Sections South to North
![](<img width="2560" height="1916" src="https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-3S2lA8tZ9hrOgaiq-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-3S2lA8tZ9hrOgaiq-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-3S2lA8tZ9hrOgaiq-300x225.jpg 300w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-3S2lA8tZ9hrOgaiq-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-3S2lA8tZ9hrOgaiq-768x575.jpg 768w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-3S2lA8tZ9hrOgaiq-1536x1150.jpg 1536w, https://superiorhiking.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/imgonline-com-ua-twotoone-3S2lA8tZ9hrOgaiq-2048x1533.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />)
Martin Road Trailhead to Lismore Road
Length
6.8
Miles
Campsites
2
Directions
Martin Road Trailhead: From I-35, take 21st Ave. East Exit #258. Turn left on 21st Ave. E. and go 0.7 miles up hill. Turn right on Woodland Ave. and go 1.2 miles. Turn right on Snively Rd. and go 1.0 miles to intersection with Jean Duluth Rd. Continue straight on Jean Duluth Rd. and go 1.9 miles. Turn left on Martin Rd. and go 1.2 miles to trailhead parking lot on left. Martin Road Trailhead closes seasonally during the spring thaw – more information below. Overnight parking okay, outhouse at trailhead.
Description
- Starting trailhead for a traditional thru-hike with 93 SHT campsites between Martin Road and northern terminus.
- Relatively flat section, shared trail with North Shore State Trail (multi-use trail used mainly as snowmobile trail) for first 2.6 miles.
- Travels through mixed forests with occasional ponds.
- 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 to Normanna Road Trailhead
Length
6.9
Miles
Campsites
1
Directions
Lismore Road Trail Access (no trailhead): Lismore Road Trail Access: From I-35, take 21st Ave. East Exit #258. Turn left on 21st Ave. E. and go 0.7 miles up the hill. Turn right on Woodland Ave. and go 1.2 miles. Turn right on Snively Rd. and go 1.0 miles to the intersection with Jean Duluth Rd. Continue straight on Jean Duluth Rd. and go 7.1 miles. Turn left on Lismore Rd and go a quarter mile, the new parking lot will be on the south side of the road.
Description
- Relatively flat section, shared trail with North Shore State Trail (multi-use trail used mainly as snowmobile trail) for 2.8 miles.
- Travels through variety of forests with occasional large white pines.
Normanna Road Trailhead to Western Fox Farm Road (Sucker River) Trailhead
Length
9.1
Miles
Campsites
2
Directions
Normanna Road Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 7.9, turn north (left) on Lakewood Rd. (Co. Rd. 692) and go 7.5 miles to Pioneer Rd. (Co. Rd. 40). Turn west (left) and go 1.5 miles to French River Rd. (Co. Rd. 38). Turn north and go 1.0 miles to intersection of French River Rd. and Normanna Rd. (Co. Rd. 38). Continue straight ahead on driveway to parking lot of North Shore State Trail/Superior Hiking Trail. Overnight parking okay, outhouse at trailhead.
Description
- Mileage includes 0.9 mile of access spur trail. Thru-hiker mileage for this section is 8.1 miles.
- Relatively flat section featuring variety of forests and series of ponds.
- Intersects various trails, so pay attention to signage.
Western Fox Farm Road (Sucker River) Trailhead to Eastern Fox Farm Road Trailhead
Length
4.9
Miles
Campsites
1
Directions
Western Fox Farm Road (Sucker River) Trailhead: From Hwy. 61 milepost 14.9, turn north (inland) on Homestead Rd. (Co. Rd. 42) and go 5.75 miles. Turn left (west) on West Knife River Rd. and go 0.5 miles. Turn right (north) on App Rd. and go 1.5 miles to intersection with Two Harbors Rd. on right. App Rd. changes to Fox Farm Rd. at this intersection. Continue straight (north) on Fox Farm Rd. 5.3 miles to trailhead parking lot on left. Overnight parking okay.
Description
- Mileage includes 0.9 mile of access spur trail. Thru-hiker mileage for this section is 4.1 miles
- Spur to main trail begins on ridge overlooking wetlands, crosses the Sucker River
- Trail goes through mixed forest and past ponds with occasional views
Eastern Fox Farm Road Trailhead to Rossini Road Trailhead
Length
6.4
Miles
Campsites
1
Directions
Eastern Fox Farm Road Trailhead: From Hwy. 61 milepost 14.9, turn north (inland) on Homestead Rd. (Co. Rd. 42) and go 5.75 miles. Turn left (west) on West Knife River Rd. and go 0.5 miles. Turn right (north) on App Rd. and go 1.5 miles to intersection with Two Harbors Rd. on right. App Rd. changes to Fox Farm Rd. at this intersection. Continue straight (north) on Fox Farm Rd. 0.9 miles to trailhead parking lot on left. Overnight parking okay.
Description
- Relatively flat section with evidence of logging operations.
- Features scenic West Branch of the Knife River.
- Passes series of old beaver ponds.
Rossini Road Trailhead to Lake County Demonstration Forest Trailhead
Length
6.8
Miles
Campsites
2
Directions
Rossini Road Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 14.9, turn north (inland) on Homestead Rd. (St. Louis Co. Rd. 42) and go 5.75 miles to end. Turn right on West Knife River Rd. (still Co. Rd. 42) and go 1.5 miles. Turn left on Culbertson Rd. (St. Louis Co. Rd. 41) and go 1.5 miles. Turn right on Two Harbors Rd. (still Co. Rd. 41) and go 0.5 miles. Turn left on Laine Rd (Co. Rd. 266) and go 3.5 miles. Turn left on Rossini Rd. (still Co. Rd. 266) and go 1.3 miles to trailhead parking lot on left. Overnight parking okay.
Description
- Mileage includes 1.2 mile of access spur trail. Thru-hiker mileage for this section is 5.7 miles.
- Features scenic tributaries of McCarthy Creek and Knife River.
- Lake County Demonstration Forest has some evidence of logging.
Lake County Demonstration Forest Trailhead to Reeves Road Trailhead
Length
10.9
Miles
Campsites
2
Directions
Lake County Demonstration Forest Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 26.0 in Two Harbors, turn north (inland) on Hwy. 2 (Lake Co. Rd. 2) and go 3.0 miles. Turn left on Hwy. 12 (Co. Rd. 12) and go 2.5 miles. Turn right on Holm Rd. and go 0.5 miles. Turn left on Drummond Grade (Co. Rd. 131) and go 2.5 miles to parking lot on right. Overnight parking okay.
Description
- Mileage includes 1.2 miles of access spur trail. Thru-hiker mileage for this section is 9.8 miles.
- Relatively flat section.
- Passes through old growth maple forests.
- Crosses scenic Stewart River.
- Spur trail to Reeves Falls.
Reeves Road Trailhead to Lake County Road 301 Trailhead
Length
5.3
Miles
Campsites
1
Directions
Reeves Road Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 26.0 in Two Harbors, turn north on Hwy 2 (Lake Co Rd 2) and go 5.5 miles. Turn left on Reeves Road and take immediate left into trailhead parking lot. Overnight parking okay.
Lake County Road 301 (Fors Road) Trailhead: At Hwy. 61 milepost 28.5, turn left on Lake Co. Rd. 3 and go 2.0 miles. Turn left on Lake Co. Rd. 301 (Fors Rd.) and go 0.3 miles to trailhead parking lot on left. Overnight parking okay.
Description
- Roadwalk for 0.5 miles, then turns into woods.
- Steep rock cliff face where trail descends on rock stairs.
- Nearly 2 miles along cascading Silver Creek.