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Because life's too short to stay home …, on the iron trail, in northern minnesota, a rich deposit of ore brought the world running..

© Beth Gauper

They would have preferred gold. But the iron made them rich, too.

In 1865, reports of gold brought a rush of prospectors to the shores of Lake Vermilion. What they found, instead, was red earth.

Those who didn't go home disappointed stayed to develop one of the world's richest deposits of iron ore into an industry that would give rise to dozens of towns, help the nation win two world wars and create a distinctive piece of Minnesota's cultural fabric.

The first mine was on the shores of Lake Vermilion, on the end of a body of ore that stretched from Tower to Ely. The Vermilion Range ore sat in layers, requiring extraction from deep underground shafts.

Just to the south, an even larger vein lay along a wooded ridge of hills, an exposed stretch of the Laurentian Divide that the Ojibwe thought of as the sleeping giant, or Mesabi.

It ran nearly 120 miles, from Coleraine to Hoyt Lakes, and the soft ore was so shallow it could be dug from open pits.

It produced up to a third of the world's iron ore before the high-grade ore began to run out in the 1950s, after which lower-grade ore began to be produced in the form of taconite pellets.

The thousands of unskilled jobs drew a wave of immigrants that included Finns, Slovenes, Italians, Swedes, Croatians, Poles, Germans, Serbs and many other nationalities, who became incorporated into the lumpy melting pot on the Range.

Vestiges are apparent today, in bakeries that sell the Slovenes' walnut potica, at halls where the Slavs' polkas are danced and at government centers all over the Range.

Famous for its populist politics, the Range was profoundly influenced by the Finns, who included longtime U.S. Communist Party secretary Gus Hall, born Arvo Halberg in Cherry, a rural area between Hibbing and Virginia.

Once, nearly 400 ore pits operated on the Mesabi Range. The days when the whole Range hummed with industry and excitement are over, but mining still is its economic backbone.

Today, tourists can watch operating mines from the edge of giant pits, and see abandoned ones from close-up. Museums recall mining's heyday, and Ironworld in Chisholm pays fond tribute to its culture and history.

In Hibbing, visitors see the skeleton of a town that got in the way of the shovels, as well as a palatial high-school paid for mining companies and a famous bus company that began life as a mining shuttle.

But there is recreation, too-bicycling along the paved Mesabi Trail, which links the attractions and towns between Grand Rapids and McKinley, and golfing on two of the state's most scenic courses, at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.

In winter, Giants Ridge is able to retain snow for alpine skiing and cross-country ski racing longer than anywhere else in Minnesota.

Today, this stretch is known as the Iron Trail. One of the most interesting stops is at its western edge, virtually in the back yard of Calumet.

This was the Hill Annex Mine, from which 63 million tons of ore were taken between 1913 and 1978 on land leased from the state, which now runs it as a state park.

Its centerpiece is an emerald-green lake, surrounded by birch and jack pine and frequented by ospreys and loons. Once, it was an open pit, where the grinding of giant shovels filled the air and explosives shook the earth three times a day.

Guides drive a little trolley bus around the rim of the lake and point out an old steam drill, blasting shacks and a 1951 electric shovel. Gleaning usable ore left mountains of waste rock, created by running train cars full of waste onto a high scaffold and dumping.

It was dirty work, and it was also dangerous, especially for the blasters and the truck drivers who spent their days at the edge of 500-foot precipices.

The gaping red craters and detritus of open-pit mining are everywhere along the Mesabi Range. Just up Minnesota 169, the towers and conveyor belts of National Steel Pellet Co. loom over little Keewatin, giving it the air of a rust-tinted Emerald City.

In Hibbing, the town was too close, so the mine moved it in 1919.

Today, all that's left of the old town are a few lampposts and street signs in a grassy meadow at one edge of the vast Hull Rust Mahoning Mine, the world's largest open-pit ore mine. Crawling through the red dirt two miles away, giant dump trucks look like Matchbox cars.

Retired employees man the observation center at pit's edge, talking about the Range's heyday, when mine companies made sure every church in town was freshly painted and that schools had nothing but the best.

Hibbing High school, built in 1920 for nearly $4 million, is palatial even today, with its marble, murals and chandeliers. Tours are given in summer and during the annual Bob Dylan Days, which honor the school's most famous alumnus.

A miner's shuttle made Greyhound Lines famous; a few blocks from the high school, the Greyhound Bus Museum traces the line's evolution from its 1914 start in Hibbing.

Until 2015, the Mineview in the Sky observation center in Virginia gave visitors a look at the 3-mile-long Rouchleau mines, which started shipping ore in 1893 and soon became one of the many Minnesota mines swept into the financial empires of John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie and J. Pierpont Morgan.

The star attraction was the giant King of the Lode, a dump truck that was 300,000 pounds and 44 feet long. It was retired in 1998, worn out and too expensive to overhaul: Each tire cost $29,000, and a chain $60,000.

When the mine expanded, claiming the land under Mineview in the Sky, the truck was cut up for scrap.

Another kind of mining was practiced on the Vermilion Range, where the rich ore is in hard vertical layers of hematite. The Soudan Mine was the first in the state when it began operating in 1884.

It became an underground mine in the 1890s, with a shaft that eventually reached 2,400 feet, or seven football fields, into the earth.

Today, it's the Soudan Underground Mine State Park, and visitors can take a three-minute ride in an elevator cage to the bottom, where they get into electric trains and ride to a stope, part of a crossword-puzzle maze of excavations created when miners drilled and blasted into fingerlike veins.

