Plan an Unforgettable Tour on Northern Minnesota’s Mesabi Trail

Why the Mesabi Trail is Ideal for Tours

Tours can include 10 to over 100 participants, all guided by a professional. Some tours are self-guided, with an itinerary that covers starting points, turnarounds, and stops along the route. Our 165-mile, 10-foot-wide paved trail supports groups for partial-day trips or extended overnight stays. We promote cycling, walking, and bus-supported tours, as well as custom tours designed for specific groups, such as seniors or birdwatchers.

The Mesabi Trail, lauded as one of the nation’s premier trails, winds through some of northern Minnesota’s most breathtaking terrain—fragrant pine forests, clear-water lakes, panoramic views, and open stretches. You may encounter everything from a floating bridge and scenic overlooks to rolling hills and meadows. Northern forests and wetlands surrounding the trail provide habitat for songbirds, deer, black bears, and countless other species.

Enhance Your Tour with Off-Trail Activities

Some tour plans include lunches and dinners, as well as stops in our towns to enjoy the amenities. To make your experience as enjoyable as possible, we’ll share the locations of bike repair shops, hidden scenic spots, and other attractions.

Tour Requirements and Organizer Responsibilities

1. Any commercial or paid tours with 10 or more participants require approval from RRA staff. Approval ensures proper safety and cleanup plans are in place, and that your event is adequately insured. Groups of 30 or more may require a permitting process that only the RRA can handle.
2. Operators need to coordinate with city officials to arrange stops and with local businesses to ensure they are staffed to serve your tour participants.
3. We created the Mesabi Trail for public use, so we don’t close any sections for tours.
4. Please allow for adequate spacing between participants to keep your group and public users safe on the narrow path.
5. For any wheel-based activity—such as cycling, roller skiing, or inline skating—participants must buy a $10 Wheel Pass valid for five days. Most organizers prefer to buy them in bulk and include the cost in their registration fees. Contact us about volume discounts.
6. RRA will help with our downloadable videos, photography, descriptive text content, and communications templates. Plus, we’ll provide valuable assistance with route planning.
7. If your tour route passes through a city or you plan to stop in a town, your event planner must coordinate with local officials. For any public road crossings, it’s also your responsibility to contact the city, county, or state law enforcement to notify them and complete their permitting process.
8. We permit professional photography and videography, but no drone footage or photography without prior approval from the RRA.

How to Apply for Mesabi Trail Approval

1. Getting started is easy. Contact RRA staff by submitting the tour pre-approval form below.
2. Give us the Details. Tour operators must provide proof of $1.5 million in insurance coverage to confirm it’s sufficient for your use of the trail. We also ask that you share your route details, along with key contact names and phone numbers.
3. RRA will review your application and make a recommendation to the board. For tours up to 20 riders, board approval shouldn’t be necessary. With larger tours, please submit timing and other details using the form (JUMP LINK TO FORM) below for details
4. Once approved, we will send you the support materials for your tour.

Planning for Approval Timelines

We usually turn smaller tour approvals around in two to four weeks. Larger groups may require three to six months, depending on permitting requirements. Please share your plans as early as possible using the pre-approval form below.

Safety, Trail Etiquette, and Environmental Guidelines

1. Please ensure your participants know the rules of the trail; such as signaling before passing and not wearing headphones or earbuds.
2. Protect the environment by taking everything you brought to the event with you. Tour organizers must eliminate any signage and clean up trash in registration areas or along the route.
3. Please be courteous to our staff during the planning process and ask your participants to respect the residents and businesses they may encounter, as well as each other. We are a close-knit community on the Mesabi Trail, and kindness will set the tone for a happy and safe event.

Contact Us About Mesabi Trail Tours

The RRA’s point person for tours is Sarah Ciochetto, Deputy Director. Email her at  sarah@rrauth.com or call (218) 744-1388.

Start Your Mesabi Trail Tour Pre-Approval

Fill out the form, and let’s get started with your tour approval below. Please allow two to four weeks to hear back from us. Asterisked information is required.