Snowmobiling
It doesn’t get any better than sledding on pristine, groomed northern Minnesota snowmobile trails! The cities of the Mesabi Iron Range are connected by local trails, and they’re also linked to regional state trails: the mighty Taconite and Arrowhead. Access 2,000 miles of trail: ride all day and get back into town for a hot meal and a warm bed at night! Check trail conditions here.
Alpine Skiing
This is one of the best places to learn to ski in the Midwest. An outstanding ski school is great for kids, adults or even families. Get group or individual lessons here and hit the slopes!
With 34 alpine runs, Giants Ridge is big enough for avid skiers, but small enough for families to feel safe, even if they are spread out!
Two terrain parks, a tubing hill, a new high speed lift, and unbeatable customer service make Giants Ridge the perfect place to play this – and every – winter.
Snowshoers, This Is Your Place
The Iron Range is a great snowshoeing getaway! Giants Ridge® Golf & Ski Resort offers five different beautiful trails, some even wrap around the lake. There are approximately 4.8 kilometers of snowshoe trails and much more throughout the Superior National Forest. Snowshoe rental is available on site.
A dozen cross country ski trail systems in the area are open to snowshoers. Get a map! The Superior National Forest Scenic Byway which connects Silver Bay (on Lake Superior’s North Shore) to Aurora (on the Iron Range) offers endless opportunities of wilderness snowshoeing through the Superior National Forest along rivers, lakes, and streams.
Call 218-749-8161 for information about guided or on-your-own snowshoe tours and rentals at Minnesota Discovery Center, Minnesota’s Museum of the Iron Range, and snowshoe events at Giants Ridge!
Cross Country Skiing
Mother Nature’s backyard, complete with the Superior National Forest, hills of the Laurentian Divide, and all Giants Ridge has to offer. All these locations provide a great backdrop for Minnesota cross country skiing.
Over 275 kilometers of Minnesota ski trails are found here and present a variety of challenges for skiers of all abilities. Get our map with 13 area trail systems included, and get out there!
Rent skis at Giants Ridge. Check state trail conditions here.
Fat Biking
Once again, Giants Ridge is the place to be for winter fun. Find more than 60k of cross country trails, and use their high speed lift for downhill fat biking! Explore parts of the Mesabi Trail by fat bike, and use select trails at RedHead Mountain Bike Park for fat biking, too! With lots of options, we’ll keep you pedaling all winter long!
Curling Mesabi Style
For some, curling is as much a part of winter as the cold temps. Fortunately, on the Mesabi Iron Range, there are plenty of places for long time enthusiasts to play, and newcomers to learn. Curlers come in all ages, and many leagues abound across the region, offering practice nights, “learn to curl” events, bonspiels (team competitions) and more. Spectators are always welcome, too. It is easy to Get started curling today!
Birding
The Sax-Zim Bog, south of Hibbing, is birder’s winter paradise, with many varieties of owls and winter birds like the boreal chickadee at left. A Welcome Center greets guests – follow the short trails nearby for sightings, and find their map for driving routes online. Plan to visit this rare ecosystem soon!
Winter Riding
Locally, the Genoa, Ranger and Chisholm (Northern TRAXX) trails are open all winter for snowmobiles and ATVs. The Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Area in Gilbert is also open weekends throughout the year (closed during deer season). Please respect the snowmobile trails and do not ride unless it is open to other motorized. Find a list of trail closings here.
