The Area

At home on the range in Northern Minnesota

The area surrounding the Voyageurs Retreat properties at Giants Ridge are dotted with thriving and historically significant towns, each with an impressive array of activities and entertainment options in the Iron Range.

AURORA (10 minutes from VR)
In 1903, the city of Aurora was named for the brilliant display of northern lights high above the village. Today,the city combines quaint style with a friendly hometown atmosphere. Take a journey back in time with a visit to City Hall to see a pictorial display of Aurora's history. Aurora celebrates the 4th of July with an annual festival, Freedom Fete'.

BIWABIK (5 minutes from VR)
Long valued for its iron ore, today, Biwabik is a travel destination as the gateway to Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort and a trailhead of the historic Mesabi Trail. True to the ethnic diversity of Iron Range communities, Biwabik treats visitors to its unique Bavarian style and has become the area's year-round center of attraction, hosting thousands of Alpine & Nordic skiers, snowmobilers and golfers.

BUHL (20 minutes from VR)
The Mesabi Trail winds through Buhl offering visitors a panoramic view of the historic Grant Iron Mine. Trail riders can also make a stop at the Stubler beach or Burton Park which features three bocce ball courts, playground equipment, a pavilion, two baseball fields, a basketball court, and a campground. Buhl is most famous for its water, named "the finest drinking water in America," taken from an underground glacial river 700 feet below the surface.

CHISHOLM (30 minutes from VR)
A mining community on the shores of Longyear Lake since the late 1800s, Chisholm commemorates its mining legacy in novel ways including the "Iron Man" statue, an 85-foot iron ore miner memorial, the Minnesota Museum of Mining, and Ironworld Discovery Center, where visitors can enjoy hands-on exhibits, music, dance, ethnic foods and craft demonstrations.

EVELETH (15 minutes from VR)
As the hockey capital of Minnesota, Eveleth is home to the World's Largest Hockey Stick and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Additionally, Eveleth holds one of the area's most breathtaking sites, the Leonidas Overlook Mineview. The overlook reflects more than a century of mining activity, dating back to 1901, when production first began along the Iron Range.

GILBERT (10 minutes from VR)
Gilbert is home to Minnesota's first designated state recreation area for off-highway vehicles and ATVs featuring over 1,200 acres of trails, scramble areas, training and facilities for off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and 4x4 jeeps and trucks. Visitors to Gilbert can also learn about the history of the area at the Iron Range Historical Society in the former Gilbert City Hall building.

HIBBING (40 minutes from VR)
Hibbing, the largest city on the Iron Range, often serves as a venue for top-rated local productions and musicals and is home to the Paulucci Space Theatre, the Greyhound Bus Museum, and the Hull-Rust Mahoning Mine, the world's largest open pit mine. Hibbing is also the childhood home of Bob Dylan and celebrates Dylan's birthday each May in an annual "Dylan Days" festival.

HOYT LAKES (15 minutes from VR)
Bordered by two beautiful lakes, Hoyt Lakes has direct access from Lake Superior's North Shore via the Superior National Forest Scenic Byway. Hoyt Lakes offers many recreational opportunities, including a nine-hole golf course, hockey arena, regulation tennis courts, paved bike trails, snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, Colby Lake Beach, and Fisherman's Point Campground, home to the Whitewater Walleye Classic.

MOUNTAIN IRON (15 minutes from VR)
As its name suggests, the City of Mountain Iron was literally built on a mountain of iron and is Minnesota's third largest city in geographic size, covering 52 square miles and boasting six lakes within its limits. Visitors can get a birds-eye view of USS/Minntac's taconite mining operations at either the Wacootah Overlook or the Minntac Mine Overlook.

TOWN OF WHITE (5 minutes from VR)
The Town of White encompasses a beautiful segment of the Iron Range and boasts several lakes, rivers, and scenic nature trails. Giants Ridge Golf & Ski Resort is also found within the township limits. The Town of White also holds the Loon Lake Community Center, a multi-use facility that hosts the annual Laskiainen (Finnish Sliding Festival).

VIRGINIA (15 minutes from VR)
Located in the heart of the Mesabi Range, Virginia offers unique shopping venues complemented by a variety of restaurants and an 18-hole golf course. Virginia's Olcott Park is the site of the Virginia Area Historical Society's Heritage Museum and home to the "Land of the Loon" festival, which attracts thousands of visitors each summer. Virginia's rich mining history is celebrated at the Mineview in the Sky Overlook and the Oldtown-Finntown Overlook.