as a separate entity. The route remained relatively unchanged, until 1981, when the segment between the Carlton/St. Louis County Line and Duluth was abandoned. The DW&P continued to operate as a separate entity until 2013, when it was merged into Wisconsin Central Ltd., another Canadian National subsidiary. Today, CN operates the Carlton County Line to Virginia segment, while the remainder in St. Louis County is part of the DW&P trail.
Located on the southwest side of Duluth, this tunnel is one of two known railroad tunnels in Minnesota. Built in 1911, the tunnel is 520-feet long and is bored through solid granite. There are no portals constructed with this tunnel, and no additional linings have been constructed. Oftentimes, railroads only constructed those enhancements if the tunnel warranted it. Due to the hard nature of the granite through which this tunnel is bored, it appears that the railroad felt that no additional improvements were needed. Overall, the tunnel appears to be in good condition, with no major deterioration noted. The author has ranked the tunnel as being locally significant, due to the small size. The DWP trail currently runs through the tunnel.
Citations
| Build Date | Construction of line |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |