Fun Year Round Activities in Chisholm:
Minnesota Discovery Center
The Minnesota Discovery Center is a highlight for locals and visitors alike. There’s so much to dig into. Many of the Discovery Center’s exhibits are open during COVID-19. Some activities require advanced reservations and are only available by season. Visiting their website is a great place to get started!
The Minnesota Museum of Mining
The Minnesota Museum of Mining is open seasonally in the summer months and plans to reopen in 2021 with procedures in place to ensure a fun and safe experience for all. Touring the large equipment along the grounds of the property while learning about the history of mining can be a fascinating journey in understanding the advancement of technology and the human spirit’s determination to succeed. The museum also hosts an indoor diorama train exhibit that is a must see for any train enthusiast.
A STEM exhibit for kids ages 3-8 offers hands-on learning for kids that can be enjoyed at the Discovery Center. This is a great night on the town for families with young ones who love to learn in person. Their exhibits change regularly, so call ahead to find out what is available for your next family outing.
Chisholm Youth Center
The Chisholm Youth Center is a part of the city of Chisholm’s public buildings. Currently because all city buildings are closed the public, this location is not available. As the city works to reopen space while taking the necessary COVID-19 safety precautions, this space will hopefully again be available for the youth of the community. For more information regarding the Youth Center, contact the City of Chisholm.
Fishing
Fishing the Chisholm area can be done from a number of locations! One of the most convenient for those who want to set up and tear down quickly would be the docks located around Longyear Lake. Many fishermen have enjoyed this lake all season long catching sunfish, walleye, northern, and large mouth bass! Ice fishing is also a popular activity locally with the Chisholm Kiwanis Club hosting an annual ice fishing contest.
The Iron Range Research Center
Heritage hunters can visit the research center to access ancestry databases, an archive of news articles, and more! The Research Center is free to access, and can be utilized to find information about family member names, previous year’s census data, and mapping your family tree.
The research team that supports the center is a great resource. Scheduling an appointment with an archivist before you go will help you to maximize the use of your time. They can help you navigate access to microfilm of photos and newspapers, checkout available material, and access local archive collections as well. For more information regarding the Iron Range Research Center, check out their FAQ Page.
Spring, Summer, & Fall Activities:
Fun for the whole family, the Minnesota Discovery Center offers outdoor mini golf in the seasons without snow! The best part about MDC’s mini golf is that there’s a Tuesday night discount during their open season!
Explore the history of the Chisholm mining locations by trolley at the Minnesota Discovery Center. This tour allows you to experience what life was like during the mining camp days while riding the trolly through the various mining locations.
Frisbee Golf
Located on the southside of Longyear Lake, the Chisholm Blue Streak Park offers an 18 hole disc golf course. If you’re interested in getting together with a few people to play a round, check out the Hibbing/Chisholm Disc Golf Facebook Group.
Stand Up Paddleboarding
Equipment rentals for getting out on the water are available at Chisholm’s locally owned business 30West Fitness & Recreation. Checking in and out can be done via their completely digital process, allowing you the leisure to rent when it’s right for your family outing.
Kayaking
Chisholm is home to two beautiful reclaimed mining pits and numerous bodies of water. There’s many places to take your Kayak and enjoy a leisurely day on the water. For those who enjoy a river experience, Sturgeon River, just north of Chisholm has a portage access point along Hwy 73 that allows paddlers to access the full experience of Sturgeon River State Forest. Dark River also has an additional portage river entrance to experience as well!
ATV
Chisholm’s Northern Traxx Club is proud to encourage Chisholm’s ATV activities in a safe and fun way. Gearing up for fall colors or springtime leaves can be enjoyed on the trail with shelter locations along the way! Chisholm’s trail connects with the Taconite State Trail as well for an even longer trip. Social distancing guidelines for ATV trails can be found on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.
Road Biking
Biking passes for 3 days ($5) or annual passes ($15) can be purchased at the Chisholm Chamber of Commerce, the Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm Inn & Suites, or online at the Mesabi Trail website.
Running & Walking Trails
Chisholm has a number of trails for walking and running, including the Chisholm Memorial Track, the Longyear Lake Trail, the Mesabi Trail, and the Redhead Mountain Bike Park.
Bocce Ball
True to Chisholm’s casual sporting nature Chisholm is home to 8 public bocce ball courts. If we can enjoy curling in the winter, we’re going to get out our bocce ball in the summer! Bocce ball is a game that includes throwing a main ball, called a pallina, onto a flat surface where each team must then attempt to place their balls the closests to the pallina. Also called Italian lawn bowling, this game’s name gives a hint to one of the many cultural groups that have contributed to the city’s heritage. Bring your Bocce Ball set and play a pickup game of your own at Chisholm’s Bocce Ball and Ice Arena. Please review the current city guidelines for COVID-19 precautions to this facility on their website page.
Winter Activities:
Snowmobiling
Get a central region snowmobile map at the Chamber of Commerce when you visit Chisholm. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, contact them in advance to ensure availability. Updated trail conditions can be accessed on the Minnesota DNR Website.
Snowshoeing
At Minnesota Discovery Center you can rent snowshoes and even book a guided tour in Chisholm! Experiencing the outdoors with some beautiful views of a reclaimed mining area is a great way to spend a winter afternoon.
Hockey
Looking to get your kids involved in hockey? The Hibbing Chisholm Youth Hockey Association has some great opportunities almost all year long to get involved with.
Cross Country Skiing
Cross country skiing is available all over the local area.
Ice Skating
Getting some ice time for your family can be such a great way to burn off your winter energy! Chisholm has multiple outdoor ice rinks, like the South Side Skating rink, located at 701 SW 1st Street. Chisholm has produced some of the highest level figure skaters in Northern Minnesota through the Chisholm Figure Skating Club. From outdoor to indoor, there are so many ways to get involved and grow your ice skating abilities!