Discover Babbitt

If you’re looking for a hotel in Babbitt, the town’s attractions can help you narrow down your destination: Birch Lake Beach combines a beach and fishing, alongside a paved connection between town and the beach area, a nearby ski trail, and an ATV trail that starts in Babbitt. Parks, a seasonal farmers market, and a distinctive taconite rock round out the picture.

Birch Lake Beach: Swimming and fishing

Birch Lake Beach covers 36.88 acres. The beach house has changing rooms, restrooms, and a concession stand. The beach area is also home to the Babbitt Fishing Pier: the accessible fishing pier is 104 feet long. The beach and fishing access are found together in one location; accessibility refers to the pier.

This gives you two distinct points to consider when planning your trip: the beach area and its amenities, and the explicitly accessible pier. If you’re weighing a stay focused on the water against one with other activities, you can include Birch Lake Beach as a separate stop on your itinerary.

Trails for biking, walking, and skiing

A paved biking and walking trail connects the town of Babbitt with the beach area. This provides a specific route between town and the beach that you can plan to use for a walk or bike ride.

The Birch Lake Plantation Ski Trail offers a different activity. It is about 1 mile east of Babbitt on Scott Road, also known as County Road 623. It has about 5 miles of classic ski trails, ranging from beginner to advanced. The two trail options therefore differ in purpose and scale: a paved connection between town and the beach on the one hand, and classic ski trails on the other.

Fountain Hill Park on Central Boulevard adds to these options with walking paths, a basketball court, and a sledding hill. It also has a pond with a fountain and lighting. The park offers different points of interest from the route to the beach or the ski trails. If you plan to make it a regular stop, it’s a good idea to check the condition of the facilities before your visit.

ATV rides and wildlife watching

The Stony Spur II ATV Trail starts in Babbitt and runs east. The 26-mile route passes through Bear Island State Forest, with opportunities to watch wildlife along the way, though sightings are not guaranteed. This sets the ride apart from the walking and biking trails and the classic ski trails. If you’re considering a ride, check current conditions and access before you travel.

Market and local highlights

The Babbitt Farmers Market takes place during the summer months, June through September, on Thursdays from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the space next to Babbitt’s Central Park. The set seasonal period and day of the week can help you plan a market visit; check the specific date for your planned visit.

Another local highlight is the Taconite Rock in Babbitt: the boulder weighs 28 tons and was removed from the Peter Mitchell Mine area. It adds a distinctive landmark alongside the recreational activities and offers a connection to the mine. Taken together, the beach, trails, park, market, and boulder showcase different sides of the town rather than focusing on just one activity.

These highlights can help you get a sense of Babbitt as a destination and match your hotel search to the activities you have planned.

Explore more destinations: Mountain Iron, Virginia, Cook, Embarrass, Hibbing, University City, Brookston, Duluth

For the broader travel overview: St. Louis.