A bike route linking the Great Lakes to the Gulf is now a reality. Designated U.S. Bicycle Route 41, also known as the North Star Bicycle Route, the corridor passes through Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and Grand Portage National Monument and connects to nine state parks as well as the Superior National Forest. This newly designated section expands the U.S. Bicycle Route System to 11,563 miles across 24 states.
The Adventure Cycling Association, which coordinates the national U.S. Bicycle Route System, recommends beginning the section in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota, at the Union Depot transportation hub. The location offers convenient trail access and a range of bike-friendly amenities, including a local bike shop, secure bicycle storage, a repair station, regional buses and Amtrak passenger trains that carry bicycles. A dedicated site from the Minnesota Department of Transportation will provide cyclists with downloadable GPS maps, route resources and implementation tools to help plan and navigate rides along USBR 41.