Superior Hiking Trail

[Donna C]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>I would like to plan a week-long trip on the SHT for possibly late summer/early fall and wanted to know which sections are a better choice to backpack. I did Isle Royale back in September and absolutely loved it. I would return, but right now I want to try this trail.  Any suggestions?</p>
Thanks!!

[Jim Colten]

I can make some suggestions but first some questions

your week is 7 days?

Which route did you do on IRNP?

What was a comfortable miles per day for you on IRNP?

 

[Donna C]

I’m thinking 7-8 days at least. I’m not a mileage hound as I prefer to enjoy the area. I think the most we hiked on IRNP was 11-12 miles. We left from Copper Harbor because it was almost the end of season and the larger ferry wouldn’t be able to pick us up from the island. There was six of us and we covered mostly the southern side, changing the plan at times due to an impending gale force storm that kept our ferry from getting us. Rock Harbor/3 mile/MacCargo/Ritchie/Chippewa/Moskey/Daisey and Rock Harbor. Mostly short miles only because we wanted to enjoy being there….which we did. So 10-12 miles is my limit.

 

 

 

 

[Jim Colten]

One more question if you will be a group …  how many tents would your group be using? (influences which campsites are usable).

[Donna C]

So, most likely 6 of us, no more than that. My plan is to hike the 7-8 days. The coming and going is not included in the time frame. And if no takers, I will go solo or with one other. I am also figuring the best time to go. We were on IR the middle week of Sept and the weather turned drastically into almost winter the last few days of the trip. Luckily, several of us planned for cold. I’m not one for shelters, but with that gale force storm it was nice to have!!

[Donna C]

Anyone?

[Shawn Peyton]

I would say focus on anything north of the trail past Split Rock Lighthouse. This is where the SHT really starts to get its characteristics. There’s some good parts below that but it’s mostly the green tunnel. Mid Sept thru end of Oct is my favorite time to hike here in the north country but you do have to carry a little more weight in clothing to be prepared for anything. If can be like summer or late fall in Sept. Obviously you already experienced a little of that with IR. It won’t be quite as bad as being out in the middle of Superior. Any earlier and you’ll be getting a lot more people and bug potential, depending on how wet it’s been over the season.

I’d say really anything between Tettegouche SP and Grand Marais is going to be wonderful and exactly what you are looking for. If you didn’t already know we have several shuttle options up here as well.

If you want to PM me with any more questions or if I can help you work out a route over the winter please feel free. I have been hiking it for the last 15 years and was a trail maintainer for several years before we moved to the south shore. I’ll link a video to my favorite section if you’re into that type of thing. It’s not quite enough for a 7 and 8 day but it’s a section I would highly recommend basing around if it looks good to you. Oh yea and I’m not Shug the channel owner, I’m the quiet other guy.

https://youtu.be/1IKC4nHpGNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24w306tjS4Y

[Donna C]

Great!!

[David Noll]

Donna,

Here are two links to pictures from a couple of my fall trips. I have hiked both Isle Royale and a lot of the SHT. I thinks the SHT is more rugged, however if the weather really turns to shit it isn’t hard to bail. I usually plan on 6-11 miles per day depending on campsite locations.

[Donna C]

Thanks, that’s good to know about the bail out status. With others along for the trip, I need to look at all options. Even if we do 5-7 days, that’s fine with me. I just need to know about campsite size. If most can hold 6 small tents, then it makes it easier to plan. And, in the end, I may just go solo. David, your plans seem to fall in line with mine. And to Shug, man…I have followed your videos for quite some time. I will get in touch when the time comes.

Donna

[Jim Colten]

Hi Donna,

Sorry for the delay, I’ve been otherwise distracted.  I’ve organized a number of SHT group backpacks and campsite capacity can be an issue … which is why I was asking about number of tents.  3 couples/3tents, no problem   … 6 individuals/6 tents, limited options without at least some long days.