It's cold and dark, and miners suffered hearing loss from the noise, but this was considered "a Cadillac" of mines: Only 13 men died in 79 years.

There's still many tons of ore left, but excavation costs became prohibitive. The mine closed in 1963, only four years before the closing of the Pioneer Mine in Ely marked the end of mining on the Vermilion Range.

It was a hard life. But it was one that made the people of the Range proud.

Trip Tips: Minnesota's Iron Trail

2023 events: June 17-18, Land of the Loon Arts & Crafts Festival in Virginia. July, Hoyt Lakes Water Carnival . Aug. 5, Mesabi Trail Tour from Ely.

Hill-Annex Mine State Park in Calumet: It's open from Memorial Day weekend to Sept. 1 and offers mine tours and fossil-hunting tours.

Soudan Underground Mine State Park : On guided mine tours, visitors travel 2,341 feet — nearly one-half mile — underground by cage, then board a train and ride nearly a mile to the last and deepest area of the mine.

There are also five miles of hiking trails among open-pit mines.

Hull-Rust Mahoning Mine View : It's on the north end of Hibbing and open daily from mid-May through September. Admission is free.

Minnesota Museum of Mining : It's just off U.S. 169 in Chisholm and is open daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Admission is $6, $4 ages 6-17.

Minnesota Discovery Center : Formerly known as Ironworld, this center in Chisholm holds exhibits on Iron Range history and culture. Admission is $12, $7 for youths 3-17.

The center includes the Redhead Mountain Bike Park , with an initial 15-mile trail system.

Mesabi Trail : There are 75 miles between Grand Rapids and McKinley, with another four miles on a spur from Gilbert to Eveleth. There are also three miles paved between Tower and Soudan and three miles in Ely.

In Grand Rapids, the trail starts at the Itasca County fairgrounds, on the northern edge of town.

A Wheel Pass, $5 for two days and $15 annually, can be bought from local businesses and visitor centers.

For more, see Rolling through the Iron Range .

Golf: The Legend and The Quarry at Giants Ridge , deep in Superior National Forest, are considered one of the best and most scenic in the state.

Skiing: Giants Ridge has 37 downhill runs and 60 kilometers of well-maintained cross-country trails grooming for striding and skating, including three kilometers that are lighted.

For more, see Downhill on the Iron Range and A Giant advantage .

Snowmobiling: The Taconite and Laurentian trails are part of a 2,000-mile network.

Accommodations: Giants Ridge has villas, lodge rooms and guesthouses.

Camping: McCarthy Beach State Park , 20 miles north of Hibbing, has a popular campground on Side Lake and a sandy beach on Sturgeon Lake with shallow water, suitable for small children.

Scenic State Park , 32 miles north of Grand Rapids near Bigfork, has camping and a cabin.

Dining: In Gilbert, the Whistling Bird offers a colorful menu of Caribbean dishes as well as steaks and chops.

Information: Iron Trail tourism .

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Iron Range: MN Weekend Getaway

Enjoy history and recreation on one of the state’s most unique landscapes – the Iron Range . Explore historic mines and museums, and then head outside to see rust-colored cliffs and miles of forests in this region whose iron ore helped drive the country’s industrial rise.

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Getting There

Iron range, mn history.

History might highlight the country’s gold rush that led settlers west, but it was also gold that led settlers north, to Lake Vermillion. Since the late 1840s, geologists had explored Northern Minnesota for minerals, including copper and iron ore. Several reports documented rich sources of iron ore, but through 1865, they drew only limited interest and attention. It took accounts of gold and silver at Lake Vermillion in 1865 to spark national attention.

Speculators rushed north, but they never found enough gold to make gold mining viable in the area. What they did find was an area rich in iron ore. They soon set up operations on one of the largest sources of iron ore in the world.

Mining operations drew waves of immigrants to the region, making it one of the most diverse in the state. Its ore fed steel mills that helped build the nation’s cities and drive industrialization. Towns sprung up around the mines, with their locations dictated by where sources of ore were found. In fact, over the years several towns had to be moved when rich ore deposits were found under them, including Eveleth and Gilbert. The northern part of Hibbing was moved in 1910 amid protests from its residents; today, the world’s largest open pit iron ore mine operates on land that was once northern Hibbing.

The region’s history was changed by mining, and it was also mining that helped change the views of a nation in the mid-1980s.  The Iron Range is noted in history as the place where the first class-action sexual harassment lawsuit in the United States was filed. Jenson v. Eveleth Taconite Co. was filed in 1998 on behalf of Lois Jenson and other female workers at the EVTAC mine who faced sexual harassment, threats and other abusive behavior during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

The case was settled in 1998 for $3.5 million, and a fictionalized story of the case was later portrayed in the 2005 Charlize Theron movie, North Country, which was filmed on the Iron Range .

Iron Range Best Bets

• Don’t miss views from the world’s largest open pit iron ore mine – Hull Rust Mahoning in Hibbing, MN nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the North.”
• Tour a historic underground mine at Soudan Underground Mine State Park . See the historic mine, as well as an operating physics lab housed underground.
• Get out and enjoy the trails . Miles of ATV, snowmobile, hiking, biking and cross-country ski trails crisscross the region, as well as the state’s first designated off-road recreation area.
• See the fall leaves along the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway. Stop to see the sights at Skibo Vista Scenic Overlook.

Things to Do on MN’s Iron Range

The Iron Range mixes history and recreation, with something for the whole family to enjoy. Take in the museums and mining sites, and then enjoy miles of trails, fishing, hiking or golf.

