Superior Hiking Trail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Superior Hiking Trail | |
|---|---|
 A sign at a Superior Hiking Trail trailhead near Finland, Minnesota |
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| Length | 244 mi; 393 km |
| Location | Minnesota, United States |
| Trailheads | Near Jay Cooke State Park ; Canadian-U.S. Border near Lake Superior |
| Use | Hiking |
| Highest Point | 1750 ft above sea level |
| Lowest Point | Lake Superior, 602 ft above sea level |
| Trail Difficulty | Moderate |
| Season | Late Spring to Early Fall |
| Sights | Lake Superior, Iron Range, State Parks |
| Hazards | Severe Weather, Black Bears, Lyme Disease |
The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) is a 244-mile (393 km) long distance hiking trail along the rocky ridgeline above Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota. The SHT is a proposed segment of the 4,000-mile (6,400 km) North Country Trail. The trail is located on both public and private lands, is privately maintained, and a large portion of the trail is located within the Superior National Forest.
Two primary sections of the trail exist. A southern section of the trail winding through the city of Duluth starts at Jay Cooke State Park and extends to the northeast through Spirit Mountain Recreation area, continues through the city and traverses such places as 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.
The northern portion of the trail is 205 contiguous miles and begins north of Two Harbors, Minnesota at a trailhead on Lake County 301. From there, this portion of the trail extends to the northeast along Lake Superior through seven state parks, including Split Rock and Tettegouche State Parks. This section of the SHT passes near the town of Grand Marais, includes a two-mile (3 km) stretch on the gravel beaches of Superior, and ends just before the Canadian border.
Work is in progress to tie the southern and northern sections together to create a contiguous Superior Hiking Trail path. Other plans for extending the trail include connecting the northern section with the Border Route Trail, which passes through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and lengthening the southern section to connect with the North Country National Scenic Trail.
The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) promotes and maintains the trail. It is a Minnesota 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.
Most of the trail was built by crews hired from the local communities and from the Minnesota Conservation Corps. Much trail maintenance is provided through a system of volunteers; some have taken responsibility for the upkeep of particular sections, others participate in scheduled maintenance hikes.
In December, 2000, Backpacker Magazine 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. Hikers enjoy views of boreal forests, the Sawtooth Mountains, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife.
 A boardwalk over a beaver dam on the Superior Hiking Trail. |
 Cliffs and forest on the Superior Hiking Trail. |
 A view inland from cliffs on the Superior Hiking Trail. |
 Looking upstream on the Caribou River. |
 Looking from the bluff on the way to Cross River. |
 Looking east from Lookout Mtn. in Cascade State Park. |
 A view from the bridge over Crow Creek in late winter. |
