The Superior Hiking Trail

10/22/24

Apologies for my lack of updates during this trip, I use my phone to take notes and I had to be conservative with my battery as this trail was much more remote and I did not have opportunities to recharge as often as I did on the great divide.

I decided to conclude my hike on day 15 (10/4/24) at about the 200 mile mark on in Tofte. Overall this was a deeply satisfying trip, and I went at the perfect time to see the best of the fall colors and had amazing weather and trail conditions the whole time. I left about 100 miles of trail for me to complete perhaps this November which I would like to do in sections.

I had gone backpacking only once before with a group of people for a college class in Finland about 2 years ago, and so this was a wonderful introduction into the sport. Although I didn’t complete it in one go, my goal going into the trip was largely to enjoy my favorite hiking trail during the best time of year while also experiencing backpacking, and I definitely achieved it! I will be giving a full report on my experience of the trail once I have completed the whole thing.

9/18/24

I am writing this 2 days before leaving on the hike, and 6 days after returning from riding the Great Divide. Figured I’d hike this trail while my legs are in shape and while I don’t have a job! I have wanted to thru-hike the Superior Hiking Trail ever since I found out about the trail when I moved to Duluth in 2019. I’ve done many day hikes on various sections all along it, but I am so excited to tie it all together! This is also the perfect time of year as the bugs have died down, and now that fall is just beginning, I am hoping to reach the northern terminus at the Canadian border (I’m hiking South to North) just as the fall colors are at their best.

There was many days over the past few weeks I’ve really wished I could just walk instead of bike. I wonder how soon I’ll be saying the opposite while hiking. The Trail itself is 300 miles from the Wisconsin border up to Canada running along the ‘North shore’ of Lake Superior. Most often it is deep in the woods and running along rivers, but the first 50 miles runs through Jay Cooke State Park and then right through Duluth along the lakeside before turning up the hill and heading out of town. I currently anticipate that, given 14 days, I can do about 21 miles a day to reach the end, but I am in no rush and will discover my pace once I get going.