Road	Length	High point
Apple Blossom Scenic Drive The Apple Blossom Scenic Drive is a 19-mile Minnesota State Scenic Byway in Houston County in southeastern Minnesota, following county roads from La Crescent north along the Mississippi River bluffs through the towns of Nodine and Dakota before reconnecting to US-61. Both ends of the byway meet the Great River Road (US-61), making it a natural loop extension. The drive winds through apple orchards that blanket the hillside slopes above the Mississippi River valley, with sweeping views over the river floodplain. The road crests the bluffs at several points, delivering elevated river panoramas. Peak blossom season is early to mid-May; fall apple harvest (September–October) is the second major draw. Access to Great River Bluffs State Park is available from the byway. The nearest large town is La Crescent at the southern end.	17 mi	—
Aroma Pie ShoppeStop The Aroma Pie Shoppe occupies a small house at 618 Main Street in Whalan, MN 55949, a village of roughly 60 people tucked into the Root River valley along the Historic Bluff Country National Scenic Byway (MN-16). The shop is renowned throughout the region for homemade pies with local fruit fillings including rhubarb, gooseberry, and wild blueberry, baked fresh daily in a seasonal operation that runs roughly May through October. Seating is minimal and the shop fills quickly on weekend afternoons. Whalan sits on MN-16 between Lanesboro and Peterson, placing it at the geographic heart of the bluff-country motorcycle loop that follows the Root River corridor.	—	—
Avenue of the Pines Byway (MN-46) The Avenue of the Pines Scenic Byway follows Minnesota State Highway 46 for 46 miles from Deer River northwest to Northome through Chippewa National Forest. The route is named for the towering stands of mature red pines that line the road, creating a canopy effect in the forest sections. Along the route are views of sparkling lakes, marshes, and aspen stands interspersed with the pine corridors. Wildlife commonly observed includes bald eagles, white-tailed deer, black bear, porcupine, and osprey. The byway is relatively flat and straight compared to MN-38 to the east, making it a relaxed, scenery-focused ride rather than a technical road. Services including fuel, dining, and lodging are available in Deer River at the south terminus and in smaller communities along the route. The byway is located 13 miles northwest of Grand Rapids and can be combined with the Edge of the Wilderness (MN-38) as a northern Minnesota loop.	46 mi	—
Betty's PiesStop A North Shore institution since 1956 — it started as a fish-shack coffee stop — famous for five-layer butterscotch and French blueberry pies. Open daily, right on MN-61.	—	—
Caribou Trail (Cook County Road 4) The Caribou Trail is Cook County Road 4, a paved road that departs MN-61 at milepost 92 near Lutsen and climbs into the Sawtooth Mountains of the Superior National Forest, reaching Caribou Lake approximately 4 miles in and continuing into the interior highlands. The road provides access to the Pancore-Rice Lake scenic loop (approximately 13 miles total), which features a mix of deciduous and conifer forest, water views, and two crossings of the Poplar River. The Caribou Trail trailhead at MN-61 is a Superior Hiking Trail access point, and the road corridor offers views back toward Lake Superior as it gains elevation. The route is popular with riders using MN-61 as their spine who want a paved side trip into the Superior National Forest backcountry above the North Shore. The road ends at the BWCA boundary.	17 mi	—
Edge of the Wilderness Byway (MN-38) The 47-mile Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway follows Minnesota State Highway 38 north from Grand Rapids to its terminus at MN-1 in Effie, cutting through the heart of Chippewa National Forest. The road winds around 36 lakes through county, state, and national forest land, passing through the communities of Marcell and Bigfork along the way. A notable geographic feature is the Laurentian Divide, where precipitation splits toward Hudson Bay to the north and the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River to the south. The route traces an ancient Ojibwe travel corridor and passes habitat for the largest bald eagle population in the contiguous United States. Chippewa National Forest is home to America's densest concentration of nesting bald eagles. The road surface has been recently resurfaced and is known for its twisting alignment and rhythm through the lake-studded forest.	47 mi	—
Gooseberry Falls State ParkStop Gooseberry Falls State Park is located at 3206 Highway 61, Two Harbors, MN 55616, approximately 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors on MN-61. The park straddles the Gooseberry River as it descends over five distinct waterfalls before reaching Lake Superior, with the Upper and Lower Falls visible from a short loop trail under 0.5 miles. The Joseph N. Alexander Visitor Center (built 1996, native stone and timber) offers exhibits on North Shore geology and wildlife, clean flush restrooms, potable water, a gift shop, and a staffed information desk. A rest area directly attached to the park entrance off MN-61 makes it a no-stop-cost break point even without paying park admission.	—	—
