Superior Hiking Trail

My Superior Hiking Trail Hike

I hiked the Superior Hiking Trail from September 15 to September 28, 2012.
I took 542,861 steps to travel about 251 miles.

Journal Photos Map Gear Food Expenses Supporters Stats

My Gear

My pack weighed 18 to 26 pounds, depending on how much water and food I had packed. I wore about 4 pounds of clothes and shoes.

Item	Oz	$$	Notes
G4 backpack	16	$40	made myself from pattern. Comfortable, light, and plenty of room for all my gear.
Sleeping
shelter	26	$75	silnylon shelter I made, including stakes, lines, and groundsheet. Did not repel rain as expected, but otherwise has been great. I'll need to replace this before my next long trek.
sleeping quilt	40	$105	made myself from pattern. Really looking forward to sleeping in this again.
Exped Synmat 7 UL Pad	16.2	$155	comfortable, warm, light mattress for restful nights.
Exped Schnozzel Pumpbag	2.0	$25.00	Fills pad quickly with dry cold air instead of hot moist breath. Serves as inflatable pillow and storage in pack for night clothes.
Cooking
Snow Peak LiteMax stove	2.0	$45	Since this is a short trek, I'm using a canister stove instead of alcohol.
Giga Power fuel	7.0	$5	I'll only need to take one canister and it will get lighter every day. 4oz. fuel and 3oz. canister.
cook kit	5.8	$25	includes spoon, pot, foil lid, stand, windscreen, and lighter.
food cozy	.8		insulates food package while the hot water is heating it up. Saves fuel and works super.
food	0-10lb.		.
Water
water filter	4.2	$51.70	Sawyer filter. Using 1L dirty water bag since 2L bag leaks now. 2nd bag leaked too, so now I'm down to .5L bag and will need to purchase new ones.
water bottles	1.2		two .6L throw-out bottles - cheap, easy, light.
water bag	.9	$8	1L Platypus roll-up, just for backup.
water	1-4lb.		water is plentiful, so no need to carry much. 2.2lb/L
Clothes
down coat	21	$120	my only down item and I love it.
BSA t-shirt	11.2	$20	light, synthetic - 2 shirts
arm warmers	3.8	$9	made from kneelength socks for chilly evenings and mornings, instead of long-sleeve shirt
gaiters	1.5	$19	Dirty Girl gaiters. Didn't need them this time, just extra weight.
BSA zip-off pants	17.2		light and sturdy
BSA socks	5.7		3pr. hiking socks
shoes	32.5	$60	New Balance 606 - heavier than my previous two pair :-( but they are comfortable so far :-)
underwear	4.2		2pr.
BSA hat	3.5		baseball style
bandanna	1.0
long underwear	12.4		top & bottom - did not use bottoms at all
Electronics
cellphone	4.3		borrowed, for daily blogs and pics.
camera	5.4		old digital SONY. forgot battery so only had cellphone pics half of trip.
tracker	5.1		pings to satellite with my location.
Other
pedometer	.6	$25	track my steps, just for fun
rain poncho	3.4	$4	cheap disposable to cover me and pack from rain - taking 2. Used 3 days just fine.
maps	2	$2.50	poor set of 5 maps for entire trail. It's well-marked and maps aren't needed.
1st aid kit	2.3		not used
pad repair kit	.4		not used
compass	1.1		not used
knife	1.1		tiny, single blade. not used
toothbrush	1.3		includes paste
ear plugs	0		not used
50ft. core	1.5		hanging food to protect from animals
toilet kit	2.8		TP, Purell - campsites have pit toilets so no trowel
trek poles	19.4	$30	The tips are shot after AZT and SHT, but I'll get another few hundred miles from them. Use to support shelter also.
headlamp	.5	$11	Awesome photon light, with spare batteries. One set of batteries lasted entire trip.
Stick Pic	.4		self-pictures and videos
misc.	2.8		2 garbage bags, whistle, clippers, thermometer

Total	18.5lbs 4lbs worn, not in pack 14.5lb pack weight 2 to 10lb food & water 17 to 27lb - total weight

My Food

My daily menu was:

Breakfast: 2 poptarts - 400 calories
Snacks: granola, raisins, sunflower kernels, 2 Snickers - 1000 calories
Dinner: Knorr noodles, salmon or tuna or chicken pouch, 1 oz. olive oil - 700 calories
Drink: mostly water, gatorade - 100 calories
Daily vitamin

That is about 2200 calories/day. I had peanut butter and honey and crackers also, but I was just not very hungry on this trip. I didn't walk many miles each day for the first week since I was with other people and then my hiking hunger didn't get a chance to kick in before I finished.
I lost about 5 pounds over the two weeks.

