Superior Hiking Trail (SHT)

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

• North Country Trail (NCT): Minnesota

The SHT is home to both the Superior 50 Trail Race and the Superior 100 Trail Race. Several races in Duluth also use the SHT, including the Grand Traverse and Wild Duluth races.

Made possible by the awesome folks at the Superior Hiking Trail Association, this ~310-mile trail is epic and a must-do. If you're interested in getting your hands on some paper maps, a set of six maps that cover the entire Superior Hiking Trail is available for $5.00 and the Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail is $15.95. Find them here.

The SHT follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length. Runners will enjoy views of the Great Lake Superior from the ridge of the ancient Sawtooth Mountains as well as babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife.

The lowest point in the path is 602 feet above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 feet above sea level. Intended for pedestrian use only. Motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses are not allowed on the trail.

The trail sees users of all varieties from day-use, weekenders, to full on end-to-end through-hikers. Overnight and longer users will find the 92 backcountry, fee-free campsites perfectly spaced along the trails length to allow for a day's running whether you're a five-mile-a-day or a 20 mile-a-day type.

The Duluth section of the trail comprises 41 miles and starts southwest of the city of Duluth at a trailhead in Jay Cooke State Park. The trail extends to the northeast through the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, Brewer Park, Enger Park, the Historic Downtown Area, Canal Park, the Lakewalk, and Hartley Nature Center,[6] before it ends at a trailhead located on Martin Road on the north side of the city. The Duluth section provides opportunities for day-use.

The North Shore section of the trail is 255 continuous miles and begins at the Martin Road Trailhead on the northern boundary of the City of Duluth. From there, the trail extends to the northeast along Lake Superior through seven state parks, including Gooseberry Falls State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park and Tettegouche State Park. This section of the SHT passes near the towns of Lutsen and Grand Marais, and ends just before the Canada United States border. The North Shore section provides backcountry experiences and is utilized by both short runners and backpackers. A through run of the Superior Hiking Trail typically spans this 255-mile section. The total elevation gain along the North Shore section is 37,800 feet and the elevation loss is 37,400 feet for a northbound runner.

Birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar boreal forests. Small and big game animals as well as trout, pike, crappie, walleye, and more fish.