View Full Version : Superior Hiking Trail?
koaloha05
08-27-2008, 18:51
Outside of Shug, has anyone else hiked the Superior Hiking Trail along the N. Shore of Lake Superior in MN? Favorite sections?
Back in the '80s a favorite area of mine was the region from Tettegouche to Temperance.
Maybe an early to mid October trip to rediscover of this area. But after reading Grizz's Picture Rock post my interest for another new place has been kindled. The hiking & stealth camping is all inland in my home area of L. Superior. To hike & camp along the Lake would be nice.
GrizzlyAdams
08-27-2008, 19:31
fast answer, no.
But I'm a Minnesota lad, transplanted to the land of 10 lakes (lost a few orders of magnitude.) Used to spend a week in the BWCA every year (early fall after the 1st frost had already come and killed off insects). I was torn this year between going all the way up to the Superior Hiking Trail, or Pictured Rocks. PRNL, check. Next year I'm thinking SHT. Bound to be more remote and more rugged than PRNL, as beautiful as that was.
see ya up there :D
Grizz
I've hiked all of the SHT and the Border Route over the last 2 years. Most of the SHT I did with my tent before converting to a hammock. I've hammocked the northern section of the SHT from Otter Lk rd to Grand Marais.
There is a trip report that includes a picture of my hammock setup on the lakewalk section of the SHT here:
http://bwcaboard.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=986
Favorite sections of the SHT? Its all good. The South Carlson pond campsite was the best hammock setup I've found so far. See attached photo. The campsite is high-and-dry on a hill, but close to water and wildlife. In general I prefer the areas north of Grand Marais because there are a lot fewer people. Tettegouche is beautiful, but good luck finding a campsite on a weekend.
There is an very active SHT Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hiker/
I suggest you browse past postings from that group for ideas and hints.
--Kurt
slowhike
08-28-2008, 21:55
Nice report Kurt! I've not had the fortune to see a moose in the wild!
FreeTheWeasel
08-28-2008, 22:45
I hiked a section of the SHT in July 2007. I don't have my maps in front of me but we walked for three days south and wound up in Beaver Bay. It was fantastic. It is really beautiful out there and a hammock hanger's paradise. There are no shortage of trees.
FreeTheWeasel
Outside of Shrug, has anyone else hiked the Superior Hiking Trail along the N. Shore of Lake Superior in MN? Favorite sections?
Back in the '80s a favorite area of mine was the region from Tettegouche to Temperance.
Maybe an early to mid October trip to rediscover of this area. But after reading Grizz's Picture Rock post my interest for another new place has been kindled. The hiking & stealth camping is all inland in my home area of L. Superior. To hike & camp along the Lake would be nice.
Hey koaloha05,
I really like the area you write of. Finland, MN area is my favorite. From section 13 to Caribou River. George Crosby SP is another fave. Although there is a wee fee, it is more rustic and has some hidden treasures within its boundrys. Horseshoe Ridge is a "go-to" site for me on the SHT. Has a real good hammock spot.... check my pix in my gallery to see. My preference is to be inland and in the forest. Just something about it.
Shug
Maybe an early to mid October trip to rediscover of this area...snip... To hike & camp along the Lake would be nice.
One thing to keep in mind is that it is always 10+ degrees colder near the lake than inland. Early to mid-October will be chilly up there, probably a frost every night. It won't get much colder along the lake at night, but the wind off the water will be very cold. I have never spent a colder night in my hammock than the night I spent on the lakewalk, and it was in the 40's.
IMHO, you'd do better farther inland. Shug suggested Finland, and that is far enough in that you will be protected from the lake winds, so it'd be a good choice.
Hike your own hike, but do consider when you are going...
