This tour starts and ends in Duluth, MN, and runs August 8-14.
Travel 300 miles across northern Minnesota and see the routes iron miners took over 100 years ago. You'll get a layover day in Ely, and the chance to enjoy a kayak or canoe ride in the famous Boundary Waters! Our longest single ride of the year is on this tour, almost 70 miles from Ely to Beaver Bay on the shores of Lake Superior. History, mining, transportation, this tour has it all!
6 nights, Saturday-Thursday
Tour dinner Saturday, Tuesday & Thursday
Our famous sag lunch, if you like.
Rental may be available from local sources.
Let's start with your arrival in Duluth, 4 p.m. at our hotel. We'll have a guest reception at 5, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. If you want to arrive a day early to see the many sights in Duluth, please check with us!
We start by traveling up Highway 4, originally the Vermilion Trail for miners from over a century ago. This scenic highway leads through lovely forests and past reservoirs and lakes, on the way to Virginia on the Iron Range. Today you'll cross the highest highway bridge in the state, crossing over a chasm where iron was mined from.
A great day awaits, with about half our riding today on the paved Mesabi Trail! You'll have the opportunity to tour the famous and historic Soudan Mine, over 2,300 feet down into the earth! Tonight you'll love our lodging at Fortune Bay Resort.
We finish our way across the Iron Range, ending in Ely, gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Much of this day is on paved forest rail trail, away from traffic. You'll love it!
You can take a day to rest, or go shopping in Ely, or join the staff and go canoeing or kayaking at a local state park!
The longest mileage day on our tour includes about 42 miles of gradual rise in elevation, followed by a 20-mile tumble-down from Isabella to Beaver Bay, on the shores of Lake Superior. This rugged landscape has some of the oldest rock on the planet-Ely Greenstone. You can see it in outcroppings along the way.
The last day of our tour has some of the most beautiful and scenic views anywhere. Today you have the chance to visit Split Rock Lighthouse, Gooseberry Falls (pictured), Silver Cliff, Two Harbors, and Scenic Northshore Highway. The tour ends at our arrival in Duluth about 3 p.m.