123rd Avenue West Trailhead to Magney-Snively Trailhead 

• A bridge between the 131st Ave Trailhead and Ely’s Peak will be closed for repairs Monday-Friday 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. May 12th-28th. A .85-mile reroute is available to bypass the closure. The bridge is part of the Willard Munger Bike Trail, and the SHT temporarily routes onto this trail system safely cross a railroad track in Duluth.

  Reroute

  Northbound – At trail junction with Becks Road (just before 123rd Ave West Trailhead), turn left (north) and follow Becks Road for 0.2 miles to the a small parking lot on the right (east) side of the road, then follow the “Short Line Trail’ exiting the parking lot for 0.4 Miles to the intersection with the DWP trail and the SHT’s Ely’s Peak spur trail. Turn right (south) on the spur trail to descend .25 miles to the main SHT and Willard Munger Bike Trail (shared corridor here).

  Southbound – Use the inverse of the above directions. Alternative reroute: Follow the Ely Peak spur trail to access the DWP/Short Line Trail intersection and bypass the Main trail route.  See Map for additional information.

Magney-Snively Trailhead to Spirit Mountain Grand Avenue Chalet Trailhead

• West Skyline Parkway will be closed from Becks Road to Magney-Snively Trailhead for a City of Duluth rehabilitation project February 24, 2025 through October 2025. The Superior Hiking Trail and trailhead parking lot will remain open for the duration of the project. Access to the Magney-Snively Trailhead will remain open via I-35 to Boundary Avenue to Skyline Parkway from the north. Click to download a map of the road closure. For more information about the project, read the City’s press release here.

131st Avenue West to 123rd Avenue West 

• The Sargent Creek Bridge has been removed and replaced with a stone step crossing.

Spirit Mountain Grand Avenue Chalet Trailhead to Skyline Parkway Trailhead

• The snowmobile trail bridge has been replaced and the main trail has been routed back across it after flood damage in 2012.  The route below the snowmobile trail on both sides of Kingsbury Creek has been blazed white and is now a loop trail to the Waseca Street Trailhead near the Lake Superior Zoo.

Spirit Mountain Loop

• A route change is being made on the 3.5-mile Spirit Mountain Loop route. This is not a reroute. We are switching which side of the loop is the spur, and which is the main trail. The main SHT route will now follow the 1.9-mile trail forming the west side of the loop, or the “top” of the loop. The spur trail will now be the 1.6-mile trail on the east side of the loop, or the “bottom”. To see a map of the previous route, click here. To see a map of the new route, click here. This change is being made in partnership with the City of Duluth and Spirit Mountain Recreation Area.
• Please note that the signage at the Grand Avenue Chalet Trailhead, as well as signage marking the loop, will need to be updated. The SHTA plans to make those changes as soon as we are able. Updating the blazing of the spur and main trail (reversing the blazes from white to blue and vice versa) will need to wait for warmer weather. We will also include the change of spur to the main SHT route on future map and guidebook updates.
• Winter closure: We will also be closing a portion of the bottom Spirit Mountain Loop spur trail each winter to protect the safety of both trail users and ski hill users, who travel at very different rates of speed during the winter. The western side of the spur trail is closed now through May 1. In future years, the western spur will close on November 1. The Spirit Mountain Grand Avenue Chalet Trailhead will remain open to SHT users, as well as the .9-mile eastern side of the lower spur trail so trail users can access the main SHT corridor from this parking area during the winter. To see a map of the winter closure, click here.

Enger Park to Rose Garden 

• The SHTA and the City of Duluth are aware that there are multiple encampments of people experiencing homelessness in this vicinity. You may experience garbage on and near the Trail, including broken glass among other unsanitary debris. Sturdy footwear is recommended for those who traverse this section.

Martin Road Trailhead

• Martin Road Trailhead closes temporarily following the spring thaw to protect the parking area from rutting damage in muddy conditions. This lot is managed by the MN DNR which opens the lot by Memorial Day weekend.

Martin Road Trailhead

• Martin Road Trailhead closes temporarily following the spring thaw to protect the parking area from rutting damage in muddy conditions. This lot is managed by the MN DNR which opens the lot by Memorial Day weekend.

Lismore Road Trailhead is open!

• The new location is located on the southern side of Lismore Road about a quarter mile from the intersection of Jean Duluth Road and Lismore Road.

Rossini Road Trail

• Inadequately stored food attracted a bear to this trailhead which resulted in damage to personal property.   To prevent habituating wildlife to human food, always remember to secure food properly.  At trailheads, all food should be stored inside the vehicle; fabric truck bed covers will not prevent access. On the trail, all food should be hung properly or stored in bear canisters.

Gun Club Road to Lake County Road 301/Fors Road

• The trail is now open!  The distance now between Reeves Road and Fors Road is 5.3 miles and the distance between Gun Club Road and Fors Road is 3.3 miles.

Lake County Road 301/Fors Road to Castle Danger

• The Encampment River crossing is a shallow ford. Under normal circumstances, it’s an easy crossing with many large rocks. It is only a problem during spring melt or if there has been a large rain event within 48 hours. Here is a roadwalk detour map you can use, but we strongly suggest hiking to the river to assess it before concluding that a roadwalk is necessary.
• There are several other shallow fords in this section. This includes Crow Creek near West Castle Danger Road. Like the Encampment River, this creek is rarely high.

West Castle Danger Road to Gooseberry Falls State Park

• The Gooseberry River has washed out part of the trail away between the West Gooseberry and East Gooseberry Campsites.  Please use use caution and be aware you will have to bushwack around the area of the washout.
• A small wooden structure has failed near Middle Gooseberry Campsite. Please avoid stepping onto the structure.