Great River Road — Southeast Minnesota (US-61) The Great River Road is a National Scenic Byway and All-American Road that runs 575 miles in Minnesota from the Mississippi River headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Iowa border. The southeastern Minnesota section — following US-61 from La Crescent north through Winona and Wabasha — is the most motorcycle-frequented segment, tracing the Mississippi River bluffs through historic river towns with panoramic valley overlooks. US-61 in this stretch hugs the river on the Minnesota side, passing through Winona (with its Victorian commercial architecture and Sugarloaf Bluff) and Wabasha (home of the National Eagle Center), with frequent river-view pull-offs and the dramatic limestone bluffs of the Hiawatha Valley rising above the highway. The segment from La Crescent to Red Wing is approximately 130 miles. The byway connects at both ends to additional scenic routes including the Historic Bluff Country Byway (MN-16) and continues north toward the Twin Cities.	64 mi	—
Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway A 57-mile paved dead-end road from Grand Marais through Superior National Forest to Trail's End at the edge of the Boundary Waters — ride it out and back for roughly 115 miles. There is no fuel at the far end, so top off in Grand Marais and watch for moose, especially at dawn and dusk.	55 mi	—
Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway (MN-16) MN-16 runs 88 miles from Dexter to La Crescent through southeast Minnesota's Driftless bluff country, following the Root River beneath 300-foot limestone bluffs with rolling, rollercoaster pavement and a classic stopover in Lanesboro.	57 mi	—
Naniboujou LodgeStop Naniboujou Lodge sits at 20 Naniboujou Trail, Grand Marais, MN 55604, on the Lake Superior shoreline approximately 15 miles east of Grand Marais via MN-61. Built in 1929 as a private sportsman's club — with Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey among its founding members — the lodge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its Great Hall features a 200-ton stone fireplace and vivid Cree-inspired painted murals covering every surface of the high-vaulted ceiling, considered one of the most unusual dining rooms in Minnesota. The restaurant serves locally sourced breakfasts and lunches in season. There is intentionally no Wi-Fi, cell service, or television on the property.	—	—
North Shore Scenic Drive (MN-61) An All-American Road running 154 miles along Lake Superior from Duluth to Grand Portage, with sweeping curves past Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Palisade Head. Lake-effect fog and cool temperatures are possible even in midsummer.	72 mi	—
Palisade Head OverlookStop Palisade Head is a rhyolite lava-flow headland rising roughly 350 feet above Lake Superior at MN-61 milepost 57, Silver Bay, MN — about 54 miles northeast of Duluth. A narrow, steep half-mile access road climbs from the highway to a small summit parking area with no guardrails at the rim. On clear days the panorama extends southwest to Split Rock Lighthouse and northeast to the Sawtooth Mountains. The cliff face below is a designated rock-climbing area, and peregrine falcons nest on the ledges in spring. The site is undeveloped — no fee, no services — making it a pure landscape stop.	—	—
Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway The Paul Bunyan National Scenic Byway is a 54-mile double-loop route through the northwoods lake country of Crow Wing and Cass counties, centered between Pequot Lakes and Crosslake roughly 30 miles north of Brainerd. The byway follows county roads (including County Roads 1, 16, 66, 3, 11, and 15) past Upper and Lower Whitefish Lake, Cross Lake, Rush Lake, and Big Trout Lake, through the resort communities of Pequot Lakes, Pine River, Jenkins, and Crosslake. The route is characterized by broad, well-maintained paved shoulders and gentle curves rather than technical riding — it is a relaxed lake-country cruise through classic Minnesota northwoods scenery. The area supports birding, fishing, boutique shopping, and golf. The byway is free and open year-round, though northern Minnesota winters limit practical riding to May through October.	17 mi	—
Pincushion Mountain OverlookStop Pincushion Mountain Overlook is a roadside parking area at the top of the first major climb on the Gunflint Trail (Cook County Road 12), roughly 2 miles north of Grand Marais, MN. The Gunflint Trail ascends approximately 600 feet in its opening miles through a maple and birch forest before reaching the Pincushion ridgeline, where a pull-off delivers a 180-degree panorama back over Grand Marais, the Lake Superior harbor, and the open water stretching to the Canadian shore. The overlook is free, with a small gravel lot and interpretive signage about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that begins a few miles north. It is the most accessible high-elevation viewpoint near Grand Marais.	—	—
Split Rock LighthouseStop Split Rock Lighthouse stands on a 130-foot rhyolite cliff above Lake Superior at 3713 Split Rock Lighthouse Road, Two Harbors, MN 55616, operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. Built in 1910 after the 1905 Mataafa Storm wrecked dozens of ships on the North Shore, the lighthouse is one of the most-photographed structures in Minnesota. The site includes a fully restored light tower, fog signal building, and keeper's dwelling — all open for guided tours in season (mid-May through October). The historic footpath from the parking area descends to a shoreline viewpoint where the cliff face and lighthouse can be seen in the same frame, a classic North Shore shot. It sits at approximately MN-61 milepost 46, roughly 20 miles northeast of Two Harbors.	—	—