Visit an operating mine at Hull Rust Mahoning Mine in Hibbing. Nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the North,” the mine is the world’s largest open pit iron ore mine at more than two miles long and two miles wide. At the mine’s peak in the 1940s, it produced more than a quarter of the country’s iron ore. Watch miners in action from the visitor center atop a cliff overlooking the mine, where giant mining trucks look like children’s toys as they drive around the mine.

Afterward, stop by the Greyhound Bus Museum , just south of the mine. Founded in Hibbing more than 80 years ago, Greyhound became the first bus line in the country and grew into the largest bus company in America. Also nearby, see the childhood home of music legend Bob Dylan, who grew up in Hibbing.

Tour a historic mine at Soudan Underground Mine State Park just north near Lake Vermillion. Known as the “Cadillac of Mines,” Soudan is the richest source of iron ore in Minnesota and the state’s oldest mine. It’s now also home to a high-tech physics lab operated by the University of Minnesota.

Nearby in Tower, MN visit the Tower Train Museum within the Tower-Soudan Historical Society. See a 1910 Duluth and Iron Range Railway steam locomotive. Inside the museum see historic artifacts from the Tower and Sudan area.

Celebrate our hockey heritage at the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth. Visit the Great Wall where players, coaches and others inducted into the hall of fame are recognized. Also see one of the first Zamboni’s ever made a vintage ice skating display, Olympic hockey history. A new display celebrates the life of 1980 Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks, including items from his personal collection that have never been previously displayed.

Nearby, see the World’s Largest Hockey Stick. The stick was built by Christian Brothers Hockey Sticks in Warroad, MN and measures in at 30 feet by 80 feet and five tons. A 700 pound, built-to-scale hockey puck is also included in the display.

Learn about Iron Range history at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm, the state’s largest museum outside of the Twin Cities. Explore the history of the iron range, including mining history, geology, local immigrant history, depression-area history and other exhibits. The museum also regularly hosts a variety of traveling exhibits. Outside, visit a historic homestead and other local historic homes. Trolley rides are available seasonally, offering a 2.5-mile tour of the former Glen Location mining town, recreated with historic buildings. Afterwards, play mini golf on the museum’s 17-hole course.

Just down the street in Chisholm, see the Iron Man statue, the third largest memorial in the county (only the Statue of Liberty and St. Louis Gateway Arch are larger).

See Iron Range sites from two top lookouts. In Virginia, visit Mine View in the Sky, where you can get up close to mining trucks, while overlooking the Rouchleau group of mines and the surrounding region. West of Eveleth, drive to the top of the Leonidas Overlook where you can see mines and surrounding towns for miles.

Play golf! The region offers some of the top courses in the state, including:

• The Quarry at Giants Ridge in Biwabik. Rated one of the top upscale golf courses in the nation and top course in Minnesota, the course is set among reclaimed mines, lakes, wetlands and forest scenes.
• Also at Giants Ridge, The Legend par 72 course is cut into a Northwoods terrain.
• Regularly top rated, The Wilderness at Fortune Bay is a Jeffrey Brauer-designed course set among the shores of Lake Vermillion.
• Try 18 challenging holes at Mesaba Country Club in Hibbing.

Enjoy recreation, no matter what season it is . The Iron Range is home to one of the most diverse ATV trail terrains in the state. If you enjoy riding an ATV, don’t miss the 1,200-acre Off-Highway Vehicle and ATV Park in Gilbert, the state’s first state recreation area for all types of off-road vehicles.

In the winter, more than 2,000 miles of trails are open to snowmobilers. Or, enjoy cross-country ski and snowshoe trails across the region. Don’t worry if you don’t own your own ATV or snowmobile. Local rentals are available in Gilbert and Biwabik. If you’re staying at Giants Ridge, rentals can be coordinated through the resort.

If you enjoy biking, you’ll enjoy the region’s Mesabi Trail, one of the state’s top paved biking trails. The trail takes riders across Iron Range towns including Hibbing, Chisholm, Mountain Iron, Virginia, Gilbert, Biwabik, the Town of White and Aurora. When fully complete, the trail will connect more than 25 towns between Grand Rapids and Ely.

If you prefer an adventure without wheels, take a hike on more than 175 miles of trails in the region. Birders will enjoy seeing more than 155 species of birds along the trails, along with plenty of other wildlife.

Where to Eat in MN’s Iron Range

The Wacootah Grille: At The Quarry golf clubhouse at Giants Ridge , The Wacootah Grille features breakfast, lunch and dinner and a full bar. Look for weekly walleye and rib specials on its recently updated menu. Other favorites include steak, pasta, sandwiches and burgers. Open during the summer months.

The Lodge Restaurant: This Giants Ridge family favorite features seafood, steak, pasta, salads, and sandwiches for lunch and dinner on its fine dining menu.

Grandma’s Restaurant: A northern Minnesota favorite, Grandma’s offers family-style bar and grill food in Virginia, MN. Enjoy salads, soups, sandwiches and burgers, pasta and walleye.

A&W Drive In: Just like old times, the A&W in Aurora, MN still offers drive-in fare seasonally (late-March through mid-September). Enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, and that famous A&W root beer.

Poor Gary’s Pizza: If you’re hungry for pizza after an afternoon at the US Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, stop at Poor Gary’s in Eveleth. The restaurant offers pizza, subs and appetizers.

Mountainside Bar & Grill: In the winter, enjoy homemade pizza, steak, ribs, sandwiches or burgers along the slopes of Giants Ridge.

