Riding the Mesabi Trail – Minnesota’s longest paved bike route
Biking the Mesabi Trail between Tower and Ely, part of 165 miles of jaw-dropping beauty, connecting 28 communities in MN’s wild north.
Get Involved
Remediating mercury and sulfur pollution in Upper Great Lakes
Since 2021, the USFS Northern Research Station’s Mercury Sulfur Initiative Working Group has been studying mercury and sulfur pollution in the Upper Great Lakes region. They will be hosting a webinar series on reducing these harmful chemicals in water and soil. Innovative research includes using trees, plants and microbes to remediate pollution.
Teens enter essay contest for chance to win “no parents” BWCA trip
The entry deadline is just a few days away. The writer of the winning essay receives a parent-free, fully outfitted five-day canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for themselves and up to three friends.
Connecting students to the dark skies of Voyageurs and Boundary Waters
Bringing natural night skies to more people is the goal of a mobile classroom and online camera.
Calling on volunteers for Boundary Waters wilderness hiking trails
The BWCAW isn’t just for canoeing. Volunteers help clear and maintain 200 miles of hiking trails in the Boundary Waters annually.
Celebrations of northern Minnesota’s dark skies feature meteor shower shows
Shooting stars will light up the night as public programs help visitors learn and enjoy the region’s dark skies.
Numerous lakes and streams in northeastern Minnesota available for citizen monitoring
Volunteers are vital to measure how clear lakes and streams are, providing valuable information to track long-term health.
Near-perfect weather conditions for 2020 Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race
The dogs were eager, ready and pulling on their leads, when the 2020 Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race officially began early on Saturday, January 11, spectators and mushers expected great weather and optimal trail conditions.
Exhibit shows off Ernest Oberholtzer objects and celebrates historic conservationist
Exhibit at Minnesota History Center features large collection of historical materials connected to the famed early explorer and defender of the Quetico-Superior region.
Numerous Naturalist programs on the North Shore this summer
Forest Service educators will lead hikes, activities, campfires and more at campgrounds, resorts, and other sites in Cook County.
‘Bike the Heart’ rides will explore border country on two wheels
Heart of the Continent Partnership is promoting the diverse riding opportunities throughout the region with rides of varying types and difficulties.
Snow and weather ideal for Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race
A snowy wilderness echoed with the barking of sled dogs poised for a heated competition. Recent snows and warmer than usual temperatures made good conditions for mushers and race watchers.
New video documents canoe trip up Partridge River to PolyMet’s proposed mine site
Mining opponents show river and wetlands that would be most affected by the proposed copper-nickel mine in the Lake Superior basin.
Freemans embark on bike ride to Washington, D.C. — with a canoe in tow
Married adventurers and advocates for mining protection are on their way to the capital to raise awareness of the Boundary Waters and its threats.
Volunteers invited to collect seeds, combat invasive cattails at Voyageurs National Park
Annual volunteer weekend at Voyageurs will contribute to wetland restoration efforts.
North House Folk School: Crafting a Lifestyle and Community Along the North Shore of Lake Superior
In Grand Marais, Minnesota, gateway to the Gunflint Trail and canoe country, there is a place where the traditional crafts of the north are celebrated. From timber framing and boat building, to basketry and knitting, craftsmen and women gather to share their knowledge and skills—often using traditional resources like birch bark.
Heart of the Continent Meetings in Duluth Will Discuss Geo-Tourism
Business operators, organizations, and government staff are invited to attend a series of events centered on promoting the region’s resources to visitors.
Three Decades of Superior Hiking
This summer, thirty years after a pair of trailbuilders first started flagging a hiking route along the ridges overlooking Lake Superior on Minnesota’s North Shore, the Superior Hiking Trail will be finished—mostly. The final section of the trail, connecting it to the Wisconsin border southeast of Duluth, should be completed by Labor Day. Hikers will then be able to travel from that point all the way to the Canadian border on the trail that has been called one of the best in America. But the work is never done. Hundreds of volunteers will continue to put in thousands of hours each year keeping the trail in good condition.
Hikers Invited To Spring Festival on Superior Hiking Trail
Annual “Hike Fest” features guided hikes, socializing, presentations, and much more.
What will it take to get you outdoors?
In a recent article for the Star Tribune, writer Tori McCormick sums it up: “What will it take to get you outdoors and into nature? Can you be persuaded, either through …