A bike path connecting the Great Lakes and the Gulf? You bet. Passing through Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and Grand Portage National Monument, the new U.S. Bicycle Route 41 — also known at the North Star Bicycle Route — connects to nine state parks and Superior National Forest. The new section expands the U.S. Bicycle Route System to 11,563 miles of routes in 24 states.

Adventure Cycling Association, which provides national coordination for the U.S. Bicycle Route System, suggests picking up the new track in downtown St. Paul, Minn., at Union Depot transportation hub. Trail access is nearby, and a host of bike-friendly support resources include a bike shop, secure bicycle storage, a repair station, regional buses and Amtrak passenger trains with carry-on service. A new website for USBR 41 organized by the Minnesota Department of Transportation will give cyclists access to downloadable electronic/GPS maps, links to resources and tools for route implementation