6-Day Minnesota Rail Trails Bike Tour - Explore Scenic Pathways

Please meet at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Duluth North at 7am. After brief introductions, shuttle to the trailhead and get fitted for your bike. Then pedal the first section of the Mesabi Trail, named after the “Great Mesabi Glacier,” which once covered the region in a thick layer of ice. You traverse the mining district of the Iron Range, with its sedimentary formations rich in iron-ore. Upon arrival into Chisholm, where you spend the night, consider visiting the Minnesota Museum of Mining or the Museum of the Iron Range to learn about the area’s history. After a hearty dinner, sleep well knowing that there’s lots more to see tomorrow.
Accommodation: Hampton Inn Hibbing
Meals: Dinner

Biking: 38 or 53 miles (61 or 85 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate

After breakfast, continue pedaling along the Mesabi Trail, through one of the prettiest regions in the state. Those with alert ears may be rewarded with the distinctive call of the common loon, the Minnesota state bird. In Hibbing, consider visiting the Greyhound Bus Museum, where 17 historic buses are available on display. Mid-ride, enjoy a picnic at the Mining Hill Annex State Park. Today’s cycling ends at the trailhead in Grand Rapids, a city named for the 3.5-mile-long rapids on the Mississippi River that marked the furthest limits of steamboat travel. Then shuttle to the beautiful Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge on Lake Bemidji. After happy hour and dinner, enjoy the North Woods from the beautiful lakeside lodge.
Accommodation: Ruttger’s Birchmont Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Biking: 41 or 50 miles (66 or 80 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate

Today, begin riding the Paul Bunyan Trail, one of the longest trails in the country and a “Hall of Fame” trail according to the Rail-to-Trails Conservancy. Start the ride in Bemidji, known as “The First City on the Mississippi” as well as the alleged birthplace of Paul Bunyan. At the south side of the lake, consider exploring downtown Bemidji, recently recognized by “Smithsonian Magazine” as one of the 15 best small towns to visit. Here stands the 18-foot-tall statue of the legendary lumberjack and his blue ox, Babe, as well as a variety of public art on display. The ride ends in Walker, a popular vacation destination nestled on the western shore of Leech Lake. Those wishing for a longer ride can add miles along the Heartland Trail toward Cass Lake to the north. Settle in, as you spend three nights at the lovely Chase on the Lake.
Accommodation: Chase on the Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 44 or 65 miles (77 or 104 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate

Today you take a break from the Paul Bunyan to ride the Heartland Trail, one of the first rail-to-trail projects in the country. Make sure to stop off in Akeley at the Historical Museum to see its very own Paul Bunyan statue, which is even more massive than the lumberjack shrine in Bemidji. Enjoy one of the numerous lunch options in Park Rapids. If you wish to pedal more miles, turn around and head back to Walker, enjoying the final few miles along the shoulder of a country road. If you wish to return early to Chase on the Lake — perhaps to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the spa — the van can whisk you back to the resort. Choose an evening itinerary that suits you, as dinner is on your own.
Accommodation: Chase on the Lake
Meals: Breakfast

Biking: 30 or 58 miles (48 or 93 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier or Intermediate

After breakfast, continue riding the Paul Bunyan. Along the trail, pass through Hackensack, home to Paul Bunyan’s sweetheart, Lucette Diana Kensack, but more importantly, home to the Big Dipper Cone Shoppe where yummy treats are awaiting your consumption. As you continue your journey, don’t be shy about taking a dip in one of the trailside lakes if you feel so inclined. Or, if birdwatching or geocaching is your thing, this is a great day to partake. You end the ride in Brainerd. Despite a population well below fifteen thousand, it's one of northern Minnesota’s largest cities. At the end of the ride, you shuttle back to Chase on the Lake to spend the evening along the shores.
Accommodation: Chase on the Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Biking: 40, 65, or 72 miles (64, 104 or 115 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier, Intermediate or Advanced

Welcome to your final day of riding. Today, cycle an easy 33 miles along the Willard Munger Trail. The route, which is tucked among the trees for nearly its entire length, traces a 19th-century railroad corridor that ran between the Twin Cities and the gateway to the Great Lakes. At the end of the trail, enjoy a final lunch together before saying our goodbyes mid-afternoon.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Biking: 33 miles (53 kilometres)
Terrain: Easier