--Kurt
Hey koaloha05,
I really like the area you write of. Finland, MN area is my favorite. From section 13 to Caribou River
Shug
I like that area too, though Section 13 has the most crowded campsite I've EVER seen on the SHT. The night I stayed there, there must've been 15+ tents. People everywhere. Its become the premier rock-climbing spot in Minnesota, so lotsa people with ropes & harnesses. The other issue is that it is very dry on the North Shore right now. Sec 13 has no water anywhere close. That could change if we get some rain, but something to consider.
Just a caveat - great section of the trail, but koaloha you may not want to plan to camp at Sec 13.
I really enjoyed the long boardwalk over the beaver pond between sec 13 and Finland. Unbelievable spot.
--Kurt
I like that area too, though Section 13 has the most crowded campsite I've EVER seen on the SHT. The night I stayed there, there must've been 15+ tents. People everywhere. Its become the premier rock-climbing spot in Minnesota, so lotsa people with ropes & harnesses. The other issue is that it is very dry on the North Shore right now. Sec 13 has no water anywhere close. That could change if we get some rain, but something to consider.
Just a caveat - great section of the trail, but koaloha you may not want to plan to camp at Sec 13.
I really enjoyed the long boardwalk over the beaver pond between sec 13 and Finland. Unbelievable spot.
--Kurt
Yeah, I have never camped at Section 13 ..... I just enjoy passing through it! Gets really windy up there.
I did that boardwalk on a misty, windy night once and never seeing it before thought it would never end. It was thrilling! Then came across that huge boulder sitting by itself not long after that crossing. Sweet.
A terrific section.
Shug of the ShuffleStep
koaloha05
08-30-2008, 00:02
I live ~1/2mi and 350ft above the Southshore of L. Superior. Definitely warmer than along the Lake but usually with a stronger breeze. We just had the first real rain over the last couple days. Same front that gave the Arrowhead region some moisture. Not sure if the open fire ban in the easter 2/3 of the BWCA will be lifted unless we have a wet Sept. One of the nice aspects of hiking this area is the normally available sources of water. I'm a wimp and prefer to carry a water purifier rather than a significant load of water. Good to know about Sec13 lack of water.
Shug, the misty walk on boardwalk. One of those great moments that just happens.
Shug, the misty walk on boardwalk. One of those great moments that just happens.
That day I had come to Section 13 a wee bit early and thought to make camp but the wind was really howling and it was rainy/misty and cold so I took off as light faded. As I got below the cliffs it darkened, awfully dark and I wimpered at my night-hike. My Princton had fresh lithium batteries and the hike became awesome and "Ichibod Craney". I did not know of the beaver bog crossing and started walking the planks. And kept on walking and walking as the wind threatened to blow me in to beaver town. At the center the water was gushing over the logs and I had to ponder as to whether or not to back track or forge on. Not a deep thinker am I so it was forge onward. Took the leap, my pack was maybe 20-22 lbs. So it went well.
Hiked on to Leskiken Creek and made camp by 10pm
Awesome night.
Shug of the Beaver Bop
That day I had come to Section 13 a wee bit early and thought to make camp but the wind was really howling and it was rainy/misty and cold so I took off as light faded. As I got below the cliffs it darkened, awfully dark and I wimpered at my night-hike. My Princton had fresh lithium batteries and the hike became awesome and "Ichibod Craney". I did not know of the beaver bog crossing and started walking the planks. And kept on walking and walking as the wind threatened to blow me in to beaver town. At the center the water was gushing over the logs and I had to ponder as to whether or not to back track or forge on. Not a deep thinker am I so it was forge onward. Took the leap, my pack was maybe 20-22 lbs. So it went well.
Hiked on to Leskiken Creek and made camp by 10pm
Awesome night.
Shug of the Beaver Bop
Here are a few pix!!!! You can see the huge beaver bog in the distance.
2262
I'm doing it sections. I wanted to get up there last week or this week, but its not going to happen. Heading for Colorado next week. Section 13 was cool, but I really like the entire trail so far. I personally think its more interesting than the southern portions of the AT so far.