//Rallies & events

Rally

Rally · July, ~4 days

Midwest Motorcycle Rally

Minnesota

The Midwest Motorcycle Rally (MMR) is an annual multi-day gathering held in Winona, Minnesota, headquartered at The Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1025 Hwy 61 E. The 2026 event is the 19th annual running, confirming its recurring status. The rally centers on guided group rides at varying paces through the bluff-country roads of southeast Minnesota and across the Mississippi River into Wisconsin, followed by evening music, games, raffles, and vendor activities. All bike types, skill levels, and ages are welcome; registration is free. Winona's position on MN-61 at the Mississippi River makes it a natural gateway city for riders exploring the Hiawatha Valley or looping through Historic Bluff Country.

NextNext edition TBA

Official site ↗

By Switchback · Updated 2026-07-08

Best season

Mid-May through early October

Helmet law

Required under 18 or on permit

Lane filtering

Legal (with speed restrictions)

Signature terrain

Lake Superior shore, Driftless bluffs, northwoods lakes

Minnesota doesn't offer the most technical riding in the country, but it offers something harder to find: three genuinely different landscapes within a single state, each with its own road character. The North Shore follows 154 miles of Lake Superior on an All-American Road flanked by rhyolite headlands and river gorges. Southeast Minnesota's Driftless region delivers the state's most sustained curves — rollercoaster pavement beneath 300-foot limestone bluffs above the Root River. And the northwoods interior, threaded by byways like MN-38 and MN-46, trades corners for rhythm and canopy, with bald eagles overhead and glacial lakes at nearly every turn. The season is short, the roads are clean once summer arrives, and the traffic on the scenic byways stays manageable on weekday mornings. That combination makes Minnesota a practical choice for riders who want scenery without crowds, if they pick their timing.

Three Regions, Three Riding Moods

Choosing where to ride in Minnesota starts with a simple question: what do you want around you? The state divides cleanly into three riding regions, and mixing them into a multi-day loop is entirely practical.

The Northeast — Arrowhead and North Shore. MN-61 from Duluth to Grand Portage is the headline act, but the real interest comes from side roads: the Caribou Trail climbing into the Superior National Forest highlands, Palisade Head's narrow access road to a 350-foot cliff above the lake, and the Gunflint Trail pushing 57 miles into the Boundary Waters wilderness. These routes reward patience and a full tank. Services thin out north of Grand Marais, and the Gunflint dead-ends with no fuel at Trail's End — plan accordingly.

