The Superior Hiking Trail
Lives up to its name, attracts new fans By Annie Nelson
Starting in September, the palette of the northwoods starts to pop, as in this meadow overlooking 5-mile Rock in Lake Superior near Grand Marais. | ANNIE NELSON The Superior Hiking Trail is named after Lake Superior, but could easily earn that name because of how high the trail ranks among hikers. “Our trailheads are overflowing on weekends right now,” said Jaron Cramer, development and communications director at the Superior Hiking Trail Association. “It has been inching toward that in recent years, but the increased use this year with COVID-19 is noticeable. “Now more than ever, we know how important trails like this are, getting out into the woods and moving your body, getting those moments of awe,” Cramer said. The trail offers plenty of opportunities for awe: 300 miles of river cascades, waterfalls, wildlife, and panoramic views of Lake Superior. In October, the forest along the trail reaches its peak fall color change. “The last week of September, this 3-4 week window starts when the maples, oak, and aspen turn. The palette of the landscape starts to pop,” Cramer said. The trail offers a full gamut of hiking experiences from 1-2-hour day hikes with beautiful views, to section hiking for the weekend, to living a full month on trail while hiking the entire 300-miles, known as thru-hiking. The trail association estimates 50,000-100,000 people hike the trail every year. In 2019, the trail officially became part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which runs 4,600 miles from
North Dakota to Vermont. Stretching from the Wisconsin state border to the Canadian border, at its southern end, the trail runs through Duluth, routing through forested city parks that feel almost as wild as the forest further north. Between Duluth and Two Harbors is the flattest topography of the trail, but once the trail reaches Castle Danger, it starts running the ridges of the North Shore Highlands, 1.1 billion years old, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The trail visits each state park along the North Shore, and crosses into the Sawtooth Mountains at Carlton Peak, passing by Britton Peak, Oberg Mountain, Leveaux Mountain and many more before reaching Grand Marais. Over the length of the trail, the elevation changes about 41,000 feet, according to the trail association. This year, hikers can participate in the 2020 Summit Challenge of hiking seven of the trail’s many peaks by October 31. North of Grand Marais the terrain offers some of the best river gorge and waterfall territory, as well as a close-up look at how dramatically beavers can impact a forest. The trail ends at the 270 Degree Overlook of the Canadian border. In his new book The Superior Hiking Trail Story, Rudi Hargesheimer explains how the trail was dreamed into existence by a coalition of people.
One of the most popular loop hikes on the Superior Hiking Trail is the Twin Lakes or Bean and Bear Lakes Loop near Silver Bay, which features two lakes inset in North Shore Highlands peaks. | ANNIE NELSON 18
OCTOBER 2020
NORTHERN WILDS
