Here is our expected host cities, tentative route, and estimated mileage for 2025 (subject to change.) The route will make use of the Mesabi Trail for 4 out of the 6 days, plus some county roads/highways. We realize that some people prefer one versus the other, but the reality is that there are sometimes limited options when designing a route. Note: Each host city does have mountain biking trails, if you want to consider bringing a second bike to mix it up a little.
Saturday, June 14 (Day 0) Meet up in Grand Rapids that evening for check in/packet pickup/welcome meeting
Sunday, June 15 (Day 1) Bike in and around Grand Rapids; Sleep in Grand Rapids
Monday, June 16 (Day 2) Bike in and around Grand Rapids; Drive to Ely and sleep in Ely
Tuesday, June 17 (Day 3) Bike in and around Ely; Sleep in Ely
Wednesday, June 18 (Day 4) Bike in and around Ely; Drive to Chisholm and sleep in Chisholm
Thursday, June 19 (Day 5) Bike in and around Chisholm; Sleep in Chisholm
Friday, June 20 (Day 6) Bike in and around Chisholm; Get in your vehicles and head home!
Here is a more detailed description of what to expect for the full 6-day tour. The 2-day sampler options are for sleeping and biking in the same host city for two nights/days (Grand Rapids June 14-16, Ely June 16-18, or Chisholm June 18-20), NOT 1 night in one city and one night in another. Sorry! We are also working on opportunities for live entertainment, tours, demonstrations, local history presentations, and more.
Saturday, June 14 (Day 0) Meet up in Grand Rapids that evening for check in/packet pickup/welcome meeting
Sunday, June 15 (Day 1) Bike in and around Grand Rapids; Sleep in Grand Rapids
Monday, June 16 (Day 2) Bike in and around Grand Rapids; Drive to Ely and sleep in Ely
Tuesday, June 17 (Day 3) Bike in and around Ely; Sleep in Ely
Wednesday, June 18 (Day 4) Bike in and around Ely; Drive to Chisholm and sleep in Chisholm
Thursday, June 19 (Day 5) Bike in and around Chisholm; Sleep in Chisholm
Friday, June 20 (Day 6) Bike in and around Chisholm; Get in your vehicles and head home!
Here is a more detailed description of what to expect for the full 6-day tour. The 2-day sampler options are for sleeping and biking in the same host city for two nights/days (Grand Rapids June 14-16, Ely June 16-18, or Chisholm June 18-20), NOT 1 night in one city and one night in another. Sorry! We are also working on opportunities for live entertainment, tours, demonstrations, local history presentations, and more.
Day 0 (Saturday, June 14)
We will gather this afternoon/evening in Grand Rapids, MN ("the portal to the Northwoods of MN") for check in (starting at 3:30 p.m.) and our welcome meeting (from 7:15-7:45 p.m.) Enjoy some blue grass music at the fairgrounds, take a trip into town for dinner and drinks, or finish making plans on how you want to enjoy your week with us.
We will gather this afternoon/evening in Grand Rapids, MN ("the portal to the Northwoods of MN") for check in (starting at 3:30 p.m.) and our welcome meeting (from 7:15-7:45 p.m.) Enjoy some blue grass music at the fairgrounds, take a trip into town for dinner and drinks, or finish making plans on how you want to enjoy your week with us.
Day 1 (Sunday, June 15) Mileage options (14, 23, 32, 43, 51, or 56 miles); Elevation gain (2208 ft.)
On the first day of riding, the route will take us north on the Mesabi Trail through the small towns of Coleraine, Bovey, Taconite, Marble, Calumet, and Pengilly, before turning back on the trail towards Grand Rapids. Riders looking for additional miles can continue on to Nashwauk and/or take a ride around Swan Lake first, Upon returning to camp/hotels, you can shower and change; lunch is on your own, but dinner this evening will be provided by the bike tour. In between, check out some things Grand Rapids is known for, like the Judy Garland Museum. If you bring a mountain bike, feel free to try a loop on the nearby Tioga trails south of town.
On the first day of riding, the route will take us north on the Mesabi Trail through the small towns of Coleraine, Bovey, Taconite, Marble, Calumet, and Pengilly, before turning back on the trail towards Grand Rapids. Riders looking for additional miles can continue on to Nashwauk and/or take a ride around Swan Lake first, Upon returning to camp/hotels, you can shower and change; lunch is on your own, but dinner this evening will be provided by the bike tour. In between, check out some things Grand Rapids is known for, like the Judy Garland Museum. If you bring a mountain bike, feel free to try a loop on the nearby Tioga trails south of town.
Day 2 (Monday, June 16) Mileage options (27 & 38 miles); Elevation gain (1372 ft.)
Day 2's route will take us in a different direction out of Grand Rapids. We will head south to take a scenic ride around beautiful Lake Pokegama, which in Ojibwe, means "the water which juts off from another water" (i.e. the Mississippi and Snake Rivers.) We will pass by the Sugar Lake Lodge and the city of Cohasset. When you return to camp, you can shower, change, and pack up your gear, before driving about 100 miles north to Ely. Welcome to the "Doorstep of the Boundary Waters!" Lunch and dinner are on your own this day.
