Mesabi Trail Segments

The Mesabi Trail consists of four unique paved bike trail segments:

Each segment offers opportunities to experience vastly different natural and manmade landscapes—from glacial lakes to active mines, hardwood forests to tall pines, and lush wetlands to dramatic rock cuts. The diverse flora and fauna change throughout the seasons offering a different experience even while riding the same segment. Cyclists could see wild raspberries, a multitude of wildflowers, or even Minnesota’s state flower, the showy lady’s slipper. There’s also a high probability of spotting wildlife such as whitetail deer, black bears, moose, wolves, bobcats, and waterfowl throughout the backcountry wilderness along the way.

With such a diverse landscape, each segment feels like a separate paved bike trail in Minnesota. There are so many ways to dive into the history, culture, and recreational adventures, that each segment could be its own vacation. It’s the same paved bike trail, but can be a completely different ride each time.

Try these off-trail must-sees along each segment:

  • Mississippi: Ride from Grand Rapids to the Township of Arbo and take a dip in the Prairie River.
  • Mesabi: In Chisholm, visit “The Emergence of Man Through Steel” sculpture (or as the locals call it, Iron Man).
  • Laurentian: From Biwabik, climb and descend the Laurentian Divide, the oldest mountain range in America.
  • Vermilion: Take a tour of the Soudan Underground Mine and experience life early miners did when the mine was running.

If you’re ready to ride but not sure where to start, try these Ride with GPS paved cycling routes.

Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund

The Mesabi Trail has been funded in part by the LCCMR and the Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund.