Minnesota Iron Range ATV Trail

The Minnesota Iron Range ATV Trail winds through 3,000 acres of reclaimed mining land where Mesabi Range iron ore once fed America’s steel mills. You’ll navigate around flooded open pits turned into crystal-clear lakes, past abandoned mining equipment rusting in the forest, and through ghost towns like Carson Lake where only concrete foundations remain. The trail connects Virginia, Eveleth, and Gilbert through a maze of old haul roads and single track that showcase both the industrial scars and nature’s remarkable recovery.

This is moderate terrain requiring high-clearance 4WD for the rougher mining road sections, though most of the 88-mile trail system runs on well-maintained dirt and gravel. Summer through fall offers the best conditions when the numerous water crossings are manageable. No permits required, but respect the active mining operations you’ll encounter. The payoff is unique industrial archaeology mixed with pristine northern Minnesota wilderness, plus dispersed camping opportunities around the old mining sites.