Taconite State Trail
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Iron Range Epic — 165-mile snowmobile/OHV trail across the Mesabi Iron Range — one of the longest in Minnesota
Taconite State Trail is an epic 165-mile multi-use trail stretching across the entire Mesabi Iron Range from Ely to Grand Rapids. The trail passes through the heart of Minnesota’s iron mining country — massive open-pit mines, taconite processing plants, mining towns, and boreal forests that stretch to the horizon. The Iron Range produced the steel that built America’s skyscrapers, won World War II, and shaped the nation’s industrial might. The trail is primarily used for snowmobiling in winter and ATV riding in summer.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Ely to Grand Rapids, MN |
| Length | 165 miles |
| Primary Use | Snowmobiling (winter), ATV (summer) |
| Fee | MN Snowmobile/OHV registration |
| Near | Boundary Waters, Iron Range mines |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see the open-pit mines from the trail?
Yes — the trail passes near several massive open-pit mines on the Mesabi Range. The Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine in Hibbing is the world’s largest open-pit iron mine — 3 miles long, 2 miles wide, and 535 feet deep.
About Taconite Trail
Taconite State Trail runs 165 miles across northern Minnesota’s Iron Range — from Ely (gateway to the Boundary Waters) to Grand Rapids (birthplace of Judy Garland). Named for taconite — the iron-bearing rock that sustains Minnesota’s mining industry — the trail crosses the boreal forest, passes active and abandoned mines, and connects Iron Range communities. It’s primarily a snowmobile trail in winter.
Things to Do
Snowmobiling the 165-mile corridor (winter), mountain biking and ATV riding (summer sections), birdwatching for boreal species, and exploring the Iron Range mining heritage.
Insider Tips
Iron Range crossing: Taconite Trail runs 165 miles across the Iron Range — one of the longest state trails in Minnesota. Pro tip: “Taconite” refers to the lower-grade iron ore that replaced direct-shipping ore in the 1950s — a processing innovation that saved the Iron Range economy. Mining landscape: The trail passes former mines, tailings basins, and mining towns — a journey through industrial history.
Best Time to Visit
Winter: Premier snowmobiling — 165 miles of groomed trail. Fall: Iron Range foliage. Summer: ATV riding and mining heritage tourism. Spring: Migrating warblers in the boreal forest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is taconite?
Taconite is low-grade iron ore containing 25-30% iron (vs. 60%+ for direct-shipping ore). When high-grade ore ran out in the 1950s, Edward Davis developed the process to crush taconite and form it into marble-sized pellets. This innovation saved the Iron Range — taconite pellets are still processed today, feeding the American steel industry.
⛏️ Visit Taconite State Trail
165 miles across the Iron Range — where America’s steel was born.
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