Hike Our Northwoods Trails

One of the most enjoyable ways to get to know Itasca County is by hiking our beautiful northwoods trails.  There are dozens of trails to choose from.  Some meander along the edges of our beautiful lakes, rivers and streams or choose to stride into the majestic depths of our pristine forests.  The Chippewa National Forest is home to nine different Itasca County Trail Systems.  They include the Clubhouse Loop, Cutfoot Sioux, Dora Lake Loop, Little Ruby Loop, Lost Forty Loop, Simpson Creek, Suomi Hills, Trout Lake, and Wirt-Talmoon Loop.  You can click on each of the thumbnail images of the hiking trails at the bottom of this page to see a larger map.  Our state and county forest lands also provide great hiking opportunities with many old logging roads to explore.  

The Taconite Trail is our best known trail system, stretching 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely and intersecting with the Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake Vermillion. The first six miles from Grand Rapids are paved for biking and in-line skating. The remainder of the natural surface trail goes through a few areas that have standing water in the summer, but much of the trail is suitable for hiking.

The Taconite Trail winds through forests of birch and aspen intertwined with pine, leading the visitor by many isolated lakes and streams. From Grand Rapids heading north, you see the impact of the taconite and iron mining industry. The northern portion of the trail terrain is rolling and tree covered as it winds through state and national forest land.

Two favorite hiking areas are The Lost Forty and the Suomi Hills Areas.  In 1882 a mapping error described the land of the Lost Forty as being underwater, part of a lake, in fact.  This caused the virgin pine of the area to be left behind by loggers at the turn of the century. Now a one-mile self-guided trail winds its way through the majestic pines of the Lost Forty. Many of these trees are up to 350 years old and between 22 and 48 inches in diameter.

The remote setting of the Suomi Hills semi primitive nonmotorized area is made up of rolling hills, clear lakes and some of the most spectacular fall color in the area. There are 21 miles of trail, numerous small lakes and several primitive campsites for day or overnight hiking, biking, skiing and canoe trips. The trails are mowed in the summer. North Suomi Hills is the site of the Day Lake Civilian Conservation Camp (CCC), which became a prisoner of war camp during World War II.