The Mesabi Trail is nearing completion as crews finish another section of Minnesota’s longest paved trail. Once complete, the trail will connect Grand Rapids and Ely with a continuous route. The 160-plus-mile trail draws outdoor recreationists year-round, including bikers and walkers. To celebrate its 30th anniversary and the completion of another section, the Rail Authority Board, which manages the trail, will hold a bike ride on September 12.
Longest paved trail
Construction crews expect to complete a 6.5-mile section of the Mesabi Trail between the towns of Tower and Embarrass this month, bringing the trail closer to completion. The Mesabi stretches across northern Minnesota and ranks as the state’s longest paved trail. This long-awaited milestone caps decades of work to piece the trail system together.
The Mesabi winds through quaint towns, along scenic lakes, and through dense pockets of boreal forest. Bikers make up most trail users, but walkers, wheelchair users, runners, and snowshoers also enjoy the route. The terrain is generally mild, though some sections can be hilly.
The nearly 165-mile paved trail begins in Ely, near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). There, trail users can pause at the new trailhead complex to get info, fill their water bottle, and use a restroom. From there, the trail heads west, eventually dropping slightly south, and ends in Grand Rapids. Along the way, the path connects many Iron Range towns with deep roots in mining. The trail’s website lists numerous amenities in these trail towns.
History of the trail
Sarah Ciochetto, deputy director of the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority, shared some of the Mesabi Trail’s history with us. The Railroad Authority was incorporated in 1986 with a vision to obtain railroads that were no longer in use. As bicycling became more popular in urban areas in the 1990s, the idea for a paved trail system in northern Minnesota began to take shape. The state funded the initial work, thanks in part to lawmakers such as Congressman Jim Oberstar and Senator David Tomassoni. Workers completed the first stretch of the Mesabi Trail in 1996, prompting the Mesabi Trail work group to determine the trail’s route and plan its construction.
As the trail developed, old railway sections, road shoulders, and former logging roads became paved trails. Since then, thousands of people have explored the trail. Ciochetto told The Minnesota Star Tribune that roughly 285,000 people used the trail in 2025. Over the years, the trail has also helped boost the economies of many communities along its route.
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Celebrating 30 years
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the trail and the completion of the latest section, the Rail Authority is hosting a 30-mile bike ride on September 12. It’s open to everyone and will begin at 1 pm in the town of Tower at Depot Park. The event is free, but registration is requested. Afterward, entertainment and refreshments will be available from 3 pm to 7 pm. Other trail celebrations will take place through September 19th and are available online.
Ciochetto said that the board is happy to see the original plan come to fruition. “It is a source of pride and will have a lasting legacy for the region that has a positive economic impact on communities for years to come. But this isn’t the end. Going forward, we’re looking to connect other communities into the corridor and will be creating a new master plan to guide the process for the next phase,” she noted. Trail managers expect to complete the entire path by the end of 2027, with the final section connecting Aurora to Hoyt Lakes.
Interested in exploring the Mesabi?
You can find information on Mesabi’s four trail segments online. Most of the trail is reserved for non-motorized use, although snowmobiles can travel on a few sections. Anyone aged 18 or older who uses a wheeled device needs a wheel pass, except people with disabilities who use a wheelchair, motorized cart, or walker. Walkers, runners, snowshoers, and other non-wheeled users do not need a pass. The Rail Authority has provided an interactive map of the trail, or you can order a paper map to plan your route.
Private donors, the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, and the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund fund the Mesabi Trail.
More info:
- After 30 years, Minnesota’s longest paved trail is fully ready to ride – The Minnesota Star Tribune
- Mesabi Trail – Rail Authority