Minnesota completes 165-mile Mesabi Trail after 30 years
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After thirty years of work, people in Minnesota opened the final section of the 165-mile Mesabi Trail, creating a paved path for cyclists, walkers, and skaters.
The trail runs between Grand Rapids and Ely, connecting twenty-eight communities in northeastern Minnesota. Its route takes travelers from the Mississippi River toward the Boundary Waters, passing through forests and areas shaped by iron mining.
The Mesabi Trail includes varied terrain, with some hills formed by old mining piles that have since been reclaimed by forests. Along the way, people can visit historic buildings and sites that show the Iron Range’s mining and ethnic heritage, including its contribution to the U.S. steel industry and World War II efforts. The Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation, a state agency, played a key role by reinvesting profits from mining into local projects.
However, completing the trail depended on collaboration between many groups and individuals over three decades. Ida Rukavina, commissioner of the agency, stated that the project wouldn’t have been possible without widespread support. People can now access the trail for biking, hiking, and winter sports, with tens of thousands already using it each year.
