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332:. The North Shore section provides backcountry experiences and is utilized by both day hikers and backpackers. The Superior Hiking Trail Association maintains 93 backcountry campgrounds along the North Shore section, and a traditional thru-hike of the Superior Hiking Trail typically spans this 260 miles (420 km) section. The total elevation gain along the North Shore section is 37,800 feet (11,500 m) and the elevation loss is 37,400 feet (11,400 m) for a northbound hiker.
234:. The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) was formed in 1986 to manage the construction, planning, and day-to-day care of the trail. The SHTA received several grants from the State of Minnesota, three of which were from the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. This money helped jump start the construction of the trail and funded construction for the first few years. In 1987, the trail had an opening ceremony at
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202:, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The lowest point in the path is 602 ft (183 m) above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 ft (557 m) above sea level. The footpath is intended for hiking only. Motorized vehicles, mountain bikes, and horses are not allowed on the trail. Many people use the trail for long-distance hiking, and facilitating this purpose are 94
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391:. In addition, the SHTA coordinates the efforts of numerous volunteers who assist with trail and campground construction and maintenance. These volunteers include interested individuals, scout troops, and other outdoor organizations. Some groups have chosen to adopt a section of the trail to maintain, while others participate in scheduled maintenance hikes.
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for its members which contains noteworthy news of the trail, trail volunteer bios, and association financial information. The most visible activities of the SHTA are the popular organized hikes featuring leaders with interpretive skills, such as naturalists, geologists, photographers, and historians
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the trail. He raised $ 16,000 in pledges for the
Superior Hiking Trail Association, the non-profit organization which maintains the trail. Trail construction and improvements continued, and in 2016, the 30th year of trail construction, the Superior Hiking Trail became a continuous footpath from the
300:, the Lakewalk, and Hartley Nature Center, before it ends at a trailhead located on Martin Road on the north side of the city. The Duluth section is particularly suited for day hiking. There is only one backcountry campground, located near the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, along the Duluth section.
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to celebrate the beginning of construction. The ceremony included a log-cutting event and many state government officials and SHTA founders attended. Three years later, in August 1990, the trail had reached a half-way mark and another celebration was held. That celebration included a 140-mile
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known as the "Superior 100", along with several other races, has been hosted annually on the
Superior Hiking Trail. In 1995, Paul Hlina, who was paralyzed from the waist down, hiked the entire trail on crutches and is now known as the first hiker to
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The North Shore section of the trail is 260 miles (420 km) long and begins at the Martin Road
Trailhead on the northern boundary of the City of Duluth. From there, the trail extends to the northeast along Lake Superior through seven
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The
Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) builds, promotes and maintains the trail. It is a Minnesota-based non-profit corporation with more than 3200 members. The association produces a quarterly newsletter called
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named the
Superior Hiking Trail the trail with the "Best Trail/Camp/Shelter Conditions," the trail with the "Best Signage" in the country, and one of the most scenic trails in the nation. Writer and backpacker
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Construction of the
Superior Hiking Trail began in the mid-1980s, and the trail now extends 310 miles (500 km) from the Minnesota-Wisconsin border southwest of
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222:. In addition there are 17 miles (27 km) of spur trails that connect trailheads to the main trail. Inspiration for building the trail came from the
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Minnesota-Wisconsin border to the 270 Degree
Overlook near the Canada–US border. The Superior Hiking Trail is now a portion of the
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which starts a short distance from the trail head on Otter Lake Road. This then connects to the 41-mile (66 km) long
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for most of its length. The trail travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar. Hikers enjoy views of
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239:(230 km) hike for about a dozen brave hikers who completed it in 12 days. Since 1991, a 100-mile (160 km)
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The Duluth section of the trail comprises 50 miles (80 km) and starts southwest of the city of
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On the northern end the
Superior Hiking Trail is connected to the 65-mile (105 km) long
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The trail was mostly built by crews of people that were hired from local towns or by the
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listed the
Superior Hiking Trail as one of the "5 Best Hikes in America," and in 2015,
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says the
Superior Hiking Trail is one of his ten favorite hikes in America. In 2005,
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478:(8th ed.). Two Harbors, Minnesota: Superior Hiking Trail Association. 2017.
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at the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. The trail extends to the northeast through
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included the trail among the "top 10 long-distance hiking trails in the US."
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and ranging from day hikes to backpacking trips of several days' duration.
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544:"Superior Trail Races - Spring 25K & 50K - Fall 100M, 50M & 26.2M"
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520:"Superior Fall Trail Race | 100MI, 50MI, 26.2MI - Lutsen, Minnesota"
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which gives the hiker the ability to hike all the way through the
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186:, is a 310-mile (500 km) long hiking trail in northeastern
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There are two primary sections to the Superior Hiking Trail.
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626:"Superior Hiking Trail Through Hiker's Reference Sheet 2017"
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that stretches over 4,600 miles (7,400 km) from
292:, the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, Brewer Park,
320:. This section of the SHT passes near the towns of
763:Journals and Photos from The Superior Hiking Trail
33:A sign at a Superior Hiking Trail trailhead near
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560:, Fifth Edition, Page 11, Ridgeline Press, 2007.
