SUBSCRIBE
ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
OREGON
PENNSYLVANIA
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
- CLOSE LIST -
The Mesabi Trail stretches 162 miles from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids, MN, to the gateway of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in Ely. 150 miles are paved with approximately eight more to be completed this fall.
The trail consists of four segments—Mississippi (Grand Rapids–Nashwauk), Mesabi (Nashwauk–Gilbert), Laurentian (Gilbert–Tower), and Vermilion (Tower–Ely). Each segment offers different natural and manmade landscapes—from glacial lakes to active mines, hardwood forests to pines, and wetlands to rock cuts.
A Paved Cycling Heaven
The Mesabi Trail is not a typical “rail-to-trail.” It is not straight nor flat. There are curves and switchbacks, approximately 3,300 feet of elevation change over the full distance, and hills of up to 8% grade with sustained climbs and seriously fun downhills.
“Cycling groups travel from all over the country to ride the Mesabi Trail—even from Winnipeg, Canada—because there is nothing else like it,” said Sarah Ciochetto, St. Louis & Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority Deputy Director. “With such a diverse landscape and 28 communities, it can be a completely different ride each time.”
Off-Trail Adventures
The trail passes through 28 Iron Range towns, each with their own history and recreational adventures, as well as locally sourced eats and craft brews.
“Each community offers unique experiences, from museums and county fairs to mine lakes and scuba diving,” explained Ciochetto. “Golfing, camping, kayaking, fishing—you name it. There’s something for everybody along the trail.”
For the natural-surface trails enthusiasts, the Mesabi Trail joins three world-class mountain biking systems—Tioga Recreation Area (Cohasset), Redhead Mountain Bike Park (Chisholm), and Giants Ridge Bike Park (Biwabik)—adding up to 75 miles of purpose-built, IMBA-approved, natural-surface singletrack.
Plan A Spring or Summer Cycling Trip
Reserve lodging as your home base for out-and-back cycling or arrange for a one-way return trip using the Mesabi Trail Shuttle Service. Additional options for trail experiences include bike-packing from town to town or using the Mesabi Trail Lodge-to-Lodge service to transport gear and luggage to each stop.
The Mesabi Trail is a one-of-a-kind trail in a one-of-a-kind place. See details about purchasing a Wheel Pass and learn more: www.mesabitrail.com.
SIDEBAR:
Where is the Mesabi Trail?
The Mesabi Trail is located in northern Minnesota—running from Grand Rapids to Ely.
May 1, 2023
How to Plan Your Adventures on Any Budget
I love creating valuable content for you. However, there is a cost to maintaining a website. The links below are affiliate links, and when you click on a link I may earn a small commission, BUT there will be no additional cost to you.
Let me help you create your next adventure!
AIRFARE:
Get great deals and expert guidance when booking your next flight by using CheapOAir.
HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION:
Undercover Tourist provides discounted hotel stays in many cities and resorts across the United States.
Getaway invites you to relax and unwind in their tiny cabins nestled in nature.
ACTIVITIES:
CityPASS offers admission to the most famous and popular attractions in many major cities for up to 50% less than the combined regular price of admissions.
From simple tours to extreme adventures, Viator makes it easy for you to create memories wherever you go at a lower price.
With Gametime you can find tickets to your favorite live events including sports, concert, and theatre experiences.
City Experiences give you the chance to explore unique places and have unforgettable experiences.
Undercover Tourist provides attraction prices at discounted prices to theme parks, attractions, concerts and sports.
VividSeats allows you to easily find tickets to the events you love, whether it be sports, concerts, comedy shows or theatre.
Trusted Tours and Attractions provides discount tickets to top US sightseeing tours, attractions, and museums.
The Sightseeing Pass is designed to make your trip planning easier by allowing you to select the places you want to see for a fraction of the price.
PARKING:
The Parking Spot makes long-term parking near the airport a superior experience.
Be the first to comment