A 30-Year Project Finally Crosses the Finish Line
Minnesota just reached a milestone three decades in the making. The Mesabi Trail, the longest paved trail in the state, is now complete and rideable from end to end. It stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely, cutting straight through the heart of the Iron Range.
The final piece was a new 6.5-mile section linking Tower and Embarrass. Once that stretch was paved, the entire route connected into one continuous path. After years of steady, segment-by-segment progress, riders can finally travel the whole thing without a gap.
How the Trail Came Together
This was never an overnight project. The Mesabi Trail started taking shape back in 1996, and it grew piece by piece over the years. Crews stitched it together from old railways, logging roads, and existing highway corridors, turning a patchwork of routes into a single trail.
Today that path touches 28 cities and towns, including Hibbing, Virginia, Coleraine, and Keewatin. It is managed by the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority, and it has clearly found its audience. In 2025, roughly 285,000 cyclists, walkers, and runners used the trail. [INTERNAL LINK: relevant blog post or listings page]
Ride It and Celebrate It
There are a few ways to mark the finish. A group bike ride on the new Tower to Embarrass section is planned for September 12th, with the route returning to Tower and a party following at Tower Depot Park. An official ribbon-cutting is set for September 15th. If you want to join or learn more, you can RSVP at mesabitrail.com.
Why It Matters Beyond the Iron Range
A completed long-distance trail is a big deal for the communities along it. Connected routes like this give small towns a shared draw, invite weekend visitors, and give locals an easy reason to get outside. For Minnesotans anywhere in the state, it's one more bucket-list ride now open from start to finish, and a reminder of what patient, long-term community projects can accomplish.
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