| Cross-Country Skiing and Snowmobile Trails |
Hiking Trails in the Lake Vermilion Area
Bear Head Lake State ParkFrom Virginia take Highway 53 north approximately four miles. Exit right on U.S. Highway 169 east toward Tower. Continue east on Hwy 169 to St. Louis County (State Aid) Road 128. Take a right on 128 and travel south six miles to the park. (Located 16 miles east of Soudan).Bear Head Lake State Park 9301 Bear Head State Park Rd. Ely, MN 55731 218-365-7229 |
Big Aspen Recreation AreaTake US Highway 53 north of Virginia for eight miles to County (State Aid) Road 131. Turn right on 131, go north for one mile, and then turn left on County (State Aid) Road 68. Go west for .3 mile. Turn right on County Road 405 and go north for two miles. A parking area is located on the left side of the road. A second parking area is 1.3 miles north on Forest Road 257. Forest Road 257 is not maintained in the winter.Big Aspen Recreation Area Hwy 169 North Virginia, MN 55792 Laurentian Ranger District 318 Forestry Road Aurora, MN 55705 218-229-8800 |
Bird Lake Recreation AreaTake Country Road 110 from Hoyt Lakes (Superior National Forest Scenic Byway) to the Bird Lake parking lot. Located on the left-north side.For more information, contact the Laurentian Ranger District at 318 Forestry Road, Aurora, MN 55705 or call 218-229-8800. |
Black Bay Peninsula TrailMinnesota's sole water-access only hiking trail system. Includes an easy 2 mile interpretative trail, and 3 mile+ intermediate / advanced trail. Access to both trails are from Black Bay. The trails include beaver ponds, undisturbed forest, re-growth forest and hilly terrain that provide beautiful views.Home to scores of bird and wildlife species. This trail offers a look at Minnesota's wilderness and is a great workout for visitors of all abilities and interests. The 2 mile trail currently has an active osprey high in a pine tree. |
Boundary Waters Foot TrailsSelf-issuing day use permits for hiking in the BWCAW are required. These are available by mail or at any Superior National Forest office (located in Cook and in Ely). Carry one copy with you during your trip and drop the other copy in the permit box at the entry point, or a US Postal Service mail box."This is the most beautiful lake country on the continent. We can afford to cherish and protect it...In the end, we turn to nature in a frenzied chaotic world, there to find silence - oneness - wholeness - spiritual release." --Sigurd Olson |
Camp Four LakesParking for Camp Four Lake is located on Highway 25 north of Buhl.For more information on Camp Four Lake contact the Department of Natural Resources at 1-888-MINN-DNR. |
Carey LakeFrom Highway 169 in Hibbing, go east on 25th Street for 3-1/2 miles to Carey Lake Park. Park there or one mile farther at the beach parking lot.For more information call the Hibbing Parks and Recreation department at 218-263-8851. |
Deepwater LakeTake Highway 73 north of Chisholm for nine miles. Go east on Forest Road 273 for 1/4 mile. A small parking area is located on the south side of the road.For more information contact the Laurentian Ranger District at 318 Forestry Road, Aurora, MN 55705 or 218-229-8800. |
Giants Ridge Golf & Ski ResortP.O. Box 190Biwabik, MN 55708 1-800-688-7669 Web Site |
Holm Road Wilderness DriveA secluded road north from Vermilion Drive (Co Rd 24). Wildlife and bird viewing. |
Hoyt Lakes TrailFrom Country Road 110, take Birch Cove Road (east of the Hoyt Lakes Arena) 1/4 mile north. Starting point is the Birch Cove Beach parking lot.For more information on the Hoyt Lakes trail also known as Colby Lake Trail call the City Hall in Hoyt Lakes at 218-225-2344. |
Lookout MountainThe Laurentian Divide Recreation Area and Trailhead is four miles north of Virginia, MN along the northbound lane of Highway 53/169.Laurentian Divide Recreation Area Laurentian Ranger District 318 Forestry Road Aurora, MN 55705 218-229-8800 |
Mesabi Trail™The Mesabi Trail™ is a multi-use recreational trail that will, when completed, stretch 132 miles from Ely to Grand Rapids and link over twenty communities.The trail is currently accessible in the Iron Trail cities of Hibbing, Chisholm, Buhl, Gilbert, Virginia, Mountain Iron, Eveleth and Biwabik Mesabi Trail™ US Bank Place, Suite 6B 230 1st Street South Virginia, MN 55792 877-637-2241 Web Site |
North Dark RiverTake Highway 73 north of Chisholm 16 miles. Turn right on Country road 688 and travel for about .8 mile. The trailhead is on your right. Pull off the road for parking.For more information please contact the Laurentian Ranger District at 318 Forestry Road, Aurora, MN 55705 or 218-229-8800. |
Pfieffer LakeFrom Virginia go north on Highway 53/169 for four miles. Take Highway 169 north for 16 miles to the junction of 169 and Highway 1. Go west on Highway 1 for five miles and then south on Forest Road 256 for two miles.For more information contact the Laurentian Ranger District at 318 Forestry Road, Aurora, MN 55705 or 218-229-8800. |
South Dark RiverTake Highway 73 north of Chisholm for 14 miles to County Road 65. Go east for 1-1/2 miles on CR 65 to Forest Road 271. Go north on FR 271 for 1-3/4 miles. This is a low maintenance road so please be careful.For more information please contact the Laurentian Ranger District at 318 Forestry Road, Aurora, MN 55705 or 218-229-8800. |
Sturgeon RiverThe Sturgeon River Trail system is 9 miles north of Chisholm and 6 miles east of McCarthy Beach State Park. There are three parking areas north from Chisholm: on Forest Road #279, County Road #65 and Hwy. #73.Sturgeon River Laurentian Ranger District 318 Forestry Road Aurora, MN 55705 218-229-8800 |
Tower Bike TrailA paved portion of the Mesabi Trail from Tower through Soudan. Borders the Soudan Underground Mine State Park, and links to a trail leading to McKinley Park, where a public beach and picnic areas are available. |
Vermilion Falls TrailA 10 minute hike on a well-maintained trail leads a vistior to Vermilion Falls, a cascading torrent of water forced through a 10-foot wide opening in the granite. Small-mouth bass fishing below the falls can be excellent. A trail directly across the road from the parking lot leads the visitor to "The Chute". It's a pleasant 5 minute walk and worth the effort. Part of the trail also serves as the portage around the rapids. A final point of interest is a small wild rice bed. Standing on the bridge, looking upriver, the wild rice grows in the small bay to your left. It will be mid-July before the shoots begin to emerge from the water and seed heads won't begin to develop until the first part of August. |
Vermilion Gorge TrailAt a leisurely pace, this 3 mile trail can be easily hiked in 3 hours. The last portion of the trail parallels the Vermilion River Gorge, a rugged landscape of sheer granite cliffs and rock outcroppings. From Crane Lake to the Vermilion River, the trail is graveled. Boardwalks cross wet areas. Near the crest of the first hill, the Voyageur's Snowmobile Trail branches to the left. Keep right on the gravel trail. |
Wynne Lake TrailLocated north of Biwabik and south of Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort off Highway 135. Watch for sign. |
9422 Hearthside Drive · Tower, MN 55790 · 1-800-474-5322