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Enjoy 310+ miles of trail along Lake Superior's North Shore. The Superior Hiking Trail is ideal for day trips, thru-hikes, backpacking, and trail running.
- Plan Your Adventure
A Footpath Above Lake Superior The Superior Hiking Trail in...
- Shuttles and Parking
Reservations can be made starting May 1. The Superior...
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The Superior Hiking Trail Association is a 501©3 non-profit...
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Your source for maps, books, and gear from the Superior...
- Trail Incident Report
Please use the Trail Incident Report form below if you:...
- Backpacking
Campsite use falls off dramatically after Labor Day. Much of...
- The SHTA Community
We make the Superior Hiking Trail a place for all to enjoy....
- News & Events
April 15, 2024 In 2024, the Superior Hiking Trail...
- Plan Your Adventure
Jul 19, 2023 · How to Hike the Superior Hiking Trail Duluth Section. The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT), which is also an official part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, is a rugged footpath that traverses more than 300 miles along the North Shore. From the Minnesota/Wisconsin border in Jay Cooke State Park up to the 270-degree overlook near the ...
- East Duluth, Between Downtown and The Colleges
- West Duluth from Getchell and Highland
- Getchell/Highland to The Zoo
- Zoo to Spirit Mountain and Ely's Peak
- Loops
- Shorter Walks
- Trip Tips: Superior Hiking Trail in Duluth
Perhaps the easiest hike in Duluth — which doesn't mean it doesn'thave hills — also is our favorite. It's the 4½-mile stretch betweenHartley Park, in the hills above the University of Minnesota-Duluth,and the Rose Gardenabove the Lakewalk. It starts at Hartley Nature Center and, from Hartley Pond, winds throughthe park's vast woods. From the other ...
Possibly the most scenic stretch of the Superior Hiking Trail throughDuluth starts at the junction of Skyline Parkway with Getchell andHighland avenues. From here, it's 9.4 miles east to downtown, mostly downhill. It's especially scenic in fall, because after the trail passes an oldstone pump house on Keene Creek, it enters maple forest in Brewer P...
Heading west from Getchell/Highland, it's a mostly downhill 3.2 milesto the Lake Superior Zoo. It's the most varied section of trail . On this stretch, the urbanlandscape adds to the mix. The trail follows Keene Creek to a train bridge, where you'll tread ondusty red taconite pellets that have fallen out of the cars. Then itgoes through alder fores...
Continuing west from the zoo, the ¾-mile spur trail climbs thecedar-lined west side of Kingsbury Creek, nearly to I-35, then heads twomiles west through pine forest. It descends 138 wooden steps to Knowlton Creek, which it follows down tothe Grand Avenue chalet at Spirit Mountain,a nice place to havelunch or a beer. The return for this stretch woul...
There's a 3.4-mile loop on the Brewer Parksection between Getchell and Haines Road and a 3.5-mile loop on SpiritMountain, most easily reached from the Grand Avenue Chalet. There's a 1.7-mile loop around Ely's Peak, where you also can see the long cool tunnel of the former Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway. You can get there from the Beck'sRoad/1...
As wonderful as the Superior Hiking Trail is, it's not the only greattrail in Duluth. The city has more than 50 miles of trail in other scenic spots,including the Waabizheshikana Trail, formerly Western Waterfront Trail, alongSt. Louis Bay; the sandy Park Point Trail from the airport to theSuperior harbor entry; and Congdon Park Trail, up Tischer C...
Before hiking, it's always smart to check for closures and trailconditions. In winter, the hiking/running trails become snowshoeing trails, thoughso many people use them they quickly become packed. Maps: Information on the Duluth segments of the Superior HikingTrailis online,or pick up maps around town. The "Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail,"$15....
- Duluth. With its Lake Superior and harbor views and an incredible array of things to see and do, Duluth is a popular destination. The Canal Park area on the waterfront is a great place to start your visit.
- Duluth. People of all ages will enjoy Duluth's many attractions. Families will find hours of fun at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, Duluth Children's Museum and Lake Superior Zoo.
- North Shore Scenic Drive. The North Shore Scenic Drive, designated as an All-American Road, is a 145-mile scenic byway following the dramatic, rugged shoreline of Lake Superior, with forested hillsides, wilderness streams and waterfalls along the way.
- Grand Marais & Grand Portage. A stroll around the artsy town of Grand Marais reveals an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops and galleries. Dabble in the arts at the Grand Marais Art Colony, the state's oldest arts school.
- MN/WI Border to Duluth, 50.2 miles. The first section offers many challenges, not the least that there is only one free, official SHT campsite along the way, and it’s right at the border.
- Duluth to Two Harbors, 57.2 miles. The second section is the beginning of official campsites on trail. I would be lying if I said I’ve never stealth camped on the Superior Hiking Trail, but the association requests that we camp in designated sites and be prepared to share them.
- Two Harbors to Silver Bay, 44.6 miles. Here, the trail actually starts to feel as if you are on the North Shore, with big climbs up (and down) hand-built stairs of rock and logs – or directly on the lichen-covered rock itself.
- Silver Bay to Caribou Falls, 45.3 miles. When my husband and I first backpacked on the SHT, after hiking in the Sierra, the Rockies, Italy, Chile, and the Karakorum, we realized we needed to buy trekking poles STAT.
Learn More. The Lakewalk. (Partially Accessible Trail) Access: Canal Park, Rose Garden, 21st Ave E & Water St, 26th Ave E & London Rd, 61st Ave E or Brighton Beach. Length: 7.5 mi (one way) Level of Difficulty: Easy. Learn More. Lester Park Trail. Access: 60th Ave E & E Superior St or E Superior St & Lester River Rd. Length: Varies.
Whether you want to get on the water or just admire it, Lake Superior is a sight you’ve got to see and do in Duluth. THINGS TO DO. Try water sports like swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and even surfing. Stake out a sandy spot at nearby campgrounds, beaches and swimming areas.
