BAM 2024 is headed to northeastern Minnesota’s scenic Iron Range.  The tour starts and ends in Hoyt Lakes, with overnights in Chisholm, Grand Rapids, and Hibbing. Minnesota’s Iron Range offered incredible scenery, unique mining history, and much to explore.   

Day 0 – Wednesday, Aug. 14: Hoyt Lakes

Registration check-in begins late Wednesday afternoon in Hoyt Lakes. Arrive early to enjoy what Hoyt Lakes and the surrounding area have to offer: explore many paved hiking and biking trails, fish, canoe or kayak on Whitewater or Colby Lake, go swimming at Birch Cove Beach, or take in a round of golf at the Municipal Golf Course or Giants Ridge Resort.  Giants Ridge has long been considered one of Minnesota’s best resort golf vacation destinations, with two of their courses (The Legend and The Quarry) being ranked near or at the top of the best courses worldwide by national golf publications.  

Two “must dos” while in the Range include the International Wolf Center in Ely and the Soudan Underground Mine State Park near Tower where you can travel 1/2-mile underground in an elevator and board an ore car for a guided tour of the former mine or take a science-based tour of the physics lab.

Day 1 – Thursday, Aug. 15: Hoyt Lakes – Chisholm  

63 miles, 1900 feet of climb

Our first day of cycling takes us past many lakes and through several small friendly communities via paved roads and the Mesabi Trail.  Cycle across the tallest bridge in Minnesota in Virginia – you will be amazed by the iconic view of the 3-mile-long Rouchleau Mine Pit lake 200-feet below. The bridge spans the pit of the former mine, named after prospector Louis Rouchleau, that began underground operations in 1893 and converted to open-pit mining in the 1930s. By the time it closed in 1977, the Rouchleau Mine had produced 300 million gross tons of iron ore.  A canti-levered platform extends out over the historic Rouchleau group of mines for a view that includes towering rock-cropped walls with various red hues stretching across the entire open pit mine.  

Explore the Virginia Area Heritage Musuem featuring various exhibits including a room dedicated to the local logging and lumber industry, a Finnish double-dovetailed cabin with items representative of the time, and a Depression-era tourist cabin with mining and other historical memorabilia.

We will be camping in Chisholm at the Minnesota Museum of Mining amongst the historic equipment used to mine the Mesabi Range’s rich iron ore which has preserved the history of the Iron mining industry in Minnesota.  Explore the unique stone castle, tour the many displays spread across 13 acres of beautiful Museum grounds and climb aboard mining trucks and trains, a steam shovel, or towering drills. Check out the underground mine replica, “Iron Range Life” and “From Ore to Steel” exhibits, America’s first bus, and the old fire hose carts and fire engines!  Chisholm is also home to the Minnesota Discovery Center, where you can ride a trolley to an old mining pit while the trolley driver explains the history.  

Day 2 – Friday, August 16:  Chisholm – Grand Rapids

71 miles, 1700 feet of climb

Today’s route takes us to Grand Rapids with plenty of fabulous scenery along the way.  Stop at a mine overlook and the Forest History Center – one of previous riders’ must-do sites.  Hear stories and experience how lumberjacks lived and worked in a 1900’s logging camp, saw a log with a 2-person crosscut saw, meet some of the big friendly draft horses, and learn about Minnesota’s forests of yesterday and today.  From there it’s on to Grand Rapids, our evening destination.  There’s much to do and see in Grand Rapids, including the Judy Garland Museum, the Itasca County Historical Society, local breweries and wine bar, and the Itasca County Fair which will be in full swing while we’re there.  

Day 3 – Saturday, August 17:  Grand Rapids – Hibbing

60 miles, 1600 feet of climb OR 100 miles, 2900 feet of climb

Riders will have their choice of mileage options today:  60 miles, 100 miles or something in between.  If you’ve never ridden a century before, this is a great first century to do, given the gentle terrain.  Century riders start out with a beautiful loop around Pokegama Lake before rejoining the 60 mile route for more lakeside riding.  Experience scenic vistas at Hill Annex Mine State Park in Calumet before the routes split again, with the century riders riding around Swan Lake.  All roads lead to Hibbing via a combination of roads and trails. Once in Hibbing, see the Greyhound Bus Museum, tour the historic Hibbing High School listed on the National Register of Historic Places, find Bob Dylan’s childhood house, visit the Hibbing Historical Society Museum or grab something to eat and drink at one of the local establishments in town.  You will definitely want to take in the Hull Rust Mine View – one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area – to view this massive open pit iron ore mine.  In the evening, head over to the Hibbing Raceway for dirt track racing (cost on your own).  

Day 4 – Sunday, August 18:  Hibbing – Hoyt Lakes

55 miles, 1500 feet of climb

Our final day has us heading back to Hoyt Lakes with incredible scenic views.  See former mines from the area’s largest man-made point – Leonidas Overlook – where your view extends 15 miles and includes the Laurentian Divide (a northern divide indicating where waters either flow north to the Arctic Ocean, or south to the Atlantic), visible as a range of hills.  From there, it’s on to Eveleth and the US Hockey Hall of Fame before returning to Hoyt Lakes, the tour’s end.  Showers will be available.

*Routes are subject to change based on construction in the area or finding hidden gems that we want to incorporate.