FAQs

Q: Are there sections of Trail that are currently under repair or closed?

Sections of the Superior Hiking Trail can be temporarily closed due to storm damage, land manager or landowner request, seasonal closures, or for trail renewal projects. When closures occur, the SHTA will always provide a recommended reroute to ensure contiguous travel remains possible, especially for overnight backpackers, section hikers, or thru-hikers. Information about any closures or difficult conditions that could impact a trail user’s trip on the Superior Hiking Trail can be found at our Trail Conditions page. We recommend all trail users always check trail conditions prior to departure and, if doing a multi-day trip, whenever they have cell service.

Q: What are the trail conditions on the section where I'll be?

We update our Trail Conditions page regularly. We recommend everyone planning to use the Superior Hiking Trail check our Trail Conditions page during planning, just prior to leaving for their trip, and if on a multi-day trip or thru-hike, whenever you have cell service or access to the internet. Trail conditions can change rapidly.

Due to the Trail's 300-mile length, we are unable to monitor real-time conditions and depend on trail users submitting Trail Incident Reports when the Trail is damaged or impassable. We use those reports to update our Trail Conditions page as quickly as we can.

A great place to ask for real-time trail conditions is in our Facebook group, where people are often sharing trip reports or may have recently been on the stretch of trail you plan to use.

Q: What is the weather going to be like two days/weeks/months from now?

Our apologies, but we don't know. We wish we could predict the weather! It'd make trail work a lot easier.

The SHT is 300+ miles long, and weather conditions for one part of the Trail are completely different from what's happening on another. Weather along Lake Superior can fluctuate wildly. It can be in the 40s in July and 90 degrees in September.

SHTA staff are not able to monitor the conditions of the entire Trail or make predictions about what conditions will be like in the future. Please check local forecasts for the towns nearest the section you plan to visit. The best way to prepare for the wonderful, wild weather of the SHT is to have gear and be prepared for three-season conditions May-October, and four-season conditions October-May.

Q: How are the bugs?

Our apologies, but we also don't know what the bugs will be like on a given section of the Trail.

Generally, trail users should be prepared for ticks, mosquitoes, and black flies between April and October, but bug populations vary widely along the Trail's 300-mile corridor due to weather, precipitation, and natural formations.

Traveling through a low-lying area full of beaver ponds and bogs in July? Oh yeah, there are going to be bugs. Is spring getting off to a dry start? It's possible to get a pretty bug-free experience as late as June if precipitation levels are low. And as soon as the North Shore gets a couple of below-freezing nights in the fall, the mosquitoes and black flies mostly disappear (unless temperatures warm again above freezing for a number of days, and then they can re-emerge.) Ticks tend to be thickest during the spring and fall, but can be active anytime it is above freezing, even when there is still snow on the ground.

A great place to ask for real-time bug conditions is in our Facebook group, where people are often sharing trip reports or may have recently been on the stretch of trail you plan to use.

Q: How do I plan a trip on the Superior Hiking Trail?

For all types of trail use from day hiking to trail running to backpacking, the best place to start is by picking up a Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook and Trail Maps from the SHTA for the most accurate and up-to-date trip planning and navigation information.

Next, decide how much time you will have to complete your trip. Then, if you know your average hiking or running speed, calculate how many miles you can complete. For example, if your average speed is 1.5 miles per hour with a 30-pound backpack full of gear, and you want to backpack an average of 8 hours per day, you will complete 10-12 miles per day. Note: If you don't know your average hiking speed, we recommend doing a 1-2 day "shake-down" hike with your gear, or a short day hike or run, to gauge your average speed.

For day hikers and trail runners, find two trailheads that are equal or less than the mileage you would like to do. For example, if you want to go for a 4-hour hike or run and cover 2 miles per hour, look for two trailheads about 8 miles apart. Or plan an out-and-back hike with your turnaround point at 4 miles.

