Summer Activities
Three Color Walks
Choose from three different walks, ranging from 1 hr. to 2 hrs. Levels of hiking from easy to moderate/advanced. Call 865-3003 to reserve a spot. Walks are held from 1-2:30 pm weekdays, ages 5 and up are welcome, cost is $4 per person, and sturdy lace-up shoes are recommended.
Easiest - 1 Hr. Laurentian Divide Walk: Come and explore the unique geology of Giants Ridge and the Laurentian Divide. Take a Ranger Ride to the top of Giants Ridge, observe great views and fall colors from the Observation Deck, and enjoy a leisurely downhill hike while exploring the history of the Laurentian Divide. This trail is not signed, but follows the Ranger path. (A walking stick, or ski poles, are helpful on the way down. Be sure to bring a camera!)
THE NEXT TWO TRAILS ARE NEWLY SIGNED WITH GREEN AND WHITE TRAIL MARKERS. AT TRAIL INTERSECTIONS, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GREEN AND WHITE ARROWS OR SIGNS.
Moderate - 2 Hr. Cedar/Alpine Trail: This is my personal favorite for variety, and will be featured in the Mesabi Daily News Tracks & Trails Feature. This trail starts at the Nordic Timing building, and winds up the Cat Track at the edge of the Alpine Area. To your left are the rugged runs of the North Face, to your right are glimpses of the Legend Golf Course. The ascent is gradual, at the end of the Alpine Area the trail heads into the woods, winding around the twists and turns of the Cedar X-C trail. There are a variety of trees here, birch, poplar, oak, maple, white pines, and cedar (of course!) Chances are good to see ruffed grouse & deer. Fall colors will be great, some maples are already in full color. When you're ready for a change of scenery, the trail opens out at the top of Giants Ridge with great views all around! Walk down to the Race deck on Helsinki (straight ahead) for some picture-taking, then head down the alpine run "Easy Way", for a descent with a moderate angle. The trail ends at the bottom of Placid, right in front of the Lodge.
Moderate to Advanced - 1 Hr. Silver /Laurentian Trail: This winding,rolling trail starts at the North driveway to the Ridge, right next to the Golf Course cart path. It follows the cart path, then splits off onto a gravel path that winds gradually uphill. As you walk along here, look to your left for a wetland area with a good-size beaver lodge on the far side. The trail then leaves the gravel path, and turns into the woods. Glimpses of Sabin Lake peek through on the right, and this portion of trail has tall, beautiful stands of white birch. As the trail turns back towards the Laurentian, the white pines and maple become more numerous. At the half-way point, there is a shelter-firepit area, perfect for a short stop or a picnic lunch. On the way back, you'll encounter at least one short, steep uphill climb, and then the trail connects up where it started. The smooth nature of the turf is excellent for hikers, runners, or bikers. ( I saw at least 10 different kinds of mushrooms along this trail. Fall colors were just starting here.)
Mountain Biking
Scenic Trails & Beautiful Woodlands! Mountain bikers can enjoy more than 60 kilometers of trails consisting of single track, cross country ski trails, snowmobile trails, and abandoned logging roads that make up some of the best riding in the area–and it's all at Giants Ridge! This is Minnesota recreation at its finest! The best time to mountain bike at "the Ridge" is from June through October. Mountain bike rentals are available on-site at the Giants Ridge Rental and Bike Shop. In addition, 10 miles of new paved trail from Aurora to Biwabik will be completed in Summer 2008.Season:
Trails are open Spring through Fall; mid-August through October is recommended.
Mountain Bike Trail Map PDF Download
Take a virtual tour of the Mountain Biking Trails at Giants Ridge
Bike Rental & Repair Shop
Hours of Operation:10 AM - 6 PM Dail. Please call ahead for hours and trail conditions.
*Dates and times are subject to change without notice.
Trails:
Sixty+ kilometers of scenic mountain bike trails.
Daily Pass: $5.
Season Pass: $50.
Disc Golf
It's a little bit golf, a little bit frisbee and a lot of fun!
The Giants Ridge disc golf course opened in the summer of 2000. Built on the east face of our alpine ski area, the 10,000 foot course leads players through a challenging series of 18 holes that are actually chest-high chain link baskets designed to catch the frisbee-like discs. Play 18 or 9 hole cut off.
On your next trip to Giants Ridge, be sure to try Minnesota disc golf, the hottest new sport at all the best resorts.
Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Please call ahead for course conditions and hours.
Distance: 10,000+ feet champion position
Rental: Rental discs available in Giants Ridge Rental Shop. Instruction available.
Per 18-Hole Round: $5 adult/$3 child (12 & under)
Per 9-Hole Round: $3 adult/child
Season Passes now available: $60/adult; $40 children 14 & under
Rentals: Discs and bag, $5 + $5 deposit for lost discs or a $2 additional charge for each disc lost.
For more information about disc golf at Giants Ridge, call 218-865-3002 or 800-688-7669, ext. 3002.
Disc Golf Tournaments:
August 2 - The Great Divide
PDGA C Tier
MST Point-series
October 11 - Bee on the Tee (non-sanctioned)
Disc Golf Course Map
Disc Golf Virtual Tour
Professional Disc Golf Association Web Site
Fishing & Boating
You'll find hundreds of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes right here in northeastern Minnesota and right here at Giants Ridge at Wynne and Sabin Lakes!
Our crystal clear lakes are abundant with walleye, northern pike, crappies (pronounced croppies) and bass OR fish our beautiful grand canyon-like reclaimed mine pit lakes stocked with rainbow, brook and lake trout.
For more information about fishing in northeastern Minnesota, visit: http://www.ironrange.org/Recreation/Summer/Fishing.
The Giants Ridge Summer Rental Shop rents trailered boats. Guests may either rent a boat and trailer it to their own vehicle, or our staff will trailer it for you. Boating is for Wynne, Sabin, & Eschaugama Lakes only.
The Mesabi TrailSM
The Mesabi TrailSM crossing the great Land of Mesabi, offers an abundance of nature and outdoor experiences. You may choose to walk, hike, bike, skate, ski, snowshoe and, in some areas, snowmobile, along the Trail as it traverses over 130 miles and through 25 communities. These communities offer historical buildings, mining artifacts, early industry and ethnic history, plus other treasures well worth the discovery. Forests teaming with wildlife can be found between rolling hills. Streams and creeks provide habitat for birds and animals alike. Grand heaps of earth provide man-made mountains that are becoming regrowth forests lining the edges of some of the world's largest man-made mines. These former mines are fast becoming a linked chain of watery passageways. Come enjoy a quality guest experience in the Land of Mesabi, via the Mesabi Trail.(SM) http://www.mesabitrail.com/.See the Mountain Biking Trails Virtual Tour!
Hiking
Explore Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort on foot! That's right. Whether you're an avid hiker or just looking for a leisurely hike in the spectacular Superior National Forest, we offer trails for hikers of all levels. Make your way to the top of the Giants Ridge mountain during spring, summer and fall for views that will take your breath away. Call for more information today! 800-688-7669.Hiking Map PDF Download
Four-Wheeling/ATV Rentals
Fun Time Rentals provides outdoor recreation equipment rental and service of ATV's for use in the nearby City of Gilbert's OHV Park. Fun Time has two convenient rental locations: downtown Gilbert and The Lodge at Giants Ridge. Contact Bob Bicking at 218-780-1747 or visit www.funtimerental.org. To learn more about the OHV Park, visit www.gilbertmn.org/ohvra.htm.
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