It passes through Willow River, Moose Lake, Barnum, and Carlton before terminating in Duluth.
The 15-mile (24 km) segment between Carlton and Duluth is particularly scenic, as it passes through forested areas and rock cuts before opening up to scenic views of the Lake Superior harbor and downtown Duluth.
Alex Laveau was a former county commissioner who advocated reusing abandoned railways as recreational trails.
The Matthew Lourey State Trail runs along Minnesota's eastern boundary.
This segment of the trail is unpaved, and is intended for snowmobile, motorcycle, ATV, horseback riding, and mountain biking.