For backpackers, multiply your daily mileage by the number of days you plan to be on Trail. For example, if you have 5 days, your total trip mileage could be between 45-60 miles. If you plan to travel multiple hours to get on or off the Trail on your start and end days, we recommend planning a shorter mileage day. For example: Day 1 – 4 miles; Day 2 – 12 miles; Day 3 – 11 miles; Day 4 – 12.5 miles; and Day 5 – 3.5 miles.

Once you know your total mileage range, grab your Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook or Superior Hiking Trail Databook and Trail Maps to identify sections of Trail that fit your mileage criteria. For example, West Castle Danger Road Trailhead to Minnesota Highway 1 Trailhead is 43.5 miles.

Next, identify the campsite along that stretch that match your daily mileage itinerary.

Sample itinerary for a 5 day trip from West Castle Danger Road Trailhead to Minnesota Highway 1 Trailhead

• Day 1: 4.4 miles to West Gooseberry River Campsite (to accommodate 3 hours of driving to the Minnesota Highway 1 Trailhead, and one hour for shuttling back to Castle Danger)
• Day 2: 11.9 miles to Southwest Split Rock River Campsite
• Day 3: 12.9 miles to West Beaver River Campsite
• Day 4: 8.6 miles to East Palisade Creek Campsite
• Day 5: 5.7 miles to Minnesota Highway 1 Trailhead (to accommodate 3 hours of driving time home, plus the two-hour stop at a mandatory post-hike, real-food-needed-immediately restaurant feast.)

Pro tip: Trail planning is a bit of a logistical puzzle. Each section will have its own challenges to fit with your mileage goal and time frame. You may need to research multiple sections before finding one that fits your mileage and schedule.

Q: Do you provide trip planning services or guided trips?

The Superior Hiking Trail Association receives thousands of requests a year for one-on-one trip planning assistance. We are a small nonprofit staff and have limited capacity to provide one-on-one trip planning advice to hikers. We are investigating how we may be able to do this more in the future. We love nothing more than helping people get out on Trail!

We do not provide guided overnight experiences on the Superior Hiking Trail. We do lead guided day hikes each season, and more information can be found on our Events page.

We produce a guidebook, maps, databook, (all available in digital formats too) and this website to help hikers plan everything from a day hike to a thru-hike on the Superior Hiking Trail. Our guides and maps may be purchased in our Trail Store.

These pages on our website provide guidance to trail users planning a trip:

Trail Sections
Plan Your Adventure
Know Before You Go
Trail Conditions

Once you have reviewed the planning documents and webpages we provide, if you have additional questions, we recommend watching trip planning videos from our education webinar series on YouTube or asking them in our Facebook group. You can also call our office at (218) 834-2700 if you have additional questions.

Q: How many miles is it from ____ to  _____?

Please use the Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook or the Superior Hiking Trail Databook to find mileage information.

Q: What shuttle services are available near the Trail? 

Here is a helpful document that includes contact information for several local shuttle services, public transportation, ride share, and taxi services that provide service on or near the Superior Hiking Trail. You can also review shuttle options on the Parking and Shuttles page of our site. The SHTA does not provide any shuttles for trail users.

Q: Are bikes allowed on the SHT?

No motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, or horses are allowed on the Trail except in limited corridors where the Trail is shared with multi-use trail groups.

Q: Where can I park while I am hiking the SHT?

There are more than 60 designated trailhead parking areas — most from 3 to 11 miles apart. In the Jay Cooke State Park and Duluth area, the SHT trailheads are accessible from Interstate Hwy. 35, Highway 23, and city streets. On the North Shore they are accessible from Hwy. 61 and the state, county, and forest roads that intersect Hwy. 61. The Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook provides access directions and parking limitations for each trailhead. Trailhead parking areas are designated with a P on all SHT maps, and feature the trailhead name. Note: Non-SHTA produced map or reference products like Google Maps may feature non-official names for trailheads. Due to the rural and remote nature of the Trail, not all trailheads have a physical address that is searchable. All trailhead GPS waypoints are listed in our guidebook.

