Find the top rated walking trails in Babbitt, whether you're looking for an easy short walking trail or a long walking trail, you'll find what you're looking for. Click on a walking trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
I found the trail conditions to be in good condition but I should say I did not do the entire trail. I would alert others to the fact that this is not a rail trail so expect a bit more small to moderate hill climbing.
Rode from Ely to Mountain Iron. Loved the scenery and the history. Towns are great! Will be back to ride the rest!
We biked the roughly 23 mile trail that connects Tower to Ely and it is absolutely spectacular! The condition of the trail is perfect and the scenery is so beautiful! I am sure the rest of the 90+ miles of this trail are amazing too! Can’t wait to explore more-I’ve bike all over the country and this trail is second to none… Biking friends-Put this trail on your bucket list! Come to NE Minnesota!
I should have specified that the rough trail section we rode was from Gooseberry Falls State Park north to Beaver Bay.
Could be a great ride, however there are hundreds upon hundreds of tarred cross trail cracks; however none of them have tar in them anymore. Many frost heaves that aren’t marked The lighthouse is worth a visit. Some nice views of the lake but probably more views of cars as the trail parallels the highway for many miles.
We did the Virginia-to-Buhl segment over Labor Day and wished we had rented electric-assist bikes. We're used to the flatter trails AND we have not biked a lot this summer because of the heat, and I can say we were fairly disappointed in our inability to make it to Chisolm. The 95-degree weather didn't help - LOL! The trail winds past beautiful scenery, particularly the quarries. There is a section east of Buhl where the trail runs through a swamp and it was like biking over moguls. Ouch! The trail is maintained well and once we figured out how to get out of Virginia, the signage is pretty good. Finding places for water/shade within the smaller towns is a challenge (maybe because of the holiday?) so pack a lot of water/snacks if you're going to be out for the day. The ATVs alongside the trail east of Virgina were nice and polite, but the 2 sets of trails merge over the bridge (in which the view is stunning, BTW). We will do more of the trail once we get our legs back in shape and look forward to more fun!
08/23, Grand Rapids to Biwabik section. I was choosing between Paul Banyan and Mesabi Trail for bikepacking and chose the last one mainly because there are more camping options. Paul Banyan has some camping options, but our group included 7 yo girls who just switched to a geared 20" bike and we were limited by about 20-25 miles per day. Mesabi worked out for us better. Our itinerary was the following:
Day 1. A night at the trailhead in Itasca County Fairgrounds Campground in Grand Rapids. There is an ongoing reconstruction, but you can camp there, booking is not required, campground host is right there. Payment is on-site by cash, $25 or so. Avoid camping there during events, the place can be noisy.
Day 2. 21 mile ride. A night in Swan Lake Campground and Resort in Pengilly. 3 miles ride from the trail over public roads. Road shoulder is wide so it was an ok ride. We tried to workaround over ATV trails, but they were too difficult for kids and we were towing a cargo trailer. The campground has limited number of tent only sites so plan ahead. Reservation by calling the host. Payment is $30 or so cash.
Day 3. 3 + 18 miles ride. A night in Hibbing. The only night not in camping. The closest campground in Chisholm did not work for us as it adds 5 or so miles and the campground itself is terrible according to the reviews. There are very few options for staying in Hibbing. I ended up booking a house for $170 per night close to the trail.
Day 4. 19 miles ride. A night in West Two Rivers Campground. It is 1.5 miles away from the trail, but the road goes to the campground only, so there were only few cars. The only problem was to cross the hwy 169 with kids, but after some wait we did that safely. Reservation online. They have tent only sites, but they are smaller for the same rate - $35 or so. I switched to an RV one. I recommend sites 23 and 24.
Day 5. 23 + 1.5 miles ride. A night in Biwabik Vermilion Trail Campground. It is a popular campground, especially on weekends. Reservation online. Payment is $35 or so. Last section of 5 miles or so on a public road with a wide shoulder. That was not the best experience with kids, but drivers were respectful to us.
Originally we planned Day 6 riding to Heritage Park & Campground in Embarass, but shuttle guy have not responded to us quickly and we cut our route by one day planning me to ride all the way back to the car while my family is waiting in the campground. He responded last night and gave us a ride from Biwabik to Cedar Rapids for $128. It is a good price for 80 miles of 4 people with 4 bikes and backpacks. Plan ahead. I planned only one week prior to the trip.
About the trail. First of all it is a tremendous work! The shuttle driver was from the trail management. He said how much time and money they invest in it for us to be able to ride it. So please, don't forget to buy a Wheel Pass - it is a minimum to pay back for all their effort. Europe countries natively have extensive network of trails and driving culture allowing bikers and drivers to coexist. Those who promote healthy lifestyle through building bike trails in the US deserve all sorts of endorsements. The towns we passed seem to know about cyclists and drivers where very respectful to us. Don't loose your attention though, we had couple of issues in one town. Drivers made excuses to us so the great work in progress in this aspect too. As I said the trail is not 100% serenity in the woods, the trail direction is planning to build the Biwabik section, but over it was an excellent ride and we were very happy. August is a beautiful time to bikepacking. I bet Fall time will be amazing too, even though colder for bikepacking.
On three occasions we rode the Gitchi Gami trail from Gooseberry Falls to Split Rock Light house & Beaver Bay to Split Rock Light house, but the best part of the trail- for relatively flat riding & great Lake Superior views- was from Lutsen Mountain Rd to Schroeder, MN. There’s a new trail parking area off Lutsen Rd/Hwy 5 & Hwy 61. A great coffee stop was in Tofte at Coho’s Cafe with pastries & sandwiches. This stop broke the 24 mile round trip into a manageable morning ride. Another stop would be to see the falls at
Planned to stay in the area for three days riding this trail based on the positive reviews. Rode 14 m section from Gooseberry Falls to Beaver Bay. Trail follows natural contours so some steep hills, sharp curves. Have to leave trail and enter parks for views , trail does allow access to parks. . Can’t escape constant noise from adjacent highway.
We Rode From Gooseberry Falls State Park to Split Rock Light House and Back. One of the Prettiest Rides you'll ever see! Gorgeous Cliff Views of Lake Superior! This part of the trail is a bit challenging in sections. Many ups and downs but well worth it. Our Time was limited to one afternoon so we couldn't explore it further north. I can't wait to go back. There are a number of State Parks to visit all the way to the Canadian Boarder. Hat's Off to the State of MN for envisioning and constructing a bike trail that will one day connect all these Parks up to the Canadian Boarder!
Thank You
BN
Had the chance the other day to ride from Chisholm to Kinney and back. Section from Chisholm to Buhl was much smoother than Hibbing to Chisholm, but had a couple of steep hills. The section from Buhl to Kinney was VERY rough. Be sure to stop and read the sign by the water treatment plant about the town of Fraser - interesting facts.
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