The best road cycling routes around Hibbing

Bikers on the Mesabi Trail will skirt the south side of the Hull–Rust–Mahoning Open Pit Iron Mine or Hull Rust Mine. It stretches about 8 miles in length, 3.5 miles in width, and reaches depths of up to 600 feet, making it one of the largest open-pit mines on earth. It is hard to fathom that 1.4 billion tons of earth have been removed from here. For the best glimpses of the mine, check out short detours on the trail, taking you to viewpoints and informational panels.

Here, where the Mesabi Trail meets this small paved parking area, head northeast walking your bike to the Oldtown-Finntown Overlook to get a great view over the Mesabi Mountain Mine, now filled with water.

While on the Mesabi Trail, pass under this US Steel Pipeline Bridge crossing Highway 169. This pipeline echoes the iron-rich industrial past that is visible throughout this area. Another notable, and invisible, event here is that the ground under Highway 169 has been slowly slumping due to century-old underground iron mines. In 2008, MnDOT, as a preemptive safety measure, constructed a $7.4 million reinforced concrete structure to keep this roadway safe from cave-ins.

The Greyhound Bus Museum in Hibbing commemorates and celebrates the origins of America's most iconic bus company. The museum was started in 1989 by resident Gene Nicolelli and honors Carl Wickman and Andrew "Bus Andy" Anderson, who launched their first bus service in 1914 using a Hupmobile to transport miners between Hibbing and Alice, Minnesota. Visit and explore 18 historic buses, including the original 1914 Hupmobile. Exhibits include uniforms, tickets, photographs, and a World War II diorama highlighting Greyhound's role during the war. The museum is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed on Sundays and holidays. Admission is $7.50 for adults, $5.00 for seniors and students, $20.00 for families, and free for children three and under.

Hill Annex Mine State Park has picnic benches, grills, a covered picnic area, and restrooms. If you head to the most northern end of the park, you can get a great view of the Hill Annex Mine Lake.

Along the Mesabi Trail you can catch glimpses of the Iron Range Railroad Bridge, one of a few historic railroad bridges that played an important role in the region's iron ore mining industry. Built in the early 20th century, tons of iron ore were taken from the Mesabi Range to ports on Lake Superior.

The Mesabi Trail hugs a segment of the Prairie River, boasting views of red iron-rich hills around it. The river looks great today, considering that in 1991, Enbridge Line 3 pipeline burst and resulted in the largest inland oil spill in U.S. history, releasing about 1.7 million gallons of oil into the area, including the Prairie River.

Nashwauk is a historic mining town built in 1902. This town revolved around the Hawkins Mine, which operated until 1962. Today, Nashwauk retains its small-town charm and sits between two inactive open-pit mines.