Superior Hiking Trail
Encyclopedia
The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as The “SHT,” is a 275-mile (442-km) long footpath in Northeastern Minnesota
, which for most of its length follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior
. The path is 18-inches wide and is set in the middle of a 4 foot clearing. The footpath travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar. Hikers enjoy views of boreal forests, the Sawtooth Mountains
, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The lowest point in the path is 602 feet above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 feet above sea level. The footpath is intended for hiking only. Motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses are not allowed on the trail. Many people use the footpath for long distance hiking. Facilitating this purpose are 81 campsites spread throughout the northern section of the trail.
MN and extending 275 miles to the Canadian border. Inspiration for building the trail came from the Appalachian Trail
, which crosses through Georgia
all the way to Maine
. The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) was formed in 1986 to manage the construction, planning, and day to day care of the trail. They received several grants from the state, three of which were from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. This money helped jump start the construction of the trail for the first few years. In 1987 the trail had an opening ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction by having a log-cutting event which had many state government attendees and founders at Britton Peak. Three years later in August 1990, the trail had reached a half-way mark and had yet another celebration. This included a 140-mile hike for about a dozen brave hikers, which took a total of 12 days to complete. A 100 miles marathon known as the "Superior 100", along with several other races, is hosted annually at the Superior Hiking Trail. It celebrated its first marathon in September 1991. In 1995 Paul Hlina, who was paralyzed from the waist down, hiked the entire trail on crutches and is now known as the first hiker to thru-hike the trail. He raised $16,000 in pledges for the Superior Hiking Trail Association, the non-profit organization which maintains the trail. The trail has gained national recognition through several magazines and has many future plans to expand the trail.
The southern section of the trail comprises 39 miles starting in the city of Duluth
with the trail head at Jay Cooke State Park
. The trail extends to the northeast through the Spirit Mountain Wilderness Area, through Brewer Park, Enger Park
, the Historic Downtown Area, Canal Park
, the Lakewalk, and Hartley Nature Center, before it ends at a trailhead located on Martin Road on the north side of the city.
The northern portion of the trail is 235 contiguous miles and begins north of Two Harbors
at a trail head on Rossini Rd (though there is a segment heading six miles south from this point as of May 2010). From there, the trail extends to the northeast along Lake Superior through seven state parks, including Gooseberry Falls State Park
, Split Rock Lighthouse
and Tettegouche State Park
. This section of the SHT passes near the towns of Lutsen
and Grand Marais
, and ends just before the Canada – United States border.
Work is in progress to tie the southern and northern sections together to create a continuous Superior Hiking Trail path. Other plans for extending the trail include connecting the northern section with the 65 mile long Border Route Trail
which starts a short distance from the trail head on Otter Lake Road. This would then connect to the 41 mile long Kekekabic Trail
which would give hiker the ability to hike all the way through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
and end near Ely
. There are also plans to lengthening the southern section by connecting with the North Country National Scenic Trail
.
The trail was mostly built by crews of people that were hired from local towns or by the Minnesota Conservation Corps. Most of the trail is maintained by groups of volunteers, scout troups or other outdoor organizations. Some groups have chosen to take a section of the trail to do upkeep on, others participate in scheduled maintenance hikes. There is currently construction on a 5.1-mile section between Fox Farm Road/East Trailhead and Fox Farm Road/West Trailhead between Duluth
and Two Harbors
that is being done with volunteer labor.
named the Superior Hiking Trail the trail with the "Best Trail/Camp/Shelter conditions," the trail with the "Best Signage" in the country, and one of the most scenic trails in the nation.
According to Andrew Skurka of National Geographic, Superior Hiking Trail is one of his ten favorite hikes in America
In the May, 2005, Readers Digest listed Superior Hiking Trail as one of the "5 Best Hikes in America".
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, which for most of its length follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. The path is 18-inches wide and is set in the middle of a 4 foot clearing. The footpath travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar. Hikers enjoy views of boreal forests, the Sawtooth Mountains
Sawtooth Mountains (Minnesota)
The Sawtooth Mountains are a range of low, serrated ridges situated on the North Shore of Lake Superior in the U.S. state of Minnesota, extending about 30 miles from Carlton Peak near Tofte on the west, to Grand Marais on the east.-Description:...
, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The lowest point in the path is 602 feet above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 feet above sea level. The footpath is intended for hiking only. Motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses are not allowed on the trail. Many people use the footpath for long distance hiking. Facilitating this purpose are 81 campsites spread throughout the northern section of the trail.
History
Construction began for the Superior Hiking Trail in the mid-1980s, beginning in DuluthDuluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
MN and extending 275 miles to the Canadian border. Inspiration for building the trail came from the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
, which crosses through Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
all the way to Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) was formed in 1986 to manage the construction, planning, and day to day care of the trail. They received several grants from the state, three of which were from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. This money helped jump start the construction of the trail for the first few years. In 1987 the trail had an opening ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction by having a log-cutting event which had many state government attendees and founders at Britton Peak. Three years later in August 1990, the trail had reached a half-way mark and had yet another celebration. This included a 140-mile hike for about a dozen brave hikers, which took a total of 12 days to complete. A 100 miles marathon known as the "Superior 100", along with several other races, is hosted annually at the Superior Hiking Trail. It celebrated its first marathon in September 1991. In 1995 Paul Hlina, who was paralyzed from the waist down, hiked the entire trail on crutches and is now known as the first hiker to thru-hike the trail. He raised $16,000 in pledges for the Superior Hiking Trail Association, the non-profit organization which maintains the trail. The trail has gained national recognition through several magazines and has many future plans to expand the trail.
