May is National Bicycle Month, this blog will highlight reasons why you should come bike this May in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Spring and Summer are perfect seasons to bike in northern Minnesota. Here are some highlights of the diverse bicycling opportunity you will find this may in Grand Rapids, Minnesota area:
In-Town Biking
Get Fit Itasca has worked with the City of Grand Rapids to create wide sidewalks that people can walk, run, skate, and bike on. There are FREE bicycles for use while in town. Bicycles can be borrowed at the City Office, Grand Rapids Library, and Itasca YMCA. Visitors just need to leave their photo ID or Drivers License, and then it will be given back once the bicycle is returned. For more information check out GET FIT ITASCA and BIKE SHARE PROGRAM.
Mesabi Trail
This 150-mile paved trail runs from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids to the Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota. On this trail, visitors will experience hills and curves through mixed hardwood forests, over tamarack bogs, and around old reclaimed mine areas that have been created into beautiful lake overlooks. This is the perfect trail to ride e-bikes of all levels. The Mesabi Trail is well designated and mapped. There is a large parking lot and trailhead entrance located at the Itasca Fairgrounds located on the northern edge of town. For more information check out MESABI TRAI
Tioga Recreation
This is a 25-mile mountain bike trail that connects with two lakes – Tioga Pit and Pokegama Lake, a park, playground, covered pavilions, beach, fishing pier, and boat landing area. The 25-mile mountain bike trail is a professionally built, multi-level, single-track trail system that is perfect for all ages. New this spring is the Pathfinder Playground jump skills course. Tioga is the ideal family outdoor recreation destination for biking, hiking, paddling, fishing, and swimming. The City of Grand Rapids paved trail connects to Tioga from 4th Street NW, crossing over Hwy 2 onto County Road 63. You can bike right from in-town lodging properties to Tioga Recreation. For more information check out TIOGA TRAIL.
Legion Trail
The Legion Trail is a trail system that is located at the parking lot of The Reif Center on the north edge of the City. Legion has a single-track mountain bike trail, hiking trail, and cross country trail system. In addition, there is a disc golf course located within Legion as well. This trail system is 7-miles in length that runs through a mixed forest of hardwoods and pines. There is an overlook of Hale Lake in several locations along the trail. The single-track trails can be described as more advanced: hand-built trail through dense woods that is tight, twisty, and technical. For more information check out LEGION TRAIL.
Bicycle Friendly Lodging
There is a lot of bicycle-friendly lodging in Grand Rapids. You will find conveniently located in-town Hotels/Motels, a Bed & Breakfast located on Pokegama Lake, and in-town Vacation Rentals. You will also find Resorts and Vacation Rentals located on beautiful Minnesota lakes. All of these properties are very welcoming to bicycles. Many of the properties are conveniently located so you can ride right onto the trails from the lodging property. For more information check out the STAY page.
Places to Eat & Drink Local
For dining, a place to grab a drink, and to see what events going on in town check out the following pages below.
Bicycle Resources
Ardent Bicycles is a great place to rent, purchase, and service bicycles. Peter Gustafson, the owner, is an avid bicyclist and offers a wide variety of bikes, parts, and accessories.
Ardent Bicycle
Address: 951 NW 4th St, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Website: https://ardentbicycles.com/