The Mesabi Trail is a 165 mile paved bicycle trail running from Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Ely, Minnesota. Until August 2026, the Mesabi Trail was not fully contiguous. The completion of the final section of trail between Embarrass and Tower made the trail the longest paved trail in Minnesota. The trail goes through the many small towns along it, such as Marble, Keewatin, Hibbing, Mountain Iron, Virginia, and Gilbert. Much of the trail runs along abandoned railroad grade.
The Great River Mesabi Trail Ride Since 2005, the Mesabi Trail has hosted a long bike ride every year in mid-August. Each stop (usually at a town or at intervals between towns) has fruit, water, granola, and other snacks. In Buhl, there is ice cream. The refreshments are free, as is the food at the ending destination, but there is a fee to ride in this event. To accommodate riders of different abilities, the ride includes multiple official starting points; while the full route may be 50 to 70 miles, intermediate starting places along the route may be as close as 8 or 10 miles from the end.
Year Start End Max Length 2005 Biwabik (Giant's Ridge Ski Resort) Chisholm (Ironworld Discovery Center) 50 miles 2006 Biwabik (Giant's Ridge Ski Resort) Hibbing (Bennet Park) 57 miles 2007 Marble Virginia (Olcott Park) 51 miles 2008 Marble Virginia (Olcott Park) 51 miles 2009 Grand Rapids (Itasca County Fairgrounds) Chisholm (Museum of Mining) 50 miles 2010 Biwabik (Giant's Ridge Ski Resort) Hibbing (Bennet Park) 50 miles 2011 Chisholm (Minnesota Discover Center) Grand Rapids (Itasca County Fairgrounds) 48 miles 2012 Grand Rapids (Itasca County Fairgrounds) Virginia (Olcott Park) 64 miles 2013 ? ? ? 2014 Fayal Township (Township Hall) Coleraine (Longyear Park) 69 miles
Historical signs Along the Mesabi Trail there are signs that establish the history along it. Most of the signs notice certain areas as important to the Mesabi Range's early mining economy.
References
External links Mesabi Trail Website