Q: How long can I leave my car in a trailhead parking area?

Hikers should check the guidebook to determine if overnight parking is allowed at the trailhead. Most of the trailheads in the Duluth trail section do not allow overnight parking. Trailheads that share highway waysides along Hwy. 61 do not allow overnight parking (ex. Split Rock State Wayside, Caribou River State Wayside, Temperance River State Wayside, Cascade River State Wayside, Kadunce River State Wayside). Trailheads located within a State Park require a park sticker for overnight parking — please be sure to check in at the park visitor center or main office if you plan to stay overnight. If overnight parking is allowed at the trailhead, there is no limit on the number of days a car may be parked there.

Q: I want to get an early start on my hike; can I sleep in my car or camp at the trailhead?

No. There is absolutely no camping or campfires allowed in SHTA trailheads. Some SHT trailheads are located on private property with the permission of landowners and camping, fires, and misuse could result in loss of access.

Q: Are there facilities at SHTA trailheads?

No facilities are provided at SHTA trailheads. There are no trash bins, toilets, or water. Trailheads shared with other groups (city parks, snowmobile trails, waysides) may have facilities. Check the Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook for more information.

Q: Are the parking areas secure?

While local law enforcement may occasionally patrol roads near SHT trailhead parking lots hikers must take common sense precautions — leave valuables at home or secure them out of sight, lock your car and take your keys. You are not allowed to store food or other supplies in the woods near trailheads.

Q: What if the parking lot is full?

If you are day hiking you may be able to park on the street or road shoulder. Check for any posted parking restrictions. Use caution on narrow secondary or forest roads that may be traveled by logging trucks. If you are planning to leave your car overnight you must park within the parking lot. If the lot is full you must find another trailhead. Do not park on property adjacent to the designated lot. Some SHT trailheads are located on private property with the permission of landowners and misuse, camping, or overparking could result in loss of access.

Q: Do I need a permit to use the SHT campsites? Are there fees for camping?

There are no reservations, fees or permits required to use SHT campsites. This means that campsites must be shared with other hikers and may not be be reserved for the exclusive use of a single individual or party. Groups of 8 or more must review the Large Groups on the SHT page before heading to the Trail. Large groups are asked to plan their trips so that the group is dispersed into multiple campsites. Learn more about the SHT camping experience by reading this blog on shared campsites on the SHT.

Q: What is a SHT campsite like?

Each campsite has several tent pads, a fire ring, and a backcountry latrine. Users must pack out all trash and should not dispose of trash in the fire pit or latrine. Keeping a clean campsite and hanging food at night will help to prevent bears and rodents from becoming a problem. Campfires should be built only in the constructed fire ring. This ring has been dug out to remove root structures which can smolder and burn below the surface. Prevent forest fires by only having small fires in SHTA fire rings.

Q: Where are the SHT campsites located?

Except in the Duluth trail sections, campsites are spaced along the trail to support backpacking the SHT. The Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook provides campsite descriptions including the number of tent pads, water source, setting, and the trail miles between the previous and next campsites. The Superior Hiking Trail Databook also provides helpful mileage information and a quick reference index for campsites.

Q: What if all tent pads are occupied when I arrive at a campsite?

Most SHT users are familiar and very comfortable with sharing camp, and will try to make room for new arrivals. If a tent pad is not available, use an area near the established tent pads. Share the established fire ring area and latrine. Do not build additional fire rings or camp in locations other than established campsites.

Q: Can I camp for multiple nights or base camp at an SHT campsite?

Please limit your stay to one night at SHT campsites. SHT campsites were designed to serve thru-hiking and section hikers who are moving each day up and down the Trail. If you are interested in base camping and doing day hikes on the SHT, we recommend reserving a campsite at a Minnesota State Park or a State or National Forest campground. Many of the State and National forest campgrounds also have first-come, first-serve sites.