Jim

[Jim Colten]

Donna had sent a msg offline indicating her group could be using 5 or 6 tents.  I’ll continue with her off line but for the wider audience I’d advise groups with that many tents get the trail guide very early in the planning.   There are very many campsites that do not have room for that many shelters and the areas boreal forest most often offers no option to make a usable spot unless you’ve packed a good saw, an axe and a grub hoe.

Campsite capacity is listed for every campsite.  The guide and other rmaps are available in the trail assns online store ( superiorhiking.org )

[David Noll]

And I would add, take the campsite capacity with a grain of salt. Some of the tents may be on a real incline.

[windsor ak]

Have a couple of people go the hammock route. Helps with crowded campsites and uneven ground.

There are a number of places along the SHT where you can do resupply drops or do an extra couple of miles into town to keep the food weight down. Plus if you dont mind staying at State Parks you can plan a midweek shower. A number of the parks have backpacking, walk in, and cart in sites so you dont have to be in a site next to an RV.

 

 

[Donna C]

Thanks for the info. I may have to lessen the group, which will be a difficult task, for sure. Also, we most likely will fly into Duluth and will need to pick up fuel. Any idea if there is a place we can call ahead and pay for fuel and have them hold it for us?

As for hammocks….I doubt that will happen. I gave it a thought but to get all that gear for a week’s worth isn’t worth it to me. I’m sure hammocks have their place, but I have yet to try it.

[Donna C]

So here may be another option for my group and that is doing a series of day hikes and staying at another place or campground as a base camp. Would that be a doable thing? I’m sorry, but I am so unfamiliar with the area and want to explore more.

I will order the guide book on the SHT and see what it all entails.

 

[windsor ak]

Lots of options to base camp and do day hikes.

The SHT runs through 7 State Parks and past a few towns and a ski resort. There are lots of trailheads with campsites just a couple of miles hike in as well. The State Parks fill up quickly on weekends in the fall and prices at motels and resorts also go up. On the other hand I have gotten rooms midweek at the ski area by Lutsen for $35 a person per night for a room with a kitchen that sleeps 4 with laundry and a hot tub on premises.

If there are 2 cars in your group then dropping a car at a trailhead and driving to the next one is an easy option. On weekends the Superior Shuttle service runs on a schedule along the trail so taking the shuttle up a stop or two and hiking back to where you are staying works.

As an example a trip with my family last October was a night in Duluth because heavy rain was coming. Nice walk along the boardwalk, dinner, ice cream, and browsing in shops followed by watching a few inches of rain fall and a storm on Lake Superior while nice and dry in a hotel. Then 2 days camping at Judge Magney SP and day hiking the area. A day at Temperance River SP and hiking, a night on the SHT a few miles in from a trailhead, and a night at Tettegouche SP with  some day hiking and of course a stop at Gooseberry Falls SP to see the waterfalls before heading home.

Not sure about buying fuel in advance but there are several places to pick up stove fuel. If you are flying into Duluth you can try Trailfitters and Duluth Pack in downtown Duluth along the waterfront. There is also a Dicks Sporting Goods and Fleet Farm in Duluth but they are a little out of the way of heading North. There are also outfitter shops in Two Harbors, Tofte, and Grand Marais. I have only been to Stone Harbour Outfitters in Grand Marais and it has propane and white gas, can’t speak to the other 2 towns. If you use alcohol stoves yellow Heet is available at just about any gas station in Northern Minnesota.

 

[David Noll]

 

http://trailfitters.com/

Day hikes are really easy if you have two cars. Just make your State Park reservations well in advance.

 

[Donna C]

Thanks for all the info. I ordered the maps and guide book, and will sit down and hash it all out and decide what would work. Personally, I would rather backpack, but I can compromise if sites, etc don’t work out. I can get group input as well. I certainly will let everyone know what the final details will be. I have well over a year to figure it out.

Next up is the West Highland way this May and the Cranberry Lake 50 in the fall. Maybe 100 mile wilderness in July….solo!

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