Sections of the Trail
There are two primary sections to the SHTA.The southern section of the trail comprises 39 miles starting in the city of Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
with the trail head at Jay Cooke State Park
Jay Cooke State Park
Jay Cooke State Park is a Minnesota state park located about ten miles southwest of Duluth, just outside the small town of Thomson. Jay Cooke is situated on the St...
. The trail extends to the northeast through the Spirit Mountain Wilderness Area, through Brewer Park, Enger Park
Enger Tower
Enger Tower is an , five-story blue stone observation tower atop Enger Hill in Duluth, Minnesota. The tower is at an elevation of above Lake Superior, providing panoramic views of the Twin Ports. Each of the tower's levels has a lookout that is accessible by stairs...
, the Historic Downtown Area, Canal Park
Canal Park (Duluth)
Canal Park is a tourist and recreation-oriented district of Duluth, Minnesota, United States. Situated across the Interstate 35 freeway from Downtown Duluth, it is connected by the famous Aerial Lift Bridge to the Park Point sandbar and neighborhood...
, the Lakewalk, and Hartley Nature Center, before it ends at a trailhead located on Martin Road on the north side of the city.
The northern portion of the trail is 235 contiguous miles and begins north of Two Harbors
Two Harbors, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,613 people, 1,636 households, and 953 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,120.7 people per square mile . There were 1,631 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile...
at a trail head on Rossini Rd (though there is a segment heading six miles south from this point as of May 2010). From there, the trail extends to the northeast along Lake Superior through seven state parks, including Gooseberry Falls State Park
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Gooseberry Falls State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The park is located in Silver Creek Township, about 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors, Minnesota in Lake County on scenic Minnesota Highway 61. The Joseph N...
, Split Rock Lighthouse
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It is best known for the picturesque Split Rock Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States...
and Tettegouche State Park
Tettegouche State Park
Tettegouche State Park is a Minnesota state park on the north shore of Lake Superior 58 miles northeast of Duluth in Lake County on scenic Minnesota Highway 61. The park's name stems from the Tettegouche Club, an association of local businessmen which purchased the park in 1910 from the...
. This section of the SHT passes near the towns of Lutsen
Lutsen, Minnesota
Lutsen is an unincorporated community in Cook County, Minnesota, United States. Lutsen is located on Minnesota State Highway 61 between Grand Marais and Little Marais.-Economy:...
and Grand Marais
Grand Marais, Minnesota
Grand Marais is a city in Cook County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,351 at the 2010 census. It is also the county seat of Cook County...
, and ends just before the Canada – United States border.
Work is in progress to tie the southern and northern sections together to create a continuous Superior Hiking Trail path. Other plans for extending the trail include connecting the northern section with the 65 mile long Border Route Trail
Border Route Trail
The Border Route Trail is a long hiking trail that crosses the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the far northeast corner of Minnesota and follows the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. It connects with the Superior Hiking Trail on its eastern terminus and with...
which starts a short distance from the trail head on Otter Lake Road. This would then connect to the 41 mile long Kekekabic Trail
Kekekabic Trail
The Kekekabic Trail, commonly referred to as 'The Kek', is a hiking trail that runs about 41 miles from Snowbank Road near Ely, Minnesota to the western terminus of the Gunflint Trail in northwestern Cook County. The Gunflint then proceeds southeastward, with its terminus at Grand Marais, Minnesota...
which would give hiker the ability to hike all the way through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , is a wilderness area within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota under the administration of the U.S. Forest Service...
and end near Ely
Ely, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,724 people, 1,912 households, and 916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,369.5 people per square mile . There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 703.2 per square mile...
. There are also plans to lengthening the southern section by connecting with the North Country National Scenic Trail
North Country Trail
The North Country National Scenic Trail , which stretches approximately from Crown Point in eastern New York to Lake Sakakawea in central North Dakota in the United States, is the longest of the eleven National Scenic Trails authorized by Congress...
.
The Superior Hiking Trail Association
The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) promotes and maintains the trail. It is a Minnesota based non-profit corporation with more than 3200 members. The association produces a quarterly newsletter called The Ridgeline for its members which contains noteworthy news of the trail, trail maintainer bios, and association financial information. The most visible activities of the SHTA are the popular organized hikes featuring leaders with interpretive skills, such as naturalists, geologists, photographers, and historians and ranging from day hikes to backpacking trips of several days' duration.The trail was mostly built by crews of people that were hired from local towns or by the Minnesota Conservation Corps. Most of the trail is maintained by groups of volunteers, scout troups or other outdoor organizations. Some groups have chosen to take a section of the trail to do upkeep on, others participate in scheduled maintenance hikes. There is currently construction on a 5.1-mile section between Fox Farm Road/East Trailhead and Fox Farm Road/West Trailhead between Duluth
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
and Two Harbors
Two Harbors, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,613 people, 1,636 households, and 953 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,120.7 people per square mile . There were 1,631 housing units at an average density of 505.9 per square mile...
that is being done with volunteer labor.
Accolades
In December, 2000, Backpacker MagazineBackpacker (magazine)
Backpacker Magazine is an American publication that features information on wilderness hiking and adventure. It has been published since 1973. Backpacker magazine is currently published by Active Interest Media and is based in Boulder, Colorado...
named the Superior Hiking Trail the trail with the "Best Trail/Camp/Shelter conditions," the trail with the "Best Signage" in the country, and one of the most scenic trails in the nation.
According to Andrew Skurka of National Geographic, Superior Hiking Trail is one of his ten favorite hikes in America
In the May, 2005, Readers Digest listed Superior Hiking Trail as one of the "5 Best Hikes in America".