On September 19th, 2013 I started my 300 mile journey from Duluth to the Canadian Border. The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) was my first long distance thru-hike.
This trail has two main sections. The southern section is 39 miles starting at Jay Cooke State Park, passing through the city of Duluth, and ending at Martin Rd north of the city. This section does not have established campsites, so I stealth camped, stayed in campgrounds near the trail, and rented a room in a few of the cities along the way.
Learn more about the SHT through the Superior Hiking Trail Association.
Buy the SHT guidebook, but not the individual maps- Thank goodness for this trail guide. It included very helpful maps, mileage, and a ton of interesting history about the trail. It includes nearly everything you need to complete this trail. The SHTA maps, on the other hand, are pretty low quality (they're not good topo maps) and don't give any more detail than what you can find in the guidebook. It was frustrating to come to a confusing trial-crossing that didn't appear on the map. The elevation maps were interesting, but not worth the extra money.
Consider hiking from north to south- I hiked south to north. This was beneficial because I could take a bus from the airport to within 5 miles of Jay Cooke State Park, but was frustrating because there is no cell service at the northern end of the trail and you have to trust that your ride will show up. Also, it felt like EVERYONE was hiking south, even though the guidebook was written for people hiking north. Do yourself a favor and get a ride to the northern terminus, then enjoy the food/motels/busses that will be waiting for you at the southern end.
Consider hiking during fall- Watching the leaves change on the SHT is an experience I'll never forget. While I likely had more rain than I would have in spring, this was trumped by one important factor: ALMOST NO BUGS. It's also not that cold. As a west coaster, I was expecting much colder weather in September.
You CAN camp in the southern section- Not only can you camp at Jay Cooke, but there are plenty of nice spots for stealth camping. Don't worry about preplanning this section or fret over the sun going down while you're looking for a spot. You'll find a camp site just fine.
The only places where you can buy canister fuel are in Duluth and Tofte- Trailfitters in Duluth and Sawtooth Outfitters in Tofte are the only two places near the trail (that I could find) who sold canister fuel. I suggest either using an alcohol stove (so you can buy HEET at any gas station) or plan your resupplies accordingly. Sawtooth Outfitters is about 4 miles roundtrip off of the trail, while Trailfitters is within 2 city blocks from the trail (and next to a delicious Mexican restaurant with giant margaritas!)
Bring a water filter- Remember that most of the water you'll encounter on the SHT is stagnant. Liquid purification (I used Aquamira) isn't enough. I would have killed for a simple water filter in the northern section.
Stop in a few towns along the way for resupplies or relaxation- You must visit Grand Marais. It's adorable, artsy, and has incredible food. I suggest the Gunflint motel, as the rates are reasonable, owners are wonderful, and they will pick you up from the trail so you don't have to take the 5 mile road walk to get to town. They'll even drive you back to the trail early the next morning!
Don't be afraid to ask for help- "Minnesota nice" is a phrase that you'll hear virtually ever time you run into a Minnesotan. I found the people incredibly warm and wanting to help me in any way they could. While the state doesn't seem to appreciate hitchhikers (or maybe that was just my experience as a male), ask day hikers and people is restaurants for a ride to the trail and always ask the hotel if someone can pick you up from the trail head.
Don't overestimate your own abilities- Minnesota is flat, but the SHT is not! Most days it felt like the trail went out of the way in order to climb every freakin' hill in the area. I totally understand why that makes sense (day hikers), but it's tough on us thru-hikers. Don't underestimate the elevation on the SHT!
Follow the blue lines- Even with the guidebook, there are times when it's very easy to get lost (especially near Spirit Mountain). Follow the blue trail markers and give yourself a limit to how far you'll walk without seeing a trail marker before turning around.
You can easily get from Jay Cooke State Park to the airport or Minneapolis- I hiked north, so I took a shuttle from the airport to a place called Scanlon Park-and-Ride, which was only a few miles form Jay Cooke State Park. If I was to hike south, I would book a motel at the end of the trail in Cloquet or Carlton. You can walk from Jay Cook into town on the Willard Munger State Trail, which conveniently ends at the Scanlon Park-and-Ride, which is nothing more than a little parking lot next to the freeway. You can book a shuttle from Skyline Shuttle that will pick you up at the Scanlon Park-and-Ride and take you directly to the airport. It's VERY cheap and the drivers are really nice
Be cautious about the new trail terminus- You can read in my blog about my near-hypothermic experience after hiking on the Border Route to the new trail terminus. Don't do it on a rainy day. Really...it's not worth it.
I am reading this long after your hike but I find it fascinating. In my younger days, I hiked and camped all over northern Minnesota and Michigan. I have canoed northwest of there, hiked Isle Royale and always loved the area I remember as the
ReplyDeleteGunflint trail. I am forgetful but that section of the world has always been special to me and that is the first trail I would pick to hike. Must have been great without bugs. Thank you for sharing this with us.
What are the hitch hiking conditions/opps from Grand Marais up the Gunflint Trail(Road) to the Boundary Waters Route Western terminus during Fall(Sept)?
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