Timbers Restaurant: Also at Giants Ridge during the winter months, enjoy American-style family dining after a day on the slopes. Sticks Lounge offers a full bar, plus an appetizer and bar menu.

Where to Stay on MN’s Iron Range

Giants Ridge: Enjoy championship golf and trails in the summer, or skiing and snowboarding in the winter at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, MN . The resort boasts two of the state’s top-rated golf courses: The Legend and The Quarry. In the winter, enjoy downhill and cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

Mitchell-Tappan House Bed & Breakfast: This 1897 home was built for the superintendent of the Oliver Iron Mining Company. The home was among the nearly 200 structures moved between 1919 and 1921 when the town of Hibbing was moved south to open the Hull Rust Mahoning Mine. Today, it offers five king, queen and twin-bed rooms in downtown Hibbing.

When to Go to the MN Iron Range

In the summer, tour mines, visit museums, play championship golf and enjoy miles of trail. Come back in the winter to enjoy miles of snowmobile trails, downhill and cross country skiing, and of course, some of the best hockey teams in the state.

The 320,000 acres of the Superior National Forest that cross the Iron Range makes the region a top destination to see the fall leaves. Try one of these top drives in the region:

• Superior National Forest Scenic Byway: From Aurora in the west, this 61 mile drive takes you past boreal forest to Two Harbors on the Lake Superior Shore. Don’t miss the views from Skibo Vista Scenic Overlook, eight miles east of Hoyt Lakes. There are also more than 500 lakes and rivers along the byway to see and explore.
• Laurentian Divide: Through the towns of Eveleth, Virginia, Tower, Biwabik and Gilbert, travel 70 miles with panoramic views. In Virginia, hike the Laurentian Divide/Lookout Mountain.

The Iron Range is under 3.50 hours north of the Twin Cities. Take Hwy 35 north to the Hwy 33/Cloquet exit and continue north.

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Perfect minnesota iron range road trip.

Explore the Beauty of Minnesota’s Iron Range

Minnesota is a place of endless adventure. After more than 10 years of living here, I continue to discover hidden gems that makes this place so special. While tens of thousands of people flock to the north shore of Lake Superior each summer, just a short drive away is the less crowded Minnesota Iron Range area. 

Here you can paddle across glacial lakes, hike among tall pine trees, and catch a glimpse of Minnesota wildlife such as bears, moose and grey wolves. A Minnesota Iron Range road trip is the perfect way to get a true taste of North Woods living.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more info, visit this page .

What is Minnesota’s Iron Range?

Where is minnesota’s iron range, getting around minnesota’s iron range, bear head lake state park, scenic state park, north star lake campground, kawishiwi falls trail, lake vermillion- soudan underground mine state park, schoolcraft state park, chippewa national forest, ready for your minnesota iron range road trip.

There are actually three iron ranges in Northern Minnesota: Cuyuna, Vermilion and Mesabi. They stretch from Crosby in the west to the Ely area in the east. This Minnesota Iron Range road trip touches in all three of these areas.

Back as far as two billion years ago, mountains formed in the Mesabi area which were later engulfed by a shallow sea. The long process of erosion and evaporation of the sea resulted in deposits of iron and taconite across this area.

All that remains of those mountains today is a long ridge, referred to as Mesabi which comes from the Ojibwe name. In Ojibwe culture, the ridge is said to represent the tail of a Thunderbird which is one of the most powerful spiritual beings.

Starting in the late 1900’s, iron ore mining has taken place in this region. Today there are six active mines.

These two pieces of the area’s identity today, the native culture and connection with the land as well as the mining industry, are important to learn about and experience while on a Minnesota Iron Range road trip.

Check out these books if you’re interested in learning more about native cultures in Minnesota.

The eastern portion of the Iron Range, the Vermillion Range near Ely, is a four hour drive from the Twin Cities. To drive from one end of the Iron Range to the other takes about 3 hours. 

Click the map to open in Google Maps.

The best way to get around Minnesota’s Iron Range is by vehicle. There is no public transport available. While there are some reasonably sized towns, gas stations and grocery stores are sparse.

If you want a unique experience, consider renting a campervan or RV for your Minnesota Iron Range road trip. This allows you to be fairly self-contained, with little need to stop other than to explore or sleep.

For a more active experience, try biking through Minnesota’s Iron Range on the Mesabi Trail . This trail is 135 miles long from Ely to Grand Rapids. There are some sections that are not yet complete, but you can use the Mesabi Trail Shuttle Service to connect between those sections with your bike. A Wheel Pass is required and available for purchase along the trail, online and at some local businesses. 

What’s the best place to stay in Minnesota’s Iron Range?

Whether you prefer a tent, RV or campervan, camping in Minnesota’s Iron Range is the best way to experience it. There are seemingly endless campgrounds in state parks and national forests, plus dispersed camping options. Check out my car camping 101 guide for beginners for tips on what to pack!

If camping isn’t your thing, there are certainly cabins and other rentals available in parts of the Iron Range.

Pro Tip: Visit Minnesota State Parks to reserve a campsite.

Just 16 miles from the town of Ely, Bear Head Lake State Park is a gem. In fact, it’s risen to the top of my favorite Minnesota State Parks! 

The park offers campsites for all types, including drive-in, electric, backpacking and canoe sites! A guesthouse and camper cabins are also available but they fill up quickly. The drive-in and electric sites are nestled among tall pine trees and just a short walk from the swimming area and boat launch. 

About 95 miles east of Bear Head Lake State Park, is Scenic State Park. There are two different campgrounds within the park, Lodge and Chase Point.