My Expenses

The total trip cost. Towns are VERY expensive with hotels and restaurants so avoiding them helps keep costs down. Since this trail was so short, the travel to trail costs are high per mile of trail.

gas for drive to trail and back - $140
gear - $130 - shoes, shirt, pumpbag
SHTA membership and maps - $42
food - $80
state park camping - $20 (1 nite, ouch!)
Grand Marais hotel - $44
gift for Duluth house - $22
Duluth food - $18
misc - $6
Total - $500 - about $2/mile
$1.50/mile without gear.

Superior Hiking Trail Statistics

States	Minnesota
Distance	310 miles
Total Elevation	around 20,000feet. It's a fairly short trail with not a lot of high points, but lots of 100-500foot ups and downs.
Terminus	North: Otter Lake Road by Canadian border South: Jay Cooke State Park
Highest Point	Rosebush Ridge, 1829ft
Lowest Point	Lake Superior, 602ft
Map	Click for Large Map
Terrain	There are no high elevations or long, steep climbs, but the trail follows the ins and outs and ups and downs of creeks running from the ridge into Lake Superior. This makes the trail fairly rugged and inclined much of the time. Extensive erosion due to no use of switchbacks has made much of the trail exposed roots and rocks so it's a tough tread. The trail is marked with blue blazes and prolific signage. It is a highly used trail with about 90 established campsites along its length. These sites must be used, but in the Superior National Forest dispersed camping is legal.
History	Started in mid-1980s. Superior Hiking Trail Association started in 1986. First thru-hiked by Paul Hlina in 1995.
Challenges	Bears, wolves, moose, and other animals may be encountered. Sudden weather changes due to proximity to Lake Superior.
Time Window	April through October. Summer has humidity, mosquitos, and black flies. Late August through September are the best bet with October bringing cold and rain season.
Time to Hike	Typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. Speed record is 4 days set by Erik Kaitala in 2005, but that was when there was only 205 miles of trail.
Permits	There are no fees or permits required to hike the Superior Hiking Trail.
Thru-hiker Tally	No Idea. No records kept.
Trail Links
Agencies	Superior Hiking Trail Association

Hike On: My Hikes

Comments:
Sep 12, 2012 - Laura Sheffield

What is the greatest pleasure of this trail? and What would have made your trip even better?

Sep 13, 2012 - Hiking Dude

Laura - I leave tomorrow so I'll answer your questions in two weeks when I'm back home. :-)

Sep 16, 2012 - Bryan Ebert

Can't wait to meet up with you on Thursday, looking forward to hiking with you for a couple of days!

Oct 17, 2012 - Hiking Dude

Laura - I was pleasantly surprised at all the beautiful overlooks along the SHT. Hard to pick a favorite, but the view of the Poplar River valley was great. It would have been difficult to make this trek any better. I carried more food than needed, shelter did not shed rain very well, and water filter had problems but all those were small and easily fixed. The fall colors were wonderful, no bugs, no humidity, great people, and little rain so I'd certainly say September is a great time to hike this trail. One tip would be to pay little attention to the elevation charts on the SHTA maps. They make it seem like you need climbing gear to do this trail and are very misleading as to the ruggedness of the trail. Most of the Ups and Downs are short and not very steep. I think a compass and the set of 50cent maps are all you need for navigation.

Nov 03, 2012 - Papa Bear

Good website! Congrats on finishing!

Feb 01, 2013 - Take Two

Oh - I see your journal - seems like you had a steady supply of trail magic to help you through also :-] Thanks for the response and tips.

Mar 25, 2013 - Alicia

I'm looking for a weekend type trip for April. Is the SHT navigable for this time of year? I am used to longer trips in the warmer months but never something this early..

Mar 26, 2013 - Hiking Dude

Alicia - Chances are high that the SHT will be snow-covered through April, or very muddy if we get some steady warm weather. The Arizona Trail would be a better bet for April, or southern part of Appalachian Trail.

Aug 12, 2013 - Erik Schwebach

Small world, I took a look at your photos and sure enough I remember running into you on the trail in Crosby Manitou State Park, would have been late afternoon on Sept. 23rd. Congrats on completing the whole thing.

Mar 05, 2014 - Lowell

How did you determine your total distance? I am wondering because I have heard a rumor that in the SHT book they count all of the spur trails in their total milage... Preping to thru-hike it this fall! Thanks for your time and effort going into this web page.