Day 2's route will take us in a different direction out of Grand Rapids. We will head south to take a scenic ride around beautiful Lake Pokegama, which in Ojibwe, means "the water which juts off from another water" (i.e. the Mississippi and Snake Rivers.) We will pass by the Sugar Lake Lodge and the city of Cohasset. When you return to camp, you can shower, change, and pack up your gear, before driving about 100 miles north to Ely. Welcome to the "Doorstep of the Boundary Waters!" Lunch and dinner are on your own this day.
Day 3 (Tuesday, June 17) Mileage options (30, 54, or 66 miles); Elevation gain (2637 ft.)
Today we will go west on the Mesabi Trail out to the towns of Tower and Soudan, home of the famous mine rides. Similar to Monday (Day #1), upon returning to camp/hotels, you can shower and change; lunch is on your own, but dinner this evening will be provided by the bike tour. Be sure to check out some of the things Ely is known for, like the Dorothy "the Root Beer Lady" Molter Museum, the International Wolf Center, canoeing, fishing, and the Crapola World Headquarters! Ely also has mountain biking trails nearby.
Today we will go west on the Mesabi Trail out to the towns of Tower and Soudan, home of the famous mine rides. Similar to Monday (Day #1), upon returning to camp/hotels, you can shower and change; lunch is on your own, but dinner this evening will be provided by the bike tour. Be sure to check out some of the things Ely is known for, like the Dorothy "the Root Beer Lady" Molter Museum, the International Wolf Center, canoeing, fishing, and the Crapola World Headquarters! Ely also has mountain biking trails nearby.
Day 4 (Wednesday, June 18) Mileage options (18 & 42 miles); Elevation gain (1294 ft.)
Hope you had fun in Ely! Did you know that the creator of this bike tour, Jim Klobuchar, was born in Ely, just a couple of blocks away from our campsite. Before we leave Ely, we've got one more ride through Bear Island State Forest down to Babbitt, before returning to camp to shower, change, and pack up. Once you're ready, everyone will drive about 65 miles southwest to the old mining town of Chisholm. Welcome to the heart of the Iron Range! Set up camp or check into your hotel. Lunch and dinner are on your own this day, so head into town for some food, visit the Discovery Museum, or even watch a curling demonstration.
Hope you had fun in Ely! Did you know that the creator of this bike tour, Jim Klobuchar, was born in Ely, just a couple of blocks away from our campsite. Before we leave Ely, we've got one more ride through Bear Island State Forest down to Babbitt, before returning to camp to shower, change, and pack up. Once you're ready, everyone will drive about 65 miles southwest to the old mining town of Chisholm. Welcome to the heart of the Iron Range! Set up camp or check into your hotel. Lunch and dinner are on your own this day, so head into town for some food, visit the Discovery Museum, or even watch a curling demonstration.
Day 5 (Thursday, June 19) Mileage options (14, 32, 42, or 56 miles); Elevation gain (2084 ft.)
For our first day in Chisholm, we will take the Mesabi Trail east through Buhl (home of Buhl Water-"the finest water in America"), Mountain Iron, Virginia (home of Canelake's Candies-the oldest candy store in MN), Gilbert, and Evelyth (home of the US Hockey Hall of Fame.) Shower, change, and get back into town. Lunch is on your own, but dinner is provided by the bike tour on our final night. Chisholm is also home to the Redhead mountain bike trails, the same ones used for the MN State HS Mountain Biking championships.
For our first day in Chisholm, we will take the Mesabi Trail east through Buhl (home of Buhl Water-"the finest water in America"), Mountain Iron, Virginia (home of Canelake's Candies-the oldest candy store in MN), Gilbert, and Evelyth (home of the US Hockey Hall of Fame.) Shower, change, and get back into town. Lunch is on your own, but dinner is provided by the bike tour on our final night. Chisholm is also home to the Redhead mountain bike trails, the same ones used for the MN State HS Mountain Biking championships.
Day 6 (Friday, June 20) Mileage options (20 or 30 miles); Elevation gain (775 ft.)
Although today is the last day of the tour, don't fret! We have a nice easy ride planned for you including one last trip on the Mesabi Trail as we head south to Hibbing, the home of singer Bob Dylan, the Greyhound Museum, AND the Hull-Rust Mine View (aka: "the Grand Canyon of the North!") When you get back to camp, shower, change, and pack up. Safe travels!
Although today is the last day of the tour, don't fret! We have a nice easy ride planned for you including one last trip on the Mesabi Trail as we head south to Hibbing, the home of singer Bob Dylan, the Greyhound Museum, AND the Hull-Rust Mine View (aka: "the Grand Canyon of the North!") When you get back to camp, shower, change, and pack up. Safe travels!
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address4120 St. Marks Dr, Minnetonka, MN 55305
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