Choose from drive-in, pull-through, electric, wheelchair accessible, backpacking and canoe campsites. There’s even a horse camp nearby!

Pro Tip: Book early or visit mid-week to get a campsite just steps from the water! I stayed at Site 4 at Chase Point Campground and loved it. 

Located in Chippewa National Forest, the North Star Campground offers first come, first serve campsites with steps down to the beach! The bathroom was a pit toilet but brand new and very clean. 

There is a boat ramp at the campground for easy access to fishing in the lake. Kayaks and canoes are also welcome!

Pro Tip: During summer months, the sites along the water fill up on weekends. If you have your heart set on one, try to arrive midweek and avoid holiday weekends.

Ely is known as one of the gateways into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), which is some of the  most pristine wilderness in the world. The town itself is lined with outfitters and wilderness adventure companies in addition to restaurants. 

This is the perfect place to stay if you prefer easy access to restaurants and a cozy stay in a cabin, lodge or bed & breakfast. 

Best Places to Stop on a Roadtrip to Minnesota’s Iron Range

Whatever kind of adventurer you are, the Iron Range has something for you! Explore miles of hiking trails, paddle across lakes, and more.

No Minnesota Iron Range road trip is complete without a stop at some of the area’s state parks. Before you go, be sure to get your Minnesota State Parks passport so you can collect stamps (and earn free nights of camping).

Bring all the essentials with this day hike packing list !

The state parks do require a day or annual pass. These can be purchased online in advance or in-person at most parks.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have a printer at home, you can still purchase your pass at online. Just write your confirmation #, start date, end date, and last name on a sheet of paper and display it on the dashboard of your vehicle.

Whether you prefer to explore by foot or by paddle (or both!) this park has it all. Bear Head Lake State Park sprawls over 4000 acres, with a large portion of that being on water.

Get up early for a paddle across Bear Head Lake in complete solitude. You may even spot a bear or moose! The Norberg Lake Trail is a lovely 3-½ mile trail that circles a smaller lake before following the shoreline of Bear Head Lake’s East Bay. There are several places along the trail to rest and enjoy a snack.

If you have more time, try the Becky and Blueberry Lake Trails which ranges from 3-½ to 6 miles depending on the route you choose.

Wanna cool down after a long day of adventure? Take the short walk to the swimming beach near the campsites!

Ask about renting a paddleboard, fishing pole and birding equipment at the Park Office.

Ely isn’t just a jumping off point for the Boundary Waters and other outdoor adventures. The town is home to local artists, the Ely Folk School , the International Wolf Center , the North American Bear Center , and all sorts of shops and restaurants.

Why not visit Ely in winter? Explore the area by going snowmobiling in Ely MN !

Just under 10 miles north of Ely, is the Kawishiwi Falls Trail. This 1-½ mile trail is fairly easy with a few short planked sections. You’re rewarded with a view of the 70 foot tall Kawishiwi Falls!

Pro Tip: There are several signs for Kawishiwi Trail before you get to the actual trailhead for Kawishiwi Falls. Follow Google Maps or wait until you see the brown sign for Kawishiwi Falls along the road. 

Explore Minnesota’s oldest and deepest iron ore mine! The Soudan Mine ceased operation in 1962 but today you can visit both the above- and underground portions of the mine.

Take a free s elf-guided above ground tour of the historic buildings from the Visitor Center. Follow the mining process from extraction all the way to being crushed. 

The underground portion of the tour isn’t for everyone, particularly if you are claustrophobic. Take the ride in a cage down into the mine for about three minutes before getting out to explore the mine on foot. Note that due to COVID-19 the underground tours may not be operating as normal. Check the park website for the most up to date information.

Pro Tip: It’s cold and chilly in the underground mine. Be sure to bring a layer to keep you warm!

But, there’s more than the Soudan Mine in this park! Enjoy a picnic along Lake Vermillion, which is the fifth largest lake within Minnesota. For hiking, try the 2.4 mile Miner’s Trail loop. Find the trailhead near the parking at the Visitor Center. The trail is hilly and offers up close views of mine pits as you wind through old-growth forest. 

Pro Tip: The bicycling trail mentioned earlier, the Mesabi Trail, winds through the Lake Vermillion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park.  

This park features glacially formed lakes with recreation options on both water and land. It’s a popular destination for fishing so be sure to bring your fishing pole and license! Common to this area are Walleye, Northern Pike and Bass. 

If fishing isn’t your thing, try hiking the Chase Point Trail. This 1.8 mile out-and-back trail follows the ridgeline of a peninsula that stretches in between Sandwick and Coon Lakes. At the very end you’ll find steps down to the water where you can swim and relax. 

Paddleboarding is also a great way to explore the park, particularly at sunrise and sunset. To cool off on hot days, stop by the swimming beach at the Lodge Campground.

Looking for some peace and solitude? Take a short hike on the boardwalk along the water starting at the Chase Point boat access ramp. Dip your toes in the water at one of the piers along the boardwalk, enjoy the view or read a book.

Pro Tip: The Tell Lake Trail can be full of mosquitoes if it has rained recently. Check conditions at the Park Office and be sure to bring mosquito repellant !  

This tiny park is a hidden gem that’s worth a stop to explore its two miles of hiking trails. When I say hidden, I mean it! It’s literally hidden down a narrow dirt road!

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, the trail has views of the wild rice growing in the river, endless virgin pine trees and waterfowl. If you close your eyes you can almost picture the Native Americans traversing the river in their canoes as they harvested the wild rice.

