REGIONS: NORTHEAST BIKING & OFF-ROADING THE MESABI IRON RANGE By Glenn Hansen Once covered with mountains and a shallow sea, the stretch of Northeast Minnesota known as the Iron Range evolved to serve up mining riches around the year 1890. Iron Range miners built the towns of Grand Rapids , Hibbing , Virginia , Ely and more, while the region’s deep iron ore deposits fed American industry’s hunger for steel and earned attention from business magnates named Rockefeller and Carnegie. Heading north out of Grand Rapids, the trail weaves through birch, aspen and hardwood forests. Many of the once-deep mines are now filled with water, forming pit lakes bordered by red rock walls 100 feet high. As the trail rolls and winds its way from Hibbing to Chisholm, you’ll see some of the best mining views as you cycle beside the Hull-Rust Mahoning Mine —the largest operating open-pit iron mine in Minnesota. Hibbing is also the hometown of two American icons: Bob Dylan and the Greyhound Bus. For a throwback experience and opportunity to rest your legs, tour the Greyhound Bus Museum in Hibbing before heading back NORTH onto the trail. While mining interests remain, the red earth of the Iron Range keeps evolving—most recently HEADING into a playground for outdoor adventures OUT OF GRAND like biking. It’s about 20 more miles to Virginia, the midsection of the Mesabi Trail. I like RAPIDS, THE TRAIL When I want to stretch to end my rides here my legs and get WEAVES THROUGH with an overnight stay at outdoors on the Iron the Lakeshor Motor Inn, Range, I grab my bike BIRCH, ASPEN which scores a hattrick and head to the Mesabi for my lodging priorities: Trail . Running more AND HARDWOOD inexpensive, near downtown than 130 miles across and on a lake. As a bonus, FORESTS. The Range, the 68-mile it’s also near the Virginia stretch from Grand High Bridge , the state’s Rapids to Virginia is my favorite ride. tallest bridge, which arguably offers the best The Mesabi is not a flat-and-straight trail by any vista on the entire trail. From the hotel, crossing means. It’s full of short, rolling hills that climb and this span is an uphill pedal, but the view of the descend the steep ridges of the region’s iconic Rouchleau Mine Pit is worth the elevated heart mining pits, delivering incredible Iron Range vistas rate. And after taking in the view, you can coast at the top of every climb. back into town. Photo Caption Hull-Rust Mahoning Mine Mesabi trailhead 102 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2021 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 103
