Plan a visit on U.S. Bicycle Route 41
Preparing for your bicycling trip
Getting there
- Metro Transit (Bus and train service in the Twin Cities)
- Northstar Commuter Rail (Train service between Big Lake and Minneapolis)
- Superior Hiking Shuttle (Contact the company to discuss options for bicycle-shuttle service)
- Amtrak: Amtrak’s Empire Builder route connects to Minnesota at St. Paul’s Union Depot.
- Jefferson Lines – bus service serving 13 states, including Minnesota
Things to do and see
- Explore Minnesota Tourism
- North Shore Visitor
- Old Highway 61 – the original U.S. Route 61; winds through east central Minnesota
- National Geographic Geotourism - Heart of the Continent
- Minnesota State Trails
- State Trails - trail heads/parking:
- Minnesota state parks along USBR 41:
- Jay Cooke
- Gooseberry Falls
- Split Rock
- Tettegouche
- Crosby Manitou
- Temperance River
- Cascade River
- Judge Magney
- Grand Portage.
- Minnesota state parks near USBR 41:
- State Historic Sites and Museums:
- North West Fur Company Post
- Hinckley Fire Museum
- Glensheen, the Historic Congdon Estate
- Split Rock Lighthouse
- National Park Service Units:
- Scenic Byways: North Shore Scenic Drive
Travel and tourism
- Adventure Cycling - Premier bicycle travel organization in North America
- Scenic Byways: North Shore Scenic Drive
- Places To Stay: Explore Minnesota Tourism
- Camping:
- Minnesota State Parks - Bicycles enter state parks for free (camping fees apply)
- Minnesota State Forests
- Superior National Forest (see Isabella Area/Tofte Ranger District and Gunflint Ranger District)
- Warm Showers - a bicycle home-stay program
Communities along the route
Visitor information from some of the largest communities along the route (in northbound order):
- St. Paul
- White Bear Lake
- Forest Lake
- North Branch
- Pine City
- Hinckley
- Moose Lake
- Duluth
- Two Harbors (and nearby cities)
- Cook County (Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder, Grand Marais, Grand Portage)
Weather
It gets cold and snowy during a Minnesota winter, and weather can be warm and sometimes humid in summer (yes, with a few mosquitoes). Along the North Shore of Lake Superior, the weather is changeable. It can be sunny and warm one day, misty and cool the next. For best comfort, dress in layers and check the weather forecast. As a guide, here is average temperature and precipitation data for the route’s start in St. Paul, in Duluth, and Two Harbors:
Emergency phone numbers
The standard emergency number in all areas is 911. Cell phone coverage is generally available. As with many trips, it's a good idea to let someone know of your plans and route ahead of time.