Traveling across the Iron Range of northeast Minnesota, the Mesabi Trail stretches from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids, to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Ely.
Currently approximately 145 miles are finished. When totally complete (in 2-3 years), it will traverse over 165 miles, including a variety of spurs to link 28 communities.
Visitors to the trail will find a 10 foot wide bituminous surface (asphalt paving) built on a combination of old railroad beds, abandoned highway grades, old logging and mining roads, and blazing trail through the forest to get the next community.
The Mesabi Trail is NOT simply a rail-to-trail conversion – it is not flat & straight. The terrain varies from hilly to flat over the entire length. A few hills will test your stamina going up, and your brakes going down – none are greater than an 8% grade – but some are fairly long.
Take a virtual tour of the entire trail, section by section to get a better idea of the terrain. Or, download our paper map and check out the bottom for an elevation chart.
Currently approximately 145 miles are finished. When totally complete (in 2-3 years), it will traverse over 165 miles, including a variety of spurs to link 28 communities.
Visitors to the trail will find a 10 foot wide bituminous surface (asphalt paving) built on a combination of old railroad beds, abandoned highway grades, old logging and mining roads, and blazing trail through the forest to get the next community.
The Mesabi Trail is NOT simply a rail-to-trail conversion – it is not flat & straight. The terrain varies from hilly to flat over the entire length. A few hills will test your stamina going up, and your brakes going down – none are greater than an 8% grade – but some are fairly long.
Take a virtual tour of the entire trail, section by section to get a better idea of the terrain. Or, download our paper map and check out the bottom for an elevation chart.
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Trails
Displaying 53
Recent Trail Reports
| status | trail | date | condition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT - Mesabi Trail | Sep 8, 2025 @ 2:22pm Sep 8, 2025 | view | ||
| NCT - Mesabi Trail | Aug 24, 2025 @ 12:25pm Aug 24, 2025 | view | ||
| NCT/MT - Park Road and Mesabi Trail | Aug 24, 2025 @ 12:25pm Aug 24, 2025 | view | ||
| NCT - Mesabi Trail | May 20, 2024 @ 1:42am May 20, 2024 | view | ||
| NCT - Mesabi Trail | May 20, 2024 @ 1:42am May 20, 2024 | view |
Total Trails
53
Total Distance
125 miles
Total Descent
-3,033 ft
Total Climb
3,130 ft
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- By WillieJacobsz
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