Superior National Forest Scenic Byway

The Superior National Forest Scenic Byway takes travelers on a 78-mile relaxing wooded drive from communities of the Iron Range to Silver Bay on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Fall color buffs will delight in the spectacular reds and yellows of the hardwoods, and the towering pines of the Superior National Forest.

Access this route from Hwy 53 in Eveleth, about three hours north of Minneapolis/St Paul. As you head east, enjoy stops along the way such as the Mesabi Trail - a paved, 164-mile cycling trail - and restaurants like the Whistling Bird or Wandering Pines in Gilbert, the Burnt Onion, Biwabik Pizza Co. and Carlson's Pasties in Biwabik, or The Hive, the Copper Nickel and Rudy's in Aurora.

Giants Ridge in Biwabik is a four-season resort with downhill mountain bike trails, skiing, golf, hiking, disc golf and lake access. Find lodging at The Lodge, The Villas, or numerous vacation rentals, all at Giants Ridge and nearby Biwabik. In Aurora, walk around a former mine pit that has filled with clear glacial waters at the St James Mine, and in Hoyt Lakes, see the site of the first diamond-tip drill used to seek iron ore. Eveleth is home to Hockey Plaza and the US Hockey Hall of Fame Museum.

Camping is available at Eveleth's Veterans Park, Sherwood Forest Campground and West 40 RV Park, both in Gilbert, Vermilion Trail Campground in Biwabik, or Fisherman's Point Campground in Hoyt lakes. All have lake views, beach access and are located on the Mesabi Trail, except West 40, which is near all of these amenities.

Departing Hoyt Lakes and heading east on the Byway, you'll find no town amenities along the way until you reach Silver Bay. Enjoy the natural beauty of the Superior National Forest and the chance to observe the area's many species of birds. Migrating hawks can be witnessed over the Laurentian Divide at the Skibo Vista Scenic Overlook just outside Hoyt Lakes.

Byway highlights include the 1913 Toimi School, about 58 miles from Eveleth. This one-room schoolhouse was built for the children of Finnish immigrant farmers and also offered living quarters for the teacher. Tours are offered on Saturdays by volunteers who care for the site. The Timber Arch Bridge in Hoyt Lakes on 565 is the only one of its kind int he stae. Learn about the mighty conifers of the forest at the US Forest Service's White Pine Interpretive Trail. There are remote trails to explore along the Byway at Forest Service trailheads, including Bird Lake, Jenkins Creek and the Ottoand Harris Lake Trails. Canoeing or kayaking in the St Louis River at Norway Point offers an idyllic experience that feels miles away from anywhere but is just a few miles south of Hoyt Lakes. Other public access sites include Cadotte, Bassett and Bird Lakes.

The Superior National Forest Scenic Byway offers a unique experience option for North Shore visitors curious about the state's famous Iron Range, or Iron Range visitors wanting to take the "scenic route" to the North Shore. A Duluth-Iron Range-North Shore loop is a great way to experience the reigon. Recreation opportunites abound, from ATVing and snowmobiling to swimming, camping, hiking and birding.