# Minnesota North Woods: iron mines to Voyageurs

> 4-day road trip of about 426 km (264 mi) with 7 stops, from Duluth to Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake. About 4 h 43 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b9-north-woods/

**At a glance:** 4-day road trip of about 426 km (264 mi) with 7 stops, from Duluth to Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake. About 4 h 43 min of driving in total. From Duluth to the Iron Range mines, the canoe-country town of Ely and the water-bound Voyageurs National Park on the Canadian border.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 426 km (264 mi) |
| Driving | 4 h 43 min |
| Suggested days | 4 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Duluth → Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake |
| States | MN |
| Updated | July 23, 2026 |

## Route description

Leave Duluth north-west on US-53 and MN-37 to Hibbing on the Mesabi Iron Range. The Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine View looks into an open pit more than three miles long, still worked by giant trucks.

US-169 follows the range east through birch and pine to Soudan, where the state park lowers visitors in a mine cage about half a mile underground in summer. The road continues past Lake Vermilion to Ely, the main gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

In Ely, the International Wolf Center has a resident pack, and outfitters can set you up for a day paddle. Then take MN-1 and US-53 north through Orr to International Falls; the forest is dense and gas stations are far apart.

Voyageurs National Park is mostly water. Stop at the Rainy Lake visitor center east of International Falls for a boat tour or a short trail, and stay up late: on clear nights the northern lights sometimes appear. Early summer brings blackflies and mosquitoes; August and September are more comfortable.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Duluth** (MN)
2. **Hull-Rust-Mahoning Mine View** (Hibbing, MN): An overlook on the rim of one of the world’s largest open-pit iron mines, more than three miles long. Trucks and shovels still work in the pit below.
3. **Soudan Underground Mine State Park** (Soudan, MN): Minnesota’s oldest iron mine, where a cage lowers visitors about half a mile underground. Tours run mainly in summer; bring a jacket, since it is cold below.
4. **Ely** (MN)
5. **International Wolf Center** (Ely, MN): An education center with a resident wolf pack behind large viewing windows. A good introduction to the North Woods before heading into canoe country.
6. **International Falls** (MN)
7. **Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake** (International Falls, MN): A park that is mostly water, with rocky islands and bays along the Canadian border. The Rainy Lake visitor center runs boat tours in summer; kayak rentals are nearby.

## FAQs

**How long is Minnesota North Woods: iron mines to Voyageurs?**
4-day road trip of about 426 km (264 mi) with 7 stops, from Duluth to Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake. About 4 h 43 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Minnesota North Woods: iron mines to Voyageurs?**
We suggest 4 days: about 4 h 43 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Minnesota North Woods: iron mines to Voyageurs start and end?**
It starts in Duluth and ends in Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake.

**Which states does Minnesota North Woods: iron mines to Voyageurs pass through?**
Minnesota.