mid-November hiking in driving distance from St. Paul MN

[Matt Witt]

A buddy and I have six days to go backpacking or shelter hopping in mid-November within up to six hours drive of St. Paul MN.

It's an unusual time of year to go. Anyone have suggestions of trails or areas to target?

Can do a max of 10-11 miles a day. Love lakes and streams. Will have snowshoes in case needed, depending on weather. Don't ski.

Thanks!

[Dana Sherry]

SHT is probably your best bet. Some sections closed? during hunting season.

[Jim Colten]

Most of the SHT is closed during Firearms Deer hunting season, 11/9-11/24. Details can be found at http://shta.org/Conditions.php

Closed or not and regardless of clothing color…. my own preference is to stay out of the woods during that hunt except for those larger state parks that do not allow hunting (some do).

The North Country Trail in WI could be an option. Wisconsin firearms deer hunting has several versions of season but first November before 11/23 is probably OK. Details at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/hunt/dates.html

Michigan firearms deer season starts Nov 15: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10363_14518-312005–,00.html
Western UP Michigan is stretching your drive time a bit but the North Country Trail there has some nice stretches mentioned here at BPL:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=54537
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=81842
Also Porcupine Mtns State Park in MI.

[Matt Witt]

Thanks to both of you!

[Author]

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