Mar 24, 2014 - Hiker Huey

Hiking Dude, Great info. I hope to hike the SHT in August. In case you hadn't discovered it yet, Sawyer has come out with new bags that don't leak like the original ones. Recommend tossing all of your old ones and buying the improved version. I haven't had any problems since I did. Can anyone tell me if it's better to go NOBO or SOBO? Any reason to go one vs the other? Thanx Hiker Huey

Mar 24, 2014 - Hiking Dude

@Huey - I do have the new Sawyer bags now, too. Regarding NOBO or SOBO, it just made more sense to me to be walking back towards civilization rather than off into the wilderness. Also, the farther south you go, the more people there are - in case you run into problems later in your hike. Finally, not knowing exactly when you'll finish, arranging a pick-up at the northern end takes more effort, I think.

Mar 25, 2014 - Hiker Huey

Hiking Dude Thanx for the advice on the direction to hike. It makes good sense.

Mar 25, 2014 - gene

whats the best time in summer for the least bugs?

Mar 25, 2014 - Hiking Dude

@gene - The later, the better. Bugs are worst after the snow melts and things warm up into May and June. August and September are the best with many life cycles being completed and generally drier air. September is practically bug-free.

Aug 29, 2014 - Joe

How long does it take to hike from Tettegouche (hwy1) to silver bay (Penn Blvd). Is that too short for a two day one night hike? Thinking of starting from hwy 1 in the morning and camping somewhere in the middle then hiking to Penn Blvd the next day.

Aug 29, 2014 - Hiking Dude

@Joe - Well, I hiked that section plus another 7 miles in one day on my thru-hike. But, it's one of the nicest parts of the trail and would be a great two-day hike, taking your time and enjoying the sights. Visiting Raven Rock and Mt. Trudee and camping at one of the Palisade Creek sites would pretty much split it in half and give you the wonderful view of Bear and Bean lakes the second morning. You could add the 4.7 mile section to the south of that from Silver Bay to Beaver Bay, but I found that to be about the ugliest part of the trail. On the other hand, if you added the next section north, from cty rd 6 to hwy 1, you get more beautiful trail and views. But, it puts you camping in Tettegouche about halfway - if you want to use a free campsite, it means either a longer first or second day.

Aug 29, 2014 - Nobody

I am planning for three day hike starting from 13th September morning. Any recommendations on from where I should start and what all I should cover? I was thinking about Silver Bay. Also, would I get to see fall colours during this time? Thanks in advance

Aug 29, 2014 - Hiking Dude

@Nobody (your real name?) - Heading north from Silver Bay would be a great hike. Fall colors typically peak around September 20th up on the ridge and a week later down by the shore. So, you're probably early but should see some colors. If you didn't mind going farther north, a 25-mile hike from Caribou Trail north of Lutsen, down to Temperance River state park would give you the Poplar River valley which is where I saw the best colors of my thru-hike, and that was on Sept. 20th. You also get a great view from the top of Carlton Peak which you should not skip.

Sep 14, 2014 - brian

What size of backpack do you need for this type of pack list? Like how many liters?

Sep 14, 2014 - Hiking Dude

@brian - mine is about 3200 cubic inches plus 800 in the three outer mesh pockets. I guess that's about 52 liters, plus 13 liters for a total of 65 liters. That's a lot of space for something that weighs just 1 pound and I have plenty of extra space.

Dec 07, 2014 - Hanna

I've always wanted to hike the entire Superior Hiking Trail. I'm not too worried about the physical part, I'm just worried about the difficulty of terrain. The most difficult section I've hiked so far is on the Caribou trail up to Rose Lake. What was the hardest section for you?

Dec 10, 2014 - Hiking Dude

@Hanna - I didn't find any part of the SHT particularly trying. Heading south, after the trail pulled away from the shore just north of Two Harbors it became flatter and non-scenic. Other than that, every day had great terrain, views, water, and camping spots. There are lots of ups and downs on the SHT, not like the many flat miles of the Ice Age Trail and others in the midwest.

Dec 15, 2014 - Keith

Is the trail complete now or is the southern portion still detached from the larger northern section?

Apr 07, 2015 - Mike S

About your not-so-waterproof shelter: Silnylon seams will leak unless sealed with silicone, I trust you did that? Also, all silnylon is not the same. The silnylon in my LightHeartGear tent is waterproof to 3500mm static head, while the silnylon sold by the online DIY gear suppliers (the ones I checked, anyway) is either not specified or 1000mm. Hope this info helps you stay dry on your next hike.