684:. National Geographic Adventure. Archived from
1157:Protected areas of St. Louis County, Minnesota
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720:"Top 10 long-distance hiking trails in the US"
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661:Dappen, Andy; Jory, Taryn (December 2000).
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811:
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190:that follows the rocky ridges overlooking
1147:Long-distance trails in the United States
1142:Protected areas of Lake County, Minnesota
1132:Protected areas of Cook County, Minnesota
718:Morton, Mary Caperton (19 January 2015).
443:Long-distance trails in the United States
1167:Protected areas established in the 1980s
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1152:National Recreation Trails in Minnesota
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363:Looking east from Lookout Mountain in
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355:The Superior Hiking Trail Association
345:Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
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642:from the original on 22 August 2019
556:Superior Hiking Trail Association:
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251:North Country National Scenic Trail
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663:"A Guide to the Land's Best Hikes"
558:Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail
476:Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail
374:Temperance River State Park Bridge
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1162:1980s establishments in Minnesota
750:Superior Hiking Trail Association
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703:. Reader's Digest. Archived from
682:"Skurka's Top Ten Favorite Hikes"
633:Superior Hiking Trail Association
499:Superior Hiking Trail Association
277:Crow Creek in winter from the SHT
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895:Minnehaha Falls Lower Glen Trail
571:"MN Special Report: Trail's End"
314:Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
27:
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601:North Country Trail Association
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296:, the Historic Downtown Area,
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524:www.superiorfalltrailrace.com
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389:Minnesota Conservation Corps
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699:Burnett, Derek (May 2005).
495:"The Superior Hiking Trail"
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330:Canada–United States border
328:, and ends just before the
310:Gooseberry Falls State Park
10:
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1137:Hiking trails in Minnesota
834:Hiking trails in Minnesota
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118:, 602 ft (183 m)
107:1,829 ft (557 m)
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701:"5 Best Hikes in America"
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134:Late spring to early fall
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45:310 mi (500 km)
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403:Looking upstream on the
365:Cascade River State Park
597:"Superior Hiking Trail"
758:from Explore Minnesota
624:Fishburn, Kim (2017).
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318:Tettegouche State Park
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206:, fee-free campsites.
88:Canada–US border near
1111:Sakatah Singing Hills
786:47.57361°N 90.83611°W
756:Superior Hiking Trail
575:America's State Parks
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373:
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269:Sections of the trail
255:National Scenic Trail
226:, which extends from
180:Superior Hiking Trail
22:Superior Hiking Trail
707:on 29 February 2012.
290:Jay Cooke State Park
182:, also known as the
84:Jay Cooke State Park
1035:Greater Grand Forks
791:47.57361; -90.83611
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413:Backpacker Magazine
410:In December 2000,
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337:Border Route Trail
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200:Sawtooth Mountains
35:Finland, Minnesota
16:Trail in Minnesota
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1073:Great River Ridge
688:on 10 March 2016.
224:Appalachian Trail
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341:Kekekabic Trail
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72:, United States
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419:Andrew Skurka
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405:Caribou River
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381:The Ridgeline
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192:Lake Superior
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104:Highest point
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885:Hidden Falls
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729:. Retrieved
725:The Guardian
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705:the original
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430:The Guardian
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326:Grand Marais
308:, including
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259:North Dakota
236:Britton Peak
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183:
179:
177:
171:Lyme disease
112:Lowest point
1106:Casey Jones
1040:Paul Bunyan
982:North Shore
967:Gitchi-Gami
870:Dakota Rail
865:Crosby Farm
850:Bruce Vento
789: /
306:state parks
204:backcountry
167:black bears
151:state parks
62:Saint Louis
1126:Categories
1083:Root River
1078:Mill Towns
1058:Big Rivers
910:Rush Creek
777:90°50′10″W
774:47°34′25″N
667:Backpacker
529:2017-03-28
449:References
298:Canal Park
294:Enger Park
147:Iron Range
123:Difficulty
78:Trailheads
68:counties,
1098:Southwest
1050:Southeast
1030:Heartland
1012:Northwest
972:Kekekabic
942:Arrowhead
934:Northeast
890:Luce Line
395:Accolades
246:thru-hike
188:Minnesota
70:Minnesota
1002:Taconite
997:Superior
992:Snowbank
646:21 March
637:Archived
606:22 March
581:22 March
504:22 March
437:See also
126:Moderate
50:Location
1063:Douglas
1020:Agassiz
875:Gateway
263:Vermont
228:Georgia
218:to the
210:History
158:Hazards
66:Carlton
731:30 May
322:Lutsen
286:Duluth
216:Duluth
198:, the
139:Sights
131:Season
99:Hiking
42:Length
640:(PDF)
629:(PDF)
232:Maine
82:Near
733:2021
648:2020
608:2020
583:2020
506:2020
324:and
316:and
253:, a
178:The
58:Lake
54:Cook
349:Ely
261:to
230:to
184:SHT
96:Use
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