If you’re into history, explore the southern end of the park with the remains of what’s believed to be the first homestead in the region, dating back to 1898. 

Pro Tip: The pit toilet at the day use parking and picnic area is brand new and was very clean.

North Star Lake Campground is located within Chippewa National Forest , in Marcell Minnesota. This land has been occupied by the Dakota and Ojibwe for thousands of years. Today, the reservation for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe makes up almost half of Chippewa National Forest.

Suomi Hills , near Marcell, offers 19 miles for hiking, mountain biking and cross-country skiing with rolling hills.

Trout Lake Estate , also near Marcell, has an 11 mile mountain biking trail with rolling hills through the woods. The trail takes you to an early 1900’s lumber baron estate, which is an ideal spot for a picnic!

This part of Minnesota is absolutely stunning, with endless trails and lakes to explore. It’s the perfect alternative to a road trip to Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior !

Related content to read next:

Daytrip to Minnesota’s North Shore

10 Outdoor Adventures for Your Minnesota Bucket List

Beginner’s Guide to Renting a Campervan

Check out my Minnesota travel page for even more inspiration and tips!

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This Big Wild World

Hi! Welcome to This Big Wild World travel blog! I believe that there’s a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to be discovered. From epic hikes around the world to adventures closer to my home in Minnesota, I’m here to help you discover what adventure means to you!

11 thoughts on “ Perfect Minnesota Iron Range Road Trip ”

Wow, sounds so magical, Tara! It’s the perfect place to explore by canoe – but if you can’t bring your own there’s loads of outfitters that’ll rent you one. Hope you make a return visit someday soon!

Ha ha – no worries, Josy! Those glacial lakes and waterfalls are pretty mesmerizing 😉 Yep, the area earns it’s name from three different mining ranges that expand from central Minnesota up to Canada. Come on and visit anytime (once it’s safe!)

Definitely add it to your Minnesota bucket list, Kristen! A campervan rental is the perfect way to explore it – may as well do both at the same time 🙂

Right?! Scenic State Park was definitely an appropriate name 🙂 Ely is great, but the surrounding area is well worth exploring if you get a chance. And, yes, the Mesabi Trail is a great way to see the area!

Such a fun and beautiful part of Minnesota to explore! Perfect for a road trip (and some dispersed camping!)

The is the road trip I need when travel is safe again! Especially if we can bring our canoe and explore all these cool glacial lakes! We camped in the boundary waters near Ely many year ago and heard wolves from our tent. It was amazing, and I’ve been dreaming about spending more time here ever since!

I am so dappy – it must be due to the iron ore in Soudan Underground Mine State Park! Sorry! I was so busy looking at the pretty lakes, waterfalls and trails, my eyes skipped over the part about the mine.

The more you show me of Minnesota, the more I want to visit! Plus I love it whenever Hank the tank makes cameos in your posts. 🙂

I have a weird question for you – what gives it the name Iron range? Is it an area that used to be mined for iron ore?

I have not been to that part of Minnesota yet, but hopefully this coming summer. Plus you know I’ve got my eye on those vans. They seem to cool!

Gotta love a state park named Scenic. I enjoyed this little trip through the Iron Range. It’s not a place I stopped in much on my way to Ely. So much to see and do. Would love the bike rail.

Ooo, this looks like a fun road trip–yay for dispersed camping! <3 I'd love to check out all the parks and go hiking again! I haven't been in a while! :[

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Itinerary: Iron Range, Minnesota

The Iron Range is a region in northern Minnesota known for its ore-mining history and ample opportunity for outdoor recreation. Learn about Minnesota’s mining industry heyday and the people and places that sustained it through a visit to the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. This indoor and outdoor museum features numerous exhibits on the Native Americans, immigrants, and miners who call this place home, and groups can also learn about the region’s unique geology. See another side of the Iron Range with a trip to Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park. Here, groups can travel 3/4-mile underground on foot and then in an old ore cart. These guided tours of the old mine offer a fascinating look at the history of Minnesota’s last underground iron ore mine.

In Orr, the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary is home to dozens of black bears that visit the area every summer. The sanctuary is built on the former homestead of Vince Shute, who wanted to “promote a better understanding of the black bear through education, observation, and experience.” This peaceful wildlife experience gives groups an up-close look at black bears through guided observation, educational programming, and even photography classes.

Stop into Canelake’s Candies in Virginia, Minnesota, which has been this charming town’s go-to sweets shop for three generations. Both a historic site—it’s the state’s oldest candy store—and a place to indulge your sweet tooth, groups can stock up on handmade chocolates, hard candies, gels, and even attend a group-friendly candy-making demonstration. Plus, find packaged favorites, a gift store, soda fountain, and an ice cream bar.

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Main Image: Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, Minnesota; Credit: Iron Range Tourism Bureau

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Getaway on the Iron Trail

Looking for a vacation or getaway that revitalizes the spark that the rest of the world takes away?

The Iron Trail, a part of Minnesota’s famous Iron Range, is truly a GREAT WAY to GETAWAY!  Located just three hours from the Twin Cities (Mpls/St. Paul) and one hour north of Duluth, the Iron Trail is the site of countless historic attractions and a favorite destination of thousands of visitors who love the outdoors. It is also home to famous entertainment and sports figures, such as Bob Dylan and Kevin McHale.

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The Iron Trail offers family-friendly lodging at incredible family-friendly prices, so you can stay longer to enjoy the area’s scenic lakes, woods and wildlife that make the Iron Trail such an outstanding family vacation destination. The owners are happy to see kids, so their rooms are designed with their families in mind. Most of their family-friendly lodgings also include heaters and dehumidifiers to make your holiday comfortable.