Apr 21, 2015 - Jen

Did you see any bears or wolves?

Apr 21, 2015 - Hiking Dude

@Jen - Not on the SHT. But, on my Ice Age Trail hike, I got a picture of a wolf and saw a bear while drving a vehicle to the trail. Some people think the wolf is a coyote, but I'm sticking with wolf. :-) It was on day 39 - Wolf Pic

May 22, 2015 - Giselle

How did you store your food on this hike?

May 22, 2015 - Hiking Dude

@Giselle - I carried my food in my pack and hung it in the Schnozzel Bag shown above each night.

Jul 07, 2015 - Peteo

Great info. Thinking of doing a 4 1/2 day hike from Tettegouche State Park to Castle Danger next week with my wife. Looks to be a bit over 40 miles, what's your thoughts on this section. We did Pictured Rocks last year in the UP. Have you done that and if so how's it compare? Thanks

Jul 19, 2015 - Hiking Dude

@Peteo - I hope your hike went well. I was out in the wilds all last week. I've not hiked Pictured Rocks so I wouldn't be able to compare the two trails anyway.

Jul 19, 2015 - michelle

Hi Hiker Dude, great info, thanks. My husband and I are planning to do the trail in short sections. Only thing is is that he is blind. We have the gear and we are in great shape. Any suggestions or concerns you might be aware of?

Jul 30, 2015 - Julie

Hi Hiker Dude, Would you be willing to give more specific information on how you made your own sleeping quilt/bag? What material did you buy, and from where? $105 looks a lot better to me than the $250 for most sleeping bags at REI. Thanks! - Julie

Jul 30, 2015 - Hiking Dude

@Julie - I used Ray Jardine's patterns and materials. See this page. Also, there's a link waaaay up the page by the pic of the quilt that takes you to my blog entry about it. I'll be taking this quilt on the Appalachian Trail in a couple weeks - it's working well. You could try polyester batting from your local sewing store and light nylon shell fabric from lots of places, maybe Quest Outfitters (I made their G4 pack).

Aug 19, 2015 - Katy

You have a good way to figure out drop off locations for supplies along the trail?

Nov 25, 2015 - Criss Henderson

Thank you for any information in advance, are there any rivers to forge that may be hazzordous?

Feb 03, 2016 - Sarah

Not sure if you're a climber or not, but did you happen to see any spots along or near the trail where there might be some good bouldering? If so, do you remember which section? Thanks!

Feb 03, 2016 - Hiking Dude

@Sarah - The "Section 13" area has rock climbing. That's the only spot I'm aware of along the trail.

Mar 22, 2016 - Noah

This is really impressive. I was planning on hiking a section or two of the trail this summer- a three day, two night trip. Would you be able to recommend a good route for this? I was hoping to start at Silver bay and head north, but I'm not sure how far we could get in that time, maybe to the Temperance River state park? We intend to park at our hiking destination and take a shuttle down to Silver bay, and then hiking north towards where we parked. If you've used their shuttle services in the past, do you know how easy it is to make sure we get off at the right stop?

Mar 23, 2016 - Hiking Dude

@Noah - How far you can go in 3 days depends on how long you can walk, the terrain, and weather. Penn Blvd in Silver Bay to Temperance is 66.6 miles with plenty of hills and creeks, so it isn't a flat walk.
Going 45 miles from Penn to Caribou Wayside would be more doable, but it depends on you.
That chunk of trail includes Bear and Bean Lake overlooks, Sawbill Dome, Section 13, and some nice lake views and river crossings. 13 miles to Kennedy Creek first day, then 17 to Sonju Lake, then 14 to Caribou.
I've not used shuttles on the SHT, but everything I've heard is that it's very easy, as long as you have $$$.

Mar 25, 2016 - Lisa

Hi! Your log is wonderful. Do you know where you would sleep on the first 40 miles (Duluth area) since there are no campgrounds? Are hotels close by - within hiking distance?

Mar 28, 2016 - Hiking Dude

@Lisa - There are a few places to camp near Duluth - in Jay Cooke State Park and Spirit Mountain campground. Plenty of hotels, but not in the lower 26 miles - I expect you might get one to pick you up, though.
I'm lucky that I know people in Duluth and would have them pick me up for the night.

