Source
r/WildernessBackpacking•
ryanbuck

Superior Hiking Trail Sections

TRAIL

A buddy and I are planning our big trip for next year and we're looking at doing 5 days on the SHT. My preference on all trails is to start at the far South trail head and hike North, but our big trip this year was kind of lame as far as sights and experiences. I really don't want that to happen again, so what is the most amazing section of the SHT? We want to maximize our experience since it's a pretty long drive and it will be our longest trip of the year. Any opinions will be greatly appreciated.

Posted Dec 9, 2014, 2:52 PM UTC

916
ticcev•

For 5 days I highly recommend starting at Castle Danger and heading north to Finland. That's about 62 miles of trail and you'd experience some of my personal favorites:

  • Gooseberry River (a nice, quiet hike alongside the river for a couple of miles)
  • Gooseberry Falls
  • Split Rock River, hiking both upriver and downriver in a really beautiful valley. On weekends in peak season this section will be busy since it's a loop.
  • Bean & Bear lakes
  • Baptism Falls - highest falls in Minnesota
  • Section 13 - dramatic cliffs facing inland

My other favorite trail features & sections are:

  • Egge & Sonju lakes & campsites
  • Temperance River
  • Oberg Mountain to Lutsen / Lutsen to Caribou Trail, which features the Poplar River and numerous lakes
  • Cascade River

These are a little more isolated so it's harder to string together a trip as packed as my Castle Danger to Finland recommendation.

5
talker90•

Yes, this. I can't say much yet about the sites closer to the Canadian border, but I camp along the SHT each summer as many times as possible for the past 2 years (I am in love with the area) and this encompasses all of my favorite areas so far

2
ticcev•

In my experience the northern end of the trail is the least interesting. It's remote, relatively flat, and far from Lake Superior. I probably won't hike it again but I'll definitely hike the rest again.

1
ryanbuckOP•

Awesome, thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out.

1
th3ophilus•

Are you taking two cars or are you planning on using one of the shuttles? This is what I would do if I had five days on the SHT...

http://shta.org/_Download.php/downloads/Trail/TrailRecTrips/Documents/Crosby-Manitou_State_Park_to_Silver_Bay.pdf

I haven't spent much time north of Grand Marias without a canoe so I am not much help there but I can tell you this whole section is amazing! It kills me to tell people this put the Bear and Bean campsites are easily among the top along the whole trail and they are very easy to get too. Make sure you try and end on one of the two sites that is right on the lake.

Let me know if you have anymore questions I am well versed and have tons of resources for the area.

3
ryanbuckOP•

Shuttle most likely. It's 8 hour drive from our place in Indiana, so we're just going to take the most fuel efficient car and shuttle to our starting point.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will see what my buddy thinks.

1
th3ophilus•

Just an FYI the Shuttle is insanely expensive if there is any other way to get around I would suggest it.

1
ryanbuckOP•

Oooh, really? What is insane? Our last shuttle cost us $100, I felt like that was reasonable.

1
th3ophilus•

The shuttle service that you can call and arrange is $15 a person per stop you go past...so for the trip I threw out there it would be $120 a person.

1
Icharus•

u/th3ophilus has a good suggestion.Bear and Bean are nice sites. If you can stand to go north to south for a change, starting at the Section 13 site and hiking SOUTH as far as possible would be a pretty hilly but very rewarding trip. Most of the trail around Tettagouche has cool sites and great overlooks.

edit changed north to SOUTH

2
sstarlz•

You might want to try the Boundary Waters Canoe area instead. It's a really unique experience that combines canoeing and hiking and in my opinion you get a lot more "away from it all" and is a place like no other in the entire world.

2
chuck1les74•

Hey there OP. The Superior Hiking Trail is a blast. Great Decision. I think that ending in Duluth, MN would be something extremely fun to do. Where ever you start, I think that you will enjoy yourself. I live in Duluth, so if you need somewhere to stay the night before or after your trip, send me a message and you could set up your tent in my back yard. Also, I might be able to help you out with transport.

1
ryanbuckOP•

Unless we arrive back at our car very late in the afternoon, I think we'll power through the drive home as soon as we are done. However, if you're offering to shuttle us I cannot think of a single reason to say no to that. I will keep Duluth in mind as an ending point so we can possibly take you up on that. Thanks.

Did you move to Duluth just for easy access to the trail?

1