Minnesota’s Longest Paved Bike Path is Finally Complete at 165 Miles Long

What's the longest bike ride you've ever done? Was it 165 miles? No? Yeah, 165 miles is a long way! But if you're an avid biker, that might sound like a dream.

Whether you want to bike the whole 165 miles or only a piece of it, Minnesota's longest paved bike trail is finally complete and open.

I say finally because it took 30 YEARS to complete. That's insane!

ALSO READ: Signs from Mother Nature that Minnesota Might be in for a Bad Winter

The Mesabi Trail is Finally Open

It's called the Mesabi Trail, and that 30 years is everything from the fundraising to the construction of the trail itself. The trail goes between Grand Rapids and Ely, so an absolutely stunning area of Minnesota to spend some time outside.

MPR writes that the trail "passes abandoned mine pits and operating iron ore mines, through forests, wetlands and 28 towns." How fun would it be to make a pit stop in a few of those towns? Maybe grab a bite to eat, or, if you're going the full 165 miles, stopping there for the night. Just imagine all of the things you'd see along the way.

Get our free mobile app

You Need to Buy a Pass to Use the Mesabi Trail

Something I didn't know until hopping on the Mesabi Trail website is that you need to buy a Wheel Pass to use the trail. It's kind of like a State Park pass.

If you're going to be using anything with wheels, (bike, e-bike, rollerblades, skateboards, etc.) you need a Wheel Pass. It's only $10 for a limited time use or $20 for the year, so not a big deal, but something to remember if you plan to hit the trail.