May 05, 2016 - Jeremy

I am planning a trip the end of June. I have 7-10 days. I think I can cover a lot of ground in a day. Do you think 10 miles is the right estimate for a days of hiking? Which part of the trail is the best and that I should do? I was thinking of parking down at Beaver Bay or Silver Bay, take a shuttle to Grand Marais and hike back down. Any parts it would be difficult for my dog to get through?

May 13, 2016 - Peter Gausmann

Hi there! I really enjoy your site--very inspirational! I teach with your wife Kelly at Minnetonka High School. My 14 year old son and I are hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail for one week this summer in June. Can you recommend a stretch that we should do? It could be anywhere on the trail, and we'll have a car at the end.

Thanks!
Peter

May 13, 2016 - Hiking Dude

May 17, 2016 - Peter

Thanks for the advice! My son will be planning our trip for his backpacking merit badge. The routes you suggest sound like winners!

Jun 18, 2016 - Matt

Needing to know about resupply points..stores and towns what not. Minimum amount of food carried till resupply points..not doing drop boxes or cahces..

Thanks any and all info is greatly appreciated

Jun 26, 2016 - Hiking Dude

@Matt - The SHT Association can provide you with a Hiker's Notes document that lists post offices, towns, and hostels. You can read my journal linked above to see what I did. Other than that, it all depends on how many miles per day you will hike and how much weight you are willing to carry.
A person could hike the whole trail in 10 days and carry all the food needed from the starting point. Or, hike fewer miles each day, carry just 2 or 3 days and stop at most towns. It depends on individual goals and hiking styles.

Jul 08, 2016 - Josh

Hey, great blog stuff you got here!

I am doing this the first week of august for around 3-4 days. Which part of the trail would you suggest?

And do you have any information on the shuttle service they provide?

Thank you!

Jul 08, 2016 - Hiking Dude

@Josh - Please take a look at the previous comments here to see which sections I think are best.
See shuttle PDF.

Aug 04, 2016 - Paul

Enjoyed reading your blog and all the comments on the SHT. I'm considering a through hike next year. Am wondering if there are many opportunities along the trail for fishing?

Aug 04, 2016 - Hiking Dude

@Paul - You might catch something in an occasional small lake or creek, but I saw no one fishing. The larger rivers - Baptism, Temperance, Cascade, Manitou - have fish according to the MN fishing forums. Good luck!

Aug 25, 2016 - Mike Shea

Leaving 9-30 & will be on trail 10-1. Thinking about starting at furthest north point by the US border, heading south. Any problems with bears? Pack is about 30 pds. How would you rate the trail from there - difficult, moderate etc (63 years old) & I'm trying to determine how many miles would be comfortable each day. Thank you

Aug 27, 2016 - Hiking Dude

@Mike - Bears have been seen on the SHT inside Duluth this past week, and there's a chance of seeing one pretty much the entire length of the trail. But, I've heard of no problems with bears.
Any 70 mile section of the SHT that you pick will have rugged and smooth, up and down, muddy and dry, brushy and open, and scenic and boring parts to it. The northern part is no more difficult than the south, just more remote and used less.
Rating the trail doesn't mean much from one person to the next. The SHT is rugged with steep climbs and descents, but they are hundreds of feet high, not thousands like on the AT.
Most people we met on trail were camping, not hiking miles. They did 5 to 10 miles in a day. I did 20-25 on my thru-hike.

Dec 17, 2016 - Pat Enright

Hiking Dude, Small world. I spent lunch and an afternoon with you and Papa Bear on the Ice Age Trail near the 1,000 mile mark. Sang you a song. Just started researching the SHT and find your blog. A fond memory and wishes forany happy trails.

Jan 22, 2017 - Barbie

Can anyone answer this question? I apologize if it's somewhere in the blog & I've missed it. I'm planning on hiking a section near Gooseberry Falls to Grand Marais. Are there bear poles available at the campsites? And do I need a specific food bag and what length rope? Thanks for any information!

Jan 26, 2017 - Hiking dude

@Barbie - there are no bear poles. All campsites I've visited have trees around the area. 50 feet of lightweight line is plenty - I usually have less than that. Any bag will do.
As long as you have experience with your hanging system, things should be fine.

Apr 26, 2017 - Curt

April 26 Hiking Dude,
Looking to go the last week in June for 4-5 days. Any recommendations on which part of the trail to hike. Also do you think bugs will be a problem?
Thanks for you input,
Curt

Apr 26, 2017 - Hiking Dude

@Curt - 17 miles from Caribou Trail south to Lutsen, then 34 miles down to Caribou Wayside would be about 50 miles and give nice lake views, plenty of terrain, and an easier last day.
You could stop 4 miles shorter at Sugar Loaf Road or add a tough 8 miles to the Crosby-Manitou parking lot.
There will be plenty of bugs.