The Southeast — Driftless Bluff Country. MN-16 through the Root River corridor is the only road in the state that genuinely asks something of a rider. Rolling pavement, long sight lines interrupted by sudden dips and curves, and limestone bluffs rising 300 feet above the valley floor make this Minnesota's most engaging stretch. The Apple Blossom Scenic Drive adds a short bluff loop above the Mississippi, and the Great River Road connects the region's river towns. This is the part of the state that surprises riders expecting flat Midwest terrain.

The North-Central Interior — Northwoods Lakes Country. MN-38 and MN-46 are byway rides rather than technical roads — steady rhythm through lake-studded Chippewa National Forest, with bald eagles nesting in numbers found nowhere else in the contiguous U.S. The Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway works well as a relaxed add-on from Brainerd north.

Practical Planning Notes

Fuel and services: Plan fuel stops carefully north of Two Harbors on MN-61 and on the Gunflint Trail. Rural gaps are real.
Spring conditions: Sand, gravel, and frost heaves linger on secondary roads well into May. Ride conservatively until roads are swept.
Wildlife: Deer are a statewide hazard at dawn and dusk. Moose are a genuine risk on Cook County roads — large, dark, and unpredictable. Slow down in moose habitat.
Weather variability: Morning and evening temperature swings are significant, especially on the North Shore where lake-effect fog can appear without warning. Layered gear is the practical choice across the entire season.
Road conditions: Check 511mn.org before any shoulder-season or post-storm ride on the North Shore or Cook County backroads.

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// Frequently asked

Minnesota has a partial helmet law. Riders and passengers under 18 must wear a DOT-approved helmet, as must anyone operating on a motorcycle instruction permit regardless of age. Licensed riders 18 and older are not legally required to wear one, though eye protection is required for all riders — windshields do not satisfy that requirement. Wearing a helmet is strongly advisable regardless of the legal baseline.

Yes. As of July 1, 2025, lane splitting and filtering became legal on Minnesota roads under a law passed by the Legislature in 2024. Motorcyclists may share lanes or filter through stopped traffic at no more than 25 mph and no more than 15 mph over the speed of surrounding traffic. The maneuver is prohibited in roundabouts, school and work zones, and freeway on- and off-ramps. Motorists may not intentionally impede a motorcyclist who is legally filtering.

Late June through September is the sweet spot. Lake Superior moderates temperatures along the shore, but lake-effect fog is common even in midsummer, especially on early mornings. Fall color on the Sawtooth ridgeline typically peaks in late September. Avoid the stretch until roads are fully cleared of winter sand and gravel, usually by late May.

Deer are the most consistent threat statewide, with collision risk highest at dawn and dusk. Moose are a serious hazard on the Gunflint Trail and other Cook County roads — they are large, dark, and often don't yield. On the North Shore, lake-effect fog can reduce visibility quickly. Spring rides face sand, gravel, and potholes from freeze-thaw cycles. The Gunflint Trail dead-ends at the Boundary Waters with no fuel at the far end, so top off in Grand Marais before heading north.

Minnesota has no mountain passes to close, but MN-61 along the North Shore can close during severe winter storms or extreme flooding events caused by rain combined with snowmelt — check 511mn.org for real-time conditions before heading out on shoulder-season days. The Gunflint Trail and county roads in Cook County are susceptible to washouts after heavy rain. The Echo Trail near Ely has mixed pavement and gravel surfaces that can become difficult after wet weather.

No. Minnesota doesn't have switchback-heavy mountain roads. The closest thing to sustained technical riding is MN-1 between Ely and Illgen City through Superior National Forest — about 61 miles of spirited sweepers and corner rhythm through lake and forest terrain. The Historic Bluff Country Byway (MN-16) in the southeast offers the state's best rollercoaster pavement. Both reward smooth, deliberate riding more than aggressive cornering.

//Sources & references

Motorcycle rider laws | Minnesota Department of Public Safety ↗Lane splitting, filtering to begin in Minnesota | Minnesota Department of Public Safety ↗Minnesota 511 Travel Information | MnDOT ↗Minnesota Motorcycle Rides | Discover the Best Routes – REVER ↗Top 7 Best Motorcycle Rides in Minnesota for 2026 | GreatMotorcycleRoads.com ↗