The “Gooseberry Gap” Reroute

• The Gooseberry Gap Reroute is complete! Here is a map that show the new route!
• The Spur Trail from Gooseberry State Park to the main SHT has small areas of slumping along the river, use caution when near the river bank.

Split Rock to Beaver Bay

• The Chapin Creek bridge has been damaged, please use caution.
• The eastern side of the Split Rock River Loop is closed for a Trail Renewal Project as of September 1, 2024 and impact 1.8 miles of the main SHT corridor between the eastern junction of the spur trail to the Split Rock River Wayside Trailhead and the river crossing at the top of the loop. Trail users will be able to bypass the closed section on spur trails, the same reroute suggested when the river is running too high to ford safely. This closure includes the Southeast and Northeast Split Rock River Campsites. Overnight trail users should plan to use a different campsite on this section for the duration of the closure. To download a map of the closure and reroute, click here.
• There is not a bridge over the Split Rock River. Many trail users have crossed the river at the former bridge site during low water. We urge caution if you decide to cross the river. The river may be impassable during high water events. An alternate route exists on spur trails to cross a bridge near Hwy 61 if the water level is high: Northbound, at junction with spur trail turn right (south-east) toward the Split Rock River Wayside. From the wayside, take paved trail to Hwy 61 underpass and turn left. After 0.2 miles, spur trail to main SHT is on left across Hwy 61. Follow spur trail 0.4 miles to junction with main SHT.

Cove Point Loop Spur

• Parking at the Cove Point Spur may be limited or not available due to occupancy between May and October. The front desk of Cove Point will be able to help with updates and drop boxes. The front desk of Cove Point Lodge can be reached at 218-226-3221.

Penn Blvd to Minnesota HWY 1

• The Bean and Bear Lakes Loop reopened Friday, September 6, 2024. The Trail Renewal Project on 2.2 miles of the northern portion of the loop has been completed. The Penn Creek and Bear Lake campsites are also open.
• The West Branch Palisade Creek bridge is out, expect to get wet/muddy. Use caution in high water.
• The High Falls pedestrian bridge over the Baptism River at Tettegouche State Park is being replaced this summer! This long-awaited project will install a more resilient, modern bridge that can better withstand the elements and future flooding events. The new bridge is projected to be finished by late November this year.  To ensure the safety of trail users during construction, an additional section of the SHT will be closed beginning June 30. Trail users will now follow an ATV trail to join a trail to the Visitor’s Center and the crossing over the Baptism River. To see a map of the new reroute, click here and here.  The reroute is approximately 4 miles long.  Along with the trail closure, other areas of the park will be closed for construction, including the Tettegouche State Park Trailhead and group campsites, for the duration of the bridge build.  Click Here for more information.

Lake County Road 6 Trailhead to Lake Road 7 Trailhead

• The bridge over the East Branch Baptism River near the Finland Community Center should be crossed by only one person at a time.

Lake County Road 7 to Sonju Lake Road Trailhead 

• The bridge over the East Branch Baptism River is out.  Detour is to follow the spur trail to the Sonju Lake Road Trailhead, head west on Sonju Lake Road for about 0.2 miles and turn south on a snowmobile trail to reconnect with the SHT (reserve directions for heading northbound). The total reroute distance is about .4 miles. To see or download a map of the reroute, click here.

Leveaux Mountain to Lutsen

• The bridge over the Onion River has a weight limit of two people.

Indian Camp Creek

• The bridge over the Indian Camp Creek sustained damage from spring flooding in 2022 and was removed. This narrow creek is easily forded during normal low water conditions but please use caution, especially after rain events.

Cascade River Loop

• The east side of the loop is being worked on by a contractor to make improvements to the Trail.  The trail is open but be aware to walk areas where the contractor is working.
• The new blazed reroute and campsite are now open on the west side of the loop! The new mileage between the Cook County Road 45 Trailhead and the spur junction of the trail to the Cascade River Wayside Trailhead is now 3.5 miles instead of 3 miles making a half mile reroute. The new campsite that replaces the Big White Pine Campsite is currently 0.4 of a mile south of the Cut Log Campsite. At this time, no fires are allow because there is no fire ring.  A map of the reroute can be found here.

Pincushion Mountain Trailhead to Lindskog Trailhead

• A bridge about .4 mile west of the Lindskog Trailhead has been closed. This is between the Devil Track River Bridge to Lindskog Road Trailhead. Access to the trail up to the bridge is still available but thru traffic is not recommended due to the difficult river crossing without the bridge. The detour for thru traffic is south on Lindskog Road to MN 61, west to 5th Street in Grand Marais, north on the Gunflint Trail till the North Shore State Trail, to the SHT east of the Pincushion Mountain Trailhead. Total distance of the detour is 5.4 miles. A map of the detour can be viewed here.

Camp 20 Road Trailhead

• The last 0.4 of a mile of the road to the trailhead is now signed as a minimum maintenance road. Please be aware and travel at your own risk while accessing this trailhead.

Arrowhead Trail to Otter Lake Road Trailhead

• Carlson Creek Bridge is out on the SHT to the east of Arrowhead Trail Trailhead. This creek can be crossed during normal water levels without this bridge. Please use caution during any shallow water crossing.
• The bridge over Andy Creek has been damaged in a recent storm. Please use caution while crossing the bridge or while crossing the shallow cobble streambed.
• The pond at South Carlson Pond Camp is gone. The beaver pond that was there was drained most likely by spring flood damage to the existing beaver dam. Since the pond was drained there is not a water source at South Carlson Pond Camp. However there is reported to be a good water source a quarter mile north on the SHT at a Carlson Creek crossing.