Apr 28, 2017 - dean

New to hiking/backpacking. Was going to do 2-3 day practice hike from southern tip heading North.
Other than 4 back country campsites near Jay Cooke, I don't see any other spots to camp. Any suggestions on where to camp between Jay Cooke and Duluth?
Once in Duluth, what do you do? Are hotels best option?
Thanks
Dean

Apr 28, 2017 - Hiking Dude

@Dean - It depends on how many miles a day you'll hike. If you do more than 20 miles a day, you can camp. Otherwise, you'll need to make other arrangements. If you're nice, you might find someone on the SHT Facebook group that would let you camp in their yard. I'm lucky to have relatives about 50 yards off the trail in Duluth that still like me. (or at least put up with me) :-)

It's about 60 miles from southern terminus to the first free SHT campsite. There is a campground at Spirit Mountain about 30 miles from southern terminus.

There is camping in Bagley on UMD campus about 21 miles north of Spirit Mountain and 9 miles south of first free campsite.

I's a good idea to check out Trail Conditions before your trek.

Jul 09, 2017 - Carrin

Just came back from 3 day hikes with 18 women. We base camped at Grand Marais Municipal Camp Ground and did Oberg to Cascade. Nuuuuudddddy! Then one day of fun hikes up the Gunflint. Our goal is to do it in chunks over 5 years. Used your blog as inspiration, thanks. (ours is wotesht.blogspot.com) Thanks for all the details

Jul 12, 2017 - Hiking Dude

@Carrin - Great idea to get on trail a few times each year. The trail is so different at different times of year, too. Good luck with your hikes!

Nov 07, 2017 - Julio

I may have time to hike a not-so long trail next Summer 2018. I was thinking about the Vermont Long Trail, which is a classic and shares a few miles with the AT. But the SHT seems still less known â€”and therefore less crowdedâ€” than the VLT. So I visited the SHTA webpage briefly and got a few questions to ask. I will order their guide eventually and I am sure that all questions are answered there, but I got some preliminary considerations that I would like to ask to someone who has done it:
1. Are there outfitters in Duluth where I can get canisters for my gas stove? Gas canisters are not allowed in commercial flights and I need to buy one before I start the trail.
2. More importantly: once I arrive in Duluth, how do I get to the trailhead? I read in the webpage that one can start in Wild Valley Road and hike across Duluth, but there is no camping and hikers have to stay in hotels. I am not into that. I wish to have a real wilderness experience so I would like to begin my hike at Martin Road Trailhead. How far is that trailhead from Duluth and how do I get there?
3. What are the best towns to resupply? What is the mileage in between and how many resupplies do you recommend? I normally rely on mail drops but I would like to count on towns with a decent supermarket where I can buy something else that may appeal to me: sometimes I even ship things back home. Thank you for your answers.

Nov 07, 2017 - Hiking Dude

@Julio - 1. Yes, Duluth has 86,000 population and you can certainly get supplies there.
2. There are two places to camp in Duluth - Spirit Mountain and Bagley Nature Area on UMDuluth campus. How are you getting to Duluth? That ride can just drop you off right at the Martin Road trailhead, or you could take a taxi. Trailhead is just 8 miles from downtown Duluth waterfront or 7 miles from airport, and Walmart is just a couple miles from the airport for your gas.
3. The SHTA trail sections shows everything about the trail and mileage and camp spots. SHTA thru- hiking has links to mileages and resupplies. Number of resupplies depends on how fast you hike and how much you will carry. Starting at Martin Road, Silver Bay and Grand Marais are at about 100 and 200 miles up the trail.

Apr 25, 2018 - Margaret

Was it crowded or did you feel there were too many people along the way?

Apr 25, 2018 - Hiking Dude

@Margaret - On my thru-hike, in September, it was great. I had others in camp some nights, but the trail was not crowded.
But, during summer months, it can be very overcrowded with campsites being overflowing with people.

May 29, 2018 - Stubs

Thanks for the write-up, Dude! Heading up there on June 2.

Jul 02, 2018 - Mike

I'm planning a sobo hike from the northern terminum to see how much I can do. Are compass/navigational skills required, or is the trail obvious and well marked. I've previously done a few sections near bear lake but that's it. I'd like to avoid buying expensive safety beacon equipment.

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