Best Fat Biking Trails in Minnesota

Written by Ride the Range Ambassador Guy Thompson

Northeastern Minnesota’s Iron Range boasts some of the best opportunities for biking enthusiasts to explore unique trails in the summer, but did you know that Minnesota’s bike scene doesn’t end when the snow falls? What if I told you that you could access the best year-round biking on Minnesota’s Iron Range?

The following are some fat tire biking winter trail options between Hibbing and Ely. This list is what I’ve personally rode with my bikes and areas I’m confident will surpass your expectations.

Redhead MTB Park in Chisholm

Redhead Mountain Bike Park is the largest local trail system of three maintained by the Iron Range Offroad Cyclists volunteer group, boasting over fifteen miles of groomed single track winter trails for fat bikers and snowshoers in 2026.

Maple Hill Park in Hibbing

It blows my mind how I grew up in the same town as Maple Hill Park, Hibbing, Minnesota, yet I never experienced these trails until the  summer of 2025.Winter trails are currently groomed by snowshoers packing the miles of trail down. The more active snowshoers throughout the week, the better the trails. I personally ride fat bike, in addition to snowshoeing and hiking with my trusty lab.

The Lower Trail is the easier of the trails and can be accessed off Erickson Road  https://maps.app.goo.gl/NJ3bqiq7NMrmEYJ68?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im and has a strong snow base from snowshoers, fat bikers, and hikers. You can expect around 30-40 minutes for fat biking the Lower Trail loop. This is a meandering trail through the woods and a much more relaxed vibe. The main parking lot is located at Tower Road where the big Maple Hill sign is posted on Lindquist Road. I have ridden many times this winter with as much as 6 1/2 miles, and you could easily do more mileage than that.

Lookout Mountain near Virginia, MN

Fifteen miles of mostly intermediate level trails. From Virginia, MN, drive four miles North on Highway 53/169. The trailhead is located at the Laurentian Divide Recreation Area on the northbound lane. For current mountain bike trail status and conditions, visit our trail partner Iron Range Off-road Cyclists

https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/recreation/trails/lookout-mountain-laurentian-divide-fitness-trail

More Places to Ride Fat Bikes

  • Hidden Valley Recreation Area in Ely

9 miles of single track bike groomed trail

https://www.exploreminnesota.com/profile/hidden-valley-recreation-area/1814

  • Giants Ridge in Biwabik

https://www.giantsridge.com

  • Throughout the Superior National Forest

Per the US Forest Service website (Superior National Forest | Lookout Mountain – Laurentian Divide Fitness Trail | Forest Service ) winter fat tire biking is allowed on any Forest Service trails where biking is allowed. On trails groomed for cross-country skiing, fat tire bikes should be ridden to the side of the ski tracks. Here are some guidelines to sharing the trails with others:

  • Fat tire bikers, please stay off the classic ski track. Please leave pets at home. Dogs running in the classic track makes it difficult for skiers and causes stress to wildlife.
  • Don’t ride if your tire is leaving a rut, wait for the trail to set up after grooming before you ride.
  • Fat Bikes yield to all other trail users. Bikes have brakes, skis don’t.
  • Groomed snowmobile and ski trails may look appealing, but many of these trails are not open for other uses due to safety concerns

Additional online resources

Check out the following links for detailed information on all Ride the Range trails:

https://www.ridetherange.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=inside_winter_ad&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21807096717&gbraid=0AAAAABTTj5g1RZd_eaHTT374pjR67rX1e&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhPPattaDkgMVBivUAR38Ry1xEAAYASAAEgIJhvD_BwE

Discover the Range winter fat biking guide

https://ironrange.org/listings/fat-biking/