Minnesota Celebrates Completion of 165-Mile Mesabi Trail
More than three decades of determination and cooperation have brought an ambitious Minnesota project to life. The newly completed Mesabi Trail offers 165 paved miles of outdoor adventure, making it one of the longest paved cycling routes in the United States.
Stretching from Grand Rapids to Ely, the trail links 28 communities across the state’s celebrated Iron Range. Its varied terrain carries cyclists through peaceful forests, rolling hills, and flatter stretches, connecting the Mississippi River region with the wilderness near the Boundary Waters.
The landscape tells a remarkable story of renewal. Land once shaped by iron-ore mining has grown into wooded hills and forest-lined pathways. The mines of the Iron Range, including the Mesabi Range that gave the trail its name, supplied ore that supported American industry and the nation’s efforts during World War II.
Visitors can discover much more than natural beauty along the route. Historic buildings, mining artifacts, industrial landmarks, and exhibits celebrating the area’s cultural and ethnic heritage offer opportunities to explore the region’s past.
The trail’s completion was made possible by an extraordinary network of supporters. Minnesota’s Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation helped finance the project using mining revenue intended to strengthen local communities. Numerous agencies, organizations, officials, and residents also contributed over the years.
“No single organization, funding source, or individual could have built what we see here today,” IRRRB Commissioner Ida Rukavina said during the ribbon-cutting celebration.
“This trail is the product of three decades of partnership and persistence.”
That spirit of cooperation has created a year-round destination. During warmer months, visitors can enjoy cycling, hiking, and inline skating. When snow arrives, sections of the trail welcome cross-country skiers and snowshoers, while certain portions also permit snowmobile access.
Campgrounds and parks are conveniently located along the route, and nearby communities provide food, lodging, shopping, and other services close to trail entrances. Travelers can also add golfing, swimming, canoeing, and fishing to their journeys.
Tens of thousands of people already use the Mesabi Trail each year, with visitors regularly awarding it five-star reviews. Those interested in planning a trip—or volunteering as a trail caretaker—can find additional information through the trail’s official website.
After 30 years of shared effort, the Mesabi Trail stands as a joyful example of what communities can accomplish together: transforming a historic landscape into a welcoming place for recreation, discovery, and connection.
