Biking is fantastic on the very different types of North Shore bike trails; the paved Gitchi-Gami State Trail [GGST], backwoods dirt roads, Pincushion Trails and a few winter fat bike trails. The paved Gitchi Gami Trail currently has a handful of sections complete, the longest section being Gooseberry Falls State Park to Beaver Bay. I recommend some rides on Forest Roads, but one of the best things you can do is purchase a Superior National Forest map, plan a route and ride. Or head to Pincushion Mountain [just north of Grand Marais] and traverse the network of trails.
Handy Biking Checklist
There a few trail projects underway right now.
And coming in 2018:
Watch for traffic on these routes! A one-mile-plus paved road runs through Brighton Beach, the first park northeast of Duluth, just past the Lester River.
A bike ride along Scenic 61 showcases Lake Superior and allows you to explore along the way. Stop for lunch, and pick up smoked fish.
Length: up to 20 miles one-way
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Trailhead: Brighton Beach, MM 5.2
Surface: paved
easy paved path along the waterfront from the lighthouse, through a park to the Burlington Bay beach
Length: 1 mile one-way
Difficulty: easy
Trailhead: 520 South Ave or Park Road & Highway 61
easy to follow
maps at visitor centers
follows the old Highway 61 road bed where it wrapped around Silver Cliff; excellent views
Length: 0.5 mile one-way
Difficulty: easy
Trailhead: Silver Creek Tunnel, NE end
Surface: paved
5 trailheads:
The Visitors Center trailheads offer parking, restroom facilities and drinking water. Restaurants, restroom facilities and other amenities are available in Beaver Bay.
Length: 14.1 miles one-way
Difficulty: moderate [length]
Trailhead: 5; see above
Surface: paved
5 trailheads:
The Visitors Center trailheads offer parking, restroom facilities and drinking water. Restaurants, restroom facilities and other amenities are available in Beaver Bay.
Length: 14.1 miles one-way
Difficulty: moderate [length]
Trailhead: 5; see above
Surface: paved
trail runs parallel to the lakeshore, inland along the side of the hill ; does not connect to remainder of GGST
Length: 2.3 miles one-way
Difficulty: moderate
Trailhead: 129 Outer Drive, Silver Bay
Surface: paved
ride the 3-mile trail through Temperance River State Park, over the river and back to Highway 61, where the trail ends, but you can carefully cross the highway, ride your bike down Tofte Park Road, along the Lakewalk and then pick up the 7.3 mile roadside trail that ends in Lutsen at the bottom of the Ski Hill Road
Length: 10.3 miles + one-way
Difficulty: moderate [length]
Trailhead: Schroeder Wayside, Tofte Park & Ski Hill Road
Surface: paved
single-track bike trails
1.5 mile novice, then add on either a 2 mile intermediate or 2 mile advanced trail through maple forests
Length: 1.5-miles and up
Difficulty: easy to advanced
Trailhead: Britton Peak Trailhead, Sawbill Trail
Surface: hard pack
A big loop through the backwoods between Lutsen [Caribou Trail] and Tofte [Sawbill Trail]. Park at the snowmobile trail parking on Caribou Trail [6 mi north of Hwy 61], head west several miles, then 1 mile north on the Sawbill Trail and return east on the Pancore Lake Rd [it’s going to turn into a low maintenance rougher road] stay right on Rice Lake Rd for about a mile, then veer right on Clara Lake Rd to the Caribou Trail and south to your starting point..
Length: 20 mile loop
Difficulty: moderate [length]
Trailhead: snowmobile trail parking, Caribou Trail
Surface: hard pack and gravel roads
a slow climb out of Grand Marais followed by a return ride down the hill
Length: 1.5 miles, one-way
Difficulty: easy
Trailhead: downtown Grand Marais
Surface: paved
narrow hard-pack trails intersect and climb the wooded hilltop overlooking Grand Marais and Lake Superior
Difficulty: moderate to advanced
Trailhead: 1 Pincushion Drive
Surface: hard pack
Danger: do NOT ride on the Gunflint Trail!
Make it a 2-car ride; leave one in Grand Marais and drive one to the trailhead, then ride up over the ridge then all the way down to Grand Marais. Multiple starting points allow you to choose distance. Lovely ride on low-traffic road [watch for logging operations].
Length: up 24 miles
Difficulty: easy to moderate / difficult if you ride it up hill
Trailhead: Eagle Mountain Parking [The Grade and Bally Creek Rd]
Surface: hard pack gravel road
The quintessential ride through the forest; great for varying abilities. The Lima Grade is a forest service road through woodlands, open areas, over creeks and river, to lakes highlighted by berries, wildlife and a spur to Lima Mountain. You can ride the entire road north to south or pick it up along the way.
Option: park at Twin Lakes then ride north along the Lima Grade, east on South Brule and loop back south and end with a picnic or camping (rustic facilities) at the Twin Lakes camp area.
Length: varies
Difficulty: easy to moderate [length]
Trailhead: Lima Mtn Rd & Gunflint Trail
Surface: hard pack gravel road
a hilly road that was part of the original Gunflint Trail; wooded, clearings and the Iron Lake Campground 2 miles from the north end of the road
Length: 5 miles one-way
Difficulty: moderate
Trailhead: Old Gunflint Trail
Surface: hard pack gravel road
