Let’s talk about Minnesota’s Iron Range, because this trip has it all. We’re talking Grand Canyon-sized mine pits, a flower farm you can wander through with scissors in hand, a lake so clear it looks tropical.
The towns of Hibbing, Chisholm, Virginia, and more are so close together (most are 15-30 minutes apart) that you can easily mix and match based on how much time you have. Do it all in a weekend like we did, or just pick two or three towns for a day trip.
Click here for a link to my Iron Range list on Google Maps – everything here plus more all saved on a map!
Quick Overview by Town
- Hibbing: Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine View, biking the Mesabi Trail (rented from Bikes on Howard), BoomTown Brewery & Woodfire Grill
- Chisholm: Minnesota Discovery Center
- Iron: Owl Forest Farm
- Gilbert: Lake Ore-Be-Gone (beach, Splashtown & kayaking)
- Aurora: Aurora Splash Pad, Wacootah Grille
- Virginia: Canelake’s Candies, coffee shops
- Biwabik: The Lodge at Giants Ridge, restaurants
Hibbing
Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine View
We started at the “Grand Canyon of the North,” the Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine View in Hibbing. This overlook sits above one of the largest open-pit iron mines in the world, and no photo (including mine) really captures how massive it is in person. There’s viewing platforms, a gift shop, and enough space for kids to run around and explore gigantic REAL mining equipment. It’s free and it’s the best possible way to kick off your trip to Minnesota’s Iron Range because it explains why every town here exists.
Rent Bikes at Bikes on Howard
Swing by Bikes on Howard in downtown Hibbing to get outfitted for a day biking the Mesabi Trail. It’s family owned and operated and they have everything you’ll need: bike rentals, helmets, bike trailers, and Mesabi Trail passes all in one stop. The owners were SO KIND and it’s located just a few blocks off the trail itself. They will even shuttle you and deliver your luggage if you’re biking and staying from town to town!
Ride the Mesabi Trail
The Mesabi Trail is a 132-mile paved bike path that runs the whole length of Minnesota’s Iron Range. We chose to get on the trail right in Hibbing and ride it into Chisholm, ending up at the Minnesota Discovery Center (more on this stop below!). This route was 14 miles round trip and took us about an hour each way. It’s an easy ride, and a really fun way to travel between towns instead of just driving.
Grab a brew at BoomTown Brewery
Stop in at BoomTown Brewery & Woodfire Grill for an in-house brewery with a wood-fired menu (steaks, flatbreads, burgers) and a name that’s a nod to the mining boomtowns that built this whole region. They had signs up for live music and local events they were hosting throughout the summer – check their website in advance to see what’s on their calendar!
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Chisholm
Minnesota Discovery Center
After biking in from Hibbing on the Mesabi Trail, we explored the Minnesota Discovery Center. Learn all about the region’s mining history along with the history of Minnesota. There’s a lot of walking here both outdoors and indoors, so make sure to grab the little push carts if you have kids – they were a hit with ours! You can also rent bikes, kayaks, and paddle boards here, including shuttle service to Glen Mine Pit Lake. Last but not least you can take a trolley tour and try mini golf – this place has it all!
Iron
Pick your own flower bouquet at Owl Forest Farm
Just outside the little town of Iron, MN, Owl Forest Farm is a u-pick flower farm where you grab a mason jar and shears and wander the farm while you cut your own bouquet. It’s picture perfect here and their bloom selection rotates all season (May through September), so it’s a must to check their hours before you go since they’re only open specific days each week. We loved chatting with the owners and also checking out the fun gift shop!
Gilbert
Relax at Lake Ore-Be-Gone
Like many lakes in Minnesota’s Iron Range, Lake Ore-Be-Gone is a stunning lake that was formed from three old flooded mine pits. The water is so clear and blue! There’s a huge sandy beach for hanging out, and right on the water is Splashtown, a giant inflatable water playground with an iceberg, obstacle course, monkey bars, and more, perfect for older kids. We brought our own kayaks and spent a good chunk of the afternoon paddling and floating around while taking in the beautiful cliff views.
Aurora
Cool off at Aurora Splash Pad
Aurora’s splash pad, in Pine Grove Park, ended up being one of the kids’ favorite stops of the entire weekend. It’s free, about 3,000 square feet, and split into zones by age: a gentle toddler bay, a higher-pressure section for the bigger kids, and a family bay in between. There’s a playground and picnic pavilion right next to it too, so it’s an easy, no-planning-required way to burn an hour (or two) on a hot afternoon.
Dinner with a view at Wacootah Grille
For a meal with a view, Wacootah Grille sits right at The Quarry golf course clubhouse at Giants Ridge, overlooking Lake Mine and the 18th green. It might be one of my favorite restaurant views in all of Minnesota! It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so it works whenever you swing by, and there’s both indoor and outdoor seating if you want to eat out on the patio while the kids wind down from the splash pad like we did 🙂
Virginia
Try hot air candy at Canelake’s Candies
Canelake’s Candies is Minnesota’s oldest candy store, running since 1905 out of the same copper kettles they’ve always used. We grabbed their famous “Hot Air” candy (a light, crunchy sponge candy dipped in chocolate) and it did not disappoint. They even have an old fashioned soda fountain where you can get soda and ice cream treats. We tried the hot air ice cream bar too and it was great!
Coffee at The Sugar Shack Co.
Our go-to coffee stop was The Sugar Shack Co. in downtown Virginia, partly because it’s one of the only coffee shops open on Sundays but also because of its baked goods. Get a sweet treat for the morning or an afternoon pick me up!
Breakfast at Kunnari’s Farm & Market
Also in Virginia, Kunnari’s Farm & Market has been a family farm operation since 1989, and it shows: fresh produce (a lot of it grown on their own farm in Gilbert), baked goods, pies, jams, and a little coffee house attached. Great spot to grab a sit down breakfast too!
Biwabik
Lunch at Biwabik Pizza Co.
Do not skip this one. Biwabik Pizza Co. is a no-frills bar in downtown Biwabik and makes a baked potato pizza that is exactly what it sounds like and exactly what your soul needs: bacon, cheese, tater tots, and Top the Tater layered right on top.
Dinner at Burnt Onion Kitchen & Brews
For a sit-down dinner, we headed to Burnt Onion Kitchen & Brews at Giants Ridge. You’ll find elevated American food here, a solid beer and cocktail list, and a dining room that looks out over the resort. The walleye was great! And the kids loved the playground right outside while we waited for food.
Where We Stayed
The Lodge at Giants Ridge
We based ourselves at The Lodge at Giants Ridge in Biwabik, and it was such an easy home base for this whole trip. We loved the indoor pool and hot tub for winding down after a long day of exploring. There are multiple restaurants right on-site and the location is right on the golf course too!
A Few Practical Notes
- Bring: Your own kayaks if you have them, bike helmets for kids, swimsuits for the lake and splash pad, and cash for the smaller businesses. Bikes on Howard has you covered if you don’t want to bring your own bikes. Kayaks and paddle boards can be rented at Minnesota Discovery Center.
Minnesota’s Iron Range is such an underrated weekend trip. Enjoy your visit!
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