Add great museums, exceptional cultural exhibits, fun educational experiences and plenty of shopping – it’s all here, making the Iron Trail a Great Getaway for the entire family.

Where else can you find just the right combination of gorgeous lakes, clear skies, millions of acres of forests, excellent recreational opportunities and friendly, first-class, helpful hosts?  And remember, whatever the season, an Iron Trail vacation is easy on your pocketbook.

Take our online tour to learn more about the region and plan your next trip!

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Go 2,341 Feet Underground On This Minnesota Mine Tour

Betsy Rathburn

Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at [email protected] or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.

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Given Minnesota’s mine history, it should come as no surprise that there are several mines that you can visit in the state. All of them are up north, on Minnesota’s Iron Range. The Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine is an interesting place to visit. Its large, open pit makes it look like a huge canyon in the middle of the woods. The mine we’d like to introduce today is equally impressive, though in a different way. To see it, you have to venture more than 2,000 feet underground! It’s part of a Minnesota state park, and you can take a tour of it. Read on below to learn more about this interesting place.

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Have you ever visited Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park? For more information about the park, including booking a tour, visit the park’s page on the Minnesota DNR website . And if you’re interested in learning about some southern Minnesota history, check out our article about Minnesota’s flour-milling history .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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IRON RANGE TOURISM BUREAU | Carnivorous & Oddball Plants

This field trip will place a special focus on the “plant weirdos” found within the Sax-Zim Bog, including pitcher plants, sundews, ghost pipe, pinesaps, coralroots, bladderworts, and more!

The Sax-Zim Bog is a network of habitats, which, in turn, allow for a large diversity of flowering plants! Some species are especially odd, especially considering the ways that they have adapt to thrive in less-than-ideal ecosystems.

Sax-Zim Bog 8793 Owl Ave Meadowlands, MN 55765

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Hill Annex Mine is one of Minnesota's least popular parks. Only 2,500 people visited in 2017, the last year the state kept records.

Rising water levels at abandoned pits have become problems for the state and nearby small towns. The Hill Annex pit is about 40 feet shy of flooding, and has been rising from 5 to 7 feet every year, said Calumet Mayor John Tuorila.

"That means we've got maybe seven or eight years left before [flooding] happens," Tuorila said.

The state once offered pontoon boat rides across the pit as it steadily filled with groundwater and rain, but the boat rides have stopped as the shoreline has eroded. Bus tours that took visitors deep down into the mine became shorter each year as water levels rose. Years ago, the bus failed an inspection and the tours stopped.

Tuorila grew up in Calumet, a town of about 300, and remembers the red dust that would blow from the mine and cover the cars, homes and clothes of everyone who lived there. He has spent much of his 17 years as mayor trying to get the state to invest in the park, to keep it open and water levels manageable.

The University of Minnesota used to host annual fossil tours, where people combed through the ore piles and upturned rock and earth that had spent millions of years underground. They would find shark teeth and other relics. Those tours, too, have stopped, Tuorila said.

The park is now open only in the summer for two days a week. Public areas now consist mainly of an overlook site and a mining museum that was created at the old Hill Annex clubhouse, where single miners would rent rooms and hold dances.

Tuorila said he will be sad to see the park close, but he knows the potential for new jobs and tax money can't be easily passed up — as well as the opportunity to find someone to start pumping water from the pit. He said the museum at the old clubhouse probably can't be saved, but he hopes that artifacts from the town and the mine can be salvaged and put on display.

Greg Stanley is an environmental reporter for the Star Tribune. He has previously covered water issues, development and politics in Florida’s Everglades and in northern Illinois.

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Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 Iron Review

I had never struck a Tour Edge golf club before the Hot Launch C524 Irons arrived on my doorstep, so I was keen to see if they could perform as well as some of the best irons on the market for a fraction of the price.

Retailing for just $79.99/£65.00 per iron, the price tag certainly caught my eye as many irons in this category sell for far more than double that price. On first inspection out of the box, there were no signs of why that may be from an aesthetic point of view. Each iron was beautifully finished and looked great when I put them down in the playing position. A generous blade length and ample offset let me know that these were irons designed with playability in mind, but overall the dimensions and proportions were excellent and framed the ball nicely.

From a shelf appeal point of view, it is a case of nearly but not quite for me. I am generally someone who appreciates a minimalist approach to looks when it comes to golf equipment and the C524 irons are just a touch fussy for my tastes from the back. I don’t mind a subtle accent color but the bright blue badge just wasn’t for me, although that is just personal preference and some players may love it. I just feel that leaving that black or grey would have given the iron a slightly more premium look and feel.

In terms of the tech, there is quite a lot going on. At first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that these were a hollow-body construction iron as there is no visual cavity, however, this is somewhat of an optical illusion. The cavity has simply been filled with Tour Edge’s VIBRCOR, which is a high-grade TPU designed to improve sound and feel. 

Additional toe weighting has been added to the set with the intention of stabilizing impact and providing additional ball speed on off-center strikes.

I tested the Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 irons at Saunton Golf Club , using my FullSwing KIT launch monitor and TaylorMade TP5 golf balls, both on the practice ground and out on the course.

Before I get into the launch monitor data, I wanted to give a special mention to the feel attributes of these irons. Impact provided a pleasant lively sensation but there was also a real depth to the strike that isn’t always present in the game-improvement iron category. For me, the Mizuno JPX 923 Hot Metal is still the gold standard in terms of feel in this genre, but quite honestly, when coupled with some excellent turf interaction, the C524 iron is not a million miles behind.

