Recreational trails abound across the Iron Range.

There's trails for all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, recreational bicycles, mountain bikes, off-highway motorcycles, and cross country skiing. There's even trails for horses.

With the formation of a Regional Trails Task Force, the Iron Range Tourism Bureau is serving as a catalyst to promote, develop, and sustain all types of recreational trails across the Iron Range.

"We have a great product here with all the trails we have," said Beth Pierce, Iron Range Tourism Bureau director. "We want to better promote our trails. We're looking at identifying the things we need to talk about and then work on whatever the group has the desire to work on."

The task force held its first meeting in October.

About 25 representatives from various trails and recreational groups attended, including public and private organizations.

"It went really well," Pierce said of the initial meeting. "They really want to work together."

The task force plans to examine a number of topics including legislation regarding permanent right-of-ways, GPS mapping, grant funding, purpose-built trails, advertising, engineering services, and the need for new trail volunteers.

Other topics to be addressed include developing a master list of trail contacts, exchanging maps and web site information, developing a master trails plan or comprehensive plan, and potential funding sources.

The Iron Range Tourism Bureau plans to host monthly meetings. The next meeting is Nov. 24 at Mesabi Station in Eveleth.

"We're just getting started," said Pierce. "It's a great group of people. It will be interesting to see how it evolves and how it takes shape."