This past visit to the North Shore we spent primarily on the SHT & we loved it! The Cascade loop is a very pretty hike & took about 4.5 hrs. The Bear & Bean lake hike was very pretty as well & gave amazing views of the interior lakes as well as Lake Superior. Our last hike was out to Lake Agnes & Caribou Lake...very serene. We didn't really see other people on the trails minus the Bear & Bean hike (that one is very popular). All of the trails & spurs are very well marked & the trails are also very well maintained. We will be back for backpacking for sure!
40 miles of fabulous views of lake superior, waterfalls, beaver ponds, lakes and inland forest on the north shore of lake superior in Minnesota. This hike varies in degree of difficulty from easy and flat on the bottoms with wet and muddy conditions, as a result of the 100 mile endurance run on the Friday after labor day, to challenging, scrambling vertical climbs up rocks and boulders that resemble dry creek beds but the views are worth the effort. The campsites are nothing special except the ones on the lakes and the 2nd site in from Manitou SP on the east fork of the Baptism river, however, each campsite did have a latrine that I found to be a welcomed feature. Section 13 camp is on top of a ridge but dry so water must be carried in but this location has great views a little ways south of the campsite. The highlight of the trek is the waterfalls on the baptism river. I would highly recommend that since you are close, visit gooseberry falls and split rock river that has a loop hike with nice campsites on the river for a I night loop hike then tour the restored lighthouse before heading to betty's pies for broasted chicken and a slice of pie ala mode. Happy trekking.
We started at the Tettegouche State Park and went to the falls. It was a perfect 2 hour hike on a cold day; just enough of a challenge for us without ice cleats. The visitor center was brand new and really nice to warm up by the fire. Lower trail out to Lake Superior was easy and offered great views for pictures.
We were on parts of this trail up and down the shore and it was nicely marked and well maintained in the several different areas that we were on it.
This is a fantastic trail because it is so well marked. And it takes the hiker through gorgeous areas of woods, rivers, waterfalls and views of Lake Superior!!!!
There is not enough good that one can say about the Superior Hiking Trail. It is beautiful, rustic, challenging and rewarding. The woods, rivers, streams and views of Lake Superior are all terrific. The trail is very well kept, but it's still a hiking trail through very remote areas of northeastern Minnesota. That is, come prepared! And don't assume cell coverage. We've hiked most of its 300+ miles and it never gets old.
The Oberg loop offers stunning views of both Superior National Forest and Lake Superior. It's not too long, but be prepared to meet quite a few other hikers.
We've gone on a number of day trips and overnight trips on different segments of this trail -- near and through Duluth, around Castle Danger and Gooseberry, north of Finland through George Crosby Manitou State Park and the Cascade River, up Oberg Mountain, and north of Grand Marais. The trail has varied scenery throughout, is well marked, the campsites are excellent, and the maps on the website are first rate and easy to follow.Highly recommended.
On a chilly, clear morning in February, my husband and I were picked up by Bob with the Superior Hiking Shuttle Service at the parking lot at Gooseberry Falls. He dropped us off at the Castle Danger trail head and we hiked 9.6 miles back to our car at Goosberry Falls. Temp was -6 when we started, but it warned up to a balmy 18 degrees mid-day and the sky was a beautiful blue. We ate gourmet lunch on the trail - hot soup from our thermos with Ritz crackers. A perfect day hike and we never had to swat at a single mosquito!
I got to see a portion of the SUperior Hiking Trail when I ran a marathon along it, yes, I know crazy, but the important point here is that this is like the most incredible trail I have travelled on. Very well marked, very well maintained, I loved it, so much to see, so little time. The trail is not a days hike, or even a few days, this is probably one of the longest trails in the country.