Launch monitor data was pretty strong across the board, with ball speed and distance competitive with just about anything else. With the 7-iron coming in at 29˚ it sits within the higher end of its peers loft-wise but still managed to produce a ball speed of 129.3mph for me with a mid-low launch and spin of 15.5˚ and 5412rpm respectively, which culminated in a healthy carry number of 188 yards. 

I did notice a slight right tendency in flight compared to some other game improvement irons which tend to feature more of a draw bias if anything, and I wonder whether that has anything to do with the additional toe weighting. It wasn't too severe, however, just something to note.

The Hot Launch C524 irons come with a stock steel option of the True Temper Elevate MPH95 shaft in R or S flex, and there are more weight and flex options with the Aldila Ascent PL stock graphite option. There are also three sizes of Lamkin grips to choose from.

Overall, I was very pleased with the performance and feel of the Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 irons, and when you factor in the price tag, I think there is some exceptional value for money to be had. In terms of raw performance data, I would feel comfortable putting them up against anything else in the game improvement category and be very confident they would hold their own.

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Adventure Awaits on the Range Things to Do and Places to Play

We’re known for world-class trails of any kind: mountain biking , hiking , paved cycling , snowmobiling , ATV riding…it’s all right here on the Range.

To Know Us Is To Love Us

Our friendly, down-to-earth nature is seen and felt across the region and we’re always up for adventure on Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range. The Range is truly Minnesota’s four-season vacation destination. Winter, spring summer and fall — we’ve got it all! To know us is to love us, and to ride, hike or ski our trails is to love them, too!

Trail Capital of the Country

We have thousands of miles of groomed snowmobile trails, Minnesota’s best ski resort ( Giants Ridge ) and some of the best ATV trails in the state, including a vast OHV park that welcomes all wheels. The mighty Mesabi Trail – one of the longest and curviest paved cycling trails in the United States travels through nearly all our Iron Range towns. We’re also home to outstanding golf and world-class mountain biking.

Find itineraries for your trip to the Range right here on our website. In short, there’s a lot to see and do on the Range.

Discover the Range for yourself. We promise, you’re gonna love it.

Featured Activities

All Iron Range Activities

From the Mississippi River in the west to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the east, the paved Mesabi Trail runs like a ribbon across the Iron Range, passing…

Giants Ridge resort is a great place to stay if you love hiking, mountain biking, paved trail cycling, golf or disc golf. Learn more about this hidden gem of a destination.

Discover the biodiversity of the Sax-Zim Bog, a renown birding and wildlife area offering adventures in any season

Fall is a great time to see the spectacular Iron Range foliage. The best time to enjoy fall is mid-September to early October, but check with Minnesota’s Fall Color Finder. Here are some of our favorite autumn activities to add to your tour.

Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range is finding its groove with mountain biking. A world-class system of nearly 25 miles at Redhead Mountain Bike Park in Chisholm and an ever-growing resort trail system that includes lift-served gravity trails...

Giant Fun, not Far Away! Once again, Giants Ridge Resort  in Biwabik is the place to be for winter fun. Find more than 60k of cross country trails, and use…

Nearly half of the land that stretches across the Iron Range is designated Public Land. The arrowhead region of Northern Minnesota is home to the Superior National Forest’s 3 million…

The Midwest’s best golf awaits  Here, great golf is combined with great value, making Minnesota’s Iron Range one of the best places to hit the links, experience the rugged north,…

Serenity in the Superior National Forest  You’ll find serenity on our trails and we promise to keep them well-groomed and ready for you! Our winters can be long and snowy,…

Explore the serenity of this little-known route The Superior National Forest Scenic Byway is a 78-mile route that winds through the Superior National Forest, a 3 million acre rugged landscape…

Horseback riding on the Iron Range is arguably the best way to experience the natural scenic beauty that can be found along our many miles of horse trails. What could be better than breathing in the crisp fall air while riding a leafy path...

For some, curling is as much a part of winter as the cold temps. Fortunately, on the Mesabi Iron Range, there are plenty of places for long time enthusiasts to…

The Range is blessed with 320,000 acres of the Superior National Forest, three state forests, and 500 lakes, rivers and streams that provide hunters and sportsmen with a perfect habitat…

Canoeing and kayaking on the Range usually means exploring small lakes with very little boat traffic and enjoying sun, birds, trees and fresh air. If you want real adventure, paddle across a mine lake and imagine the bottom of the pit, hundreds of feet below. These waters are clear and cool. You'll be able to see down a good distance. In fact, scuba divers love mine lakes !

Where can you hit eight disc golf courses in a matter of days, all within 5-10 miles of each other? On the Range! Let’s start our disc golf tour, and…

There’s no reason not to love the Mesabi snowmobile trails. Northern Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range makes a great hub to explore points east, west and north from sun-up to sundown. Well-groomed and signed, our trails get you away from traffic...

The Iron Range is a great snowshoeing getaway! If you love winter (or even just tolerate it) you need to bring your ‘shoes to northern Minnesota’s Iron Range. This region…

Hundreds of miles of ATV and OHV off-roading trails network throughout the Iron Range and you’ll find secluded spots, great overlooks, or mudding trails around every turn. And don’t forget…

There’s a lot to see when you hike the Range You don’t have to look far to find unique hiking trails that include stunning natural and manmade landscapes. Don’t forget,…

Sax-Zim Bog

8793 Owl Avenue Meadowlands, MN 55765

Superior National Forest

Virginia, MN 55792

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