Superior Hiking Trail
Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) is a long-distance footpath in northeastern Minnesota, built to follow rocky ridgelines above Lake Superior for most of its length. It’s known as a rugged 310-mile (500 km) route, commonly done as a thru-hike but also broken into day hikes or section hikes using trailheads along the way.
The trail runs from the Minnesota–Wisconsin border near Jay Cooke State Park to the Canada–US border area, finishing at a 270-Degree Overlook near the Canadian side. On the ground, you’ll spend a lot of time moving up and down steep terrain, with deep gorges, waterfalls, and long looks toward Lake Superior as recurring themes.
Route character is divided into two main sections. The Duluth section starts southwest of Duluth at the Minnesota–Wisconsin border and continues through Jay Cooke State Park, Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, Brewer Park, Enger Park, Historic Downtown Area, Canal Park, Lakewalk, and Hartley Nature Center before reaching a trailhead on Martin Road north of Duluth.
North Shore section hiking begins at the Martin Road Trailhead on the northern boundary of Duluth. From there it follows Lake Superior northeast through seven state parks (including Gooseberry Falls State Park, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, and Tettegouche State Park) and passes near Lutsen and Grand Marais before ending just before the Canada–US border.
Backcountry travel is supported by numerous fee-free campsites along the route: the trail is described as having 94 backcountry, first-come, first-served campsites. The trail itself is for hiking only—motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses are not allowed on the footpath.
High and low points on the route span from Lake Superior at 602 ft (183 m) to 1,829 ft (557 m) at the highest point. For a typical northbound thru-hike of the North Shore section, elevation gain is listed as 37,800 feet (11,500 m) with 37,400 feet (11,400 m) of loss.
Planning-wise, the SHT is treated as foot-traffic only and heavily dependent on season and trail condition. Spring thaw makes the trail sensitive to damage from muddy conditions; in the City of Duluth, the trail is closed during both the fall freeze/thaw cycle and the spring thaw. Late spring and summer bring ticks and mosquitoes.
For trip prep, treat the route as remote and weather-sensitive: plan around unpredictable North Shore weather, and when conditions are wet or muddy, stay off saturated trail to avoid ruts and erosion. Day-hike navigation is supported by blue paint blazes and SHT logo signs, with white paint blazes used for spur trails to overlooks or offshoots.
More information: Wikipedia, The Superior Hiking Trail overview | alison young - blissful hiker, Plan Your Adventure - Superior Hiking Trail Association