minnesotas iron range happy trails

A lingo echoes through the iron ore mine pits in northeastern Minnesota. The locals have a suspicious way of yodeling their "O's", and there's not a boy on the block who didn't have hockey skates glued to his feet as a child. Home of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame and seemingly bottomless iron ore mines, the Iron Range is foreign territory to many Minnesotans, let alone to the folks who travel there from faraway lands like Wisconsin and North Dakota. It seems logical that a place that's so close to Canada would have snow to spare and open space to share. And it does. The Arrowhead region along the Iron Range boasts more than 2,000 miles of snowmobile trails stretching from Two Harbors on Lake Superior's North Shore to Grand Rapids and on to International Falls.

Traditionally frequented by Twin Citians, more out-state faces are appearing in its woods, according to Delyle Pankratz, director of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (trails division). Two years ago - when the Arrowhead Region was one of only a few areas in the snowbelt blessed with snow - eager snowmobilers migrated north from places like Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin. "We were the only place that had snow," Pankratz says. "And people came from all over."

But a bountiful crop of snow isn't the only thing luring snowmobilers to these mining lands. The area has grown in the last few years, and the natives think they know why: Two thousand miles of trails sneak through remote, wooded areas where "you could go for miles and miles without seeing another soul," according to Pam Loberg of the Iron Trail Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The region has always been known for its extensive trail system. But in the last few years, snowmobilers have been discovering the region's hidden treasure of feeder trails, making it an excellent destination spot for a weekend or week-long vacation. Pankratz says most of the region's feeder trails are developed to connect towns and provide access to main trails. People are beginning to enjoy the benefits of these trails, Pankratz says. "Our feeder trails are the same quality as the state trails," he says. "Some of our so-called feeder trails are wider and maintained to the same level or better than the state trails."

About 60 percent of the people who use the Iron Range snowmobile trails are not from the area, according to Pankratz. "The typical visitor is still from the [Twin Cities] metro area," he says. "But we're seeing a lot more from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin than we have in years past."

Recent efforts by snowmobile promoters have started the ball rolling to make the already popular area more snowmobile friendly. In order to take some pressure off the Taconite Trail, the area's most popular trail, the Cook Timberwolves Snowmobile Club has built a 26-mile trail that joins the Arrowhead and Tim Corey trails. This connecting route, called the Bearskin Trail, should be ready for the upcoming season, says Mike Hanson of the Cook Timberwolves. "It creates a 75-mile loop and provides a shortcut for snowmobilers coming from Grand Rapids," he says. "It should make a realistic one-day trip from Grand Rapids to International Falls."

The local casino is also joining in the efforts to make the area more snowmobile friendly. Fortune Bay Casino is building a new 120-room lodging complex and conference center set to be completed in late 1996 or 1997. The building will accommodate another 200-plus people, according to George Strong, a Fortune Bay representative. "Not many resorts in the area can accommodate large groups," Strong says. "Since snowmobilers often travel in large packs, this is a good way to provide for their needs." The casino has also worked with snowmobile clubs, providing them with coupons for club members and installed a gear check specifically for snowmobilers. "What's so neat about this complex is it's right at the intersection of two snowmobile trails, the Arrowhead Trail and the Taconite," Pankratz says.

The casino is adjacent to Lake Vermilion, an area that has been getting a lot of attention for its snowmobiling and hospitality. According to Pankratz, there are excellent feeder trails leading into the lake; a lot more resorts are opening up in the winter; and there's some excellent ice riding.

The region promises a variety of riding terrain, with each of the trails boasting its own character. The North Shore Trail has a mountainous and rugged flavor, while the Iron Range Trails reveal remnants of past mining. Grand Rapids provides flatter terrain and more woodland touring, while the Arrowhead Trail generally offers up-and-down riding. A collection of diverse communities dots the trail system, adding to the rustic ambiance and the beauty of the north woods. The rich history of the mining era echoes as you take a ride into the past.

For more information about the area, contact the Iron Trail Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800/777-8497. Or call the Minnesota Office of Tourism at 612/296-5029 or 800/657-3700.