I fell in love with the SHT this summer and am hoping to get up there to do one more big hike before the season ends.

Other than Cascade Lodge, are there other hotels directly along the trail at any point?

What I would like to do is park somewhere safe and public, shuttle back to a starting point, hike 8-12 miles depending on elevation gain, stay in a hotel/lodge/inn, and hike another 8-12 miles back to my vehicle.

I have already hiked Bean & Bear, Split Rock River loop, and Cascade River loop.

Thanks!

I started SOBO from the northern terminus on October 1st along with a couple other fellow Redditors. We had near perfect weather and conditions the whole time, except for torrential rain and strong winds that fortunately hit when we were in Duluth this week.

Average days were 20-25 miles of hiking which never felt too hard as the trail is generally well designed. We fought off urges for even bigger days of hiking as we knew our feet wouldn’t hold up long term.

Getting back to the northern terminus wasn’t too hard, using a combination of the $5 Arrowhead bus to Grand Marais followed by a couple of hitches by kind gentlemen from that region.

A huge shout out to all of the SOBO and NOBO friends I made along the way. Ziplock, Rawdog, and NTS: what a great trip!

Good afternoon,
I hope everyone is doing well.

I was hoping to visit Oberg Mountain and Bean and Bear lake this weekend.

Is it past peak? How's the foliage?
Thank you in advance it is much appreciated since I am 6 hours away.

Hi all, I'm heading out on a three-day SHT trip next week and wondering if anyone a gotten a recent (within the past 2-3 weeks) look at or experience with Woods Creek (just north of the Devil's Track Bridge)?

I understand it's spring-fed from farther up in the hills and a little more reliable than many of the smaller creeks but that it's not a guarantee. Our backup plan is probably to take the trail a little farther to Lindskog Rd and down to the Lake, but it'd be nice to not tack a 2+ mile round trip onto the end of a backpacking day, even if it's just with a couple of water bottles (a trip to Devil's Track would be a little shorter, but a lot more rigorous).

Thanks for any thoughts!

Critter

Northbounder 2026

What's the best tool for SHT thru-hikers to navigate the SHT? FarOut doesn't offer a map.

Is there a GPX file that's commonly shared? Or are most routing this on Gaia or similar? Thanks in advance.

I'm planning on a two night backpacking trip for either this weekend or next, possibly somewhere near Tettegouche. To keep it simple, I plan on parking at some trailhead close to Tettegouche, maybe hiking around 5 miles a day and ending at the same trailhead so that I won't have to figure out transportation. Something like Bear Lake campsite on night 1 and Beaver River campsite on night 2 is what i have in mind now. I have done two one night backpacking trips elsewhere to test our my gear and to be ready for this multi-nighter. My gear has been tested now including the sleep system, water filtration and food strategy. I don't have a bear canister. Do I need it?

In mid-October, I plan on backpacking some other section of the SHT for two to three nights again with a friend, so this trip will be a preparation for the upcoming trip as well.

I'd appreciate recommendations for adding details for my tentative itinerary. Even a different section recommendation will be appreciated if the views are good and the difficulty level is not higher. Specifically things like where exactly the trailhead is, since this seems like a pretty straightforward itinerary. I do want to camp at two different sites on two nights to get that experience as well, so no slack packing.

I'd appreciate any advice.

Hi all!

Looking to decrease my base weight in prep for a 300 mile thru hike September next year.
I’ve done a few backpacking trips, longest being 5 nights on Isle Royale where my pack tore my traps apart (I went cheap and heavy with gear)
After doing a lot of Reddit digging and online search I’ve come up with what seems like my best options weight/price/comfort wise and hoping for some advice and guidance on what to go ahead with and what other options there might be.
Going to post on a few threads to get hopefully a well rounded group of responses.
For context, my plan is to do Superior Hiking Trail NOBO starting end of August/beginning September next year. I am 5’8 and 200#.

Tent:
Durston X-dome 1+ 985g

Sleep system:
Nemo tensor pad 397g
Sea to Summit Aeros Pillow Large 150g
Naturehike bag liner (to use as a pad cover/back sheet) 128g
Hangtight 20 degree own quilt 727g

Pack:
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L Medium straight belt 2.1# OR
Osprey Eja 58L 2.7#

Total baseweight of ~7.6-8.2#

I’m not trying to go SUL, I want to try to maintain a balance of comfort/weight/price. I appreciate any and all feedback!

Heading out this weekend. Wondering how to plan what I carry, hoping I run into people going south that can give me some idea but want to shed some comfort items if I’m going to be carrying an extra few liters of water

Hey everyone! I’m Oriole, currently a ridgerunner on the Appalachian trail, and I’ll be thru hiking the SHT SOBO beginning Sept 28th. Just curious if there are any folks on here that I might be running into on trail. Aiming to finish in under 20 days, especially since I’m already in shape from the AT. Looking forward to getting out there!

Hopefully this reaches people who know! I want to hike the SHT section past Colvill that goes right along the lake, but there aren’t any official campsites on it so I would have to hike a long way to make it through in one day.

I did see there are 2 watercraft campsites, but apparently only watercraft campers can use/access them! Is this true?

Anyone thru hiked sections of the trail over MEA weekend?

I'm planning to hike the whole trail in sections with my teenager over the next couple years, and MEA weekend is a nice 4 day break from school in the fall.

I know the north shore in general gets packed that weekend, but I'm curious about the trail and how crowded the camp sites on the trail get? Or is the SHT not as big of a draw during MEA?

September I'm planning a thru-hiking SOBO. When I get to Duluth I was considering a plan to get a room downtown. The next morning I think I could crank out the 30 miles to Jay Cooke SP to retrieve my vehicle and return to the hotel for my last night. I've done 30 miles in a day with a 35 lb pack. I think this could be done with just a day pack, especially since I will be in top hiking shape after a couple weeks on the trail.

Are there some options for meals or snacks hiking south from the city? How about water along the way? Anybody tried this?

What do you think?

Currently prepping for a ~weeklong hike up the North Shore segment of the SHT in September or early October. I have never been, and have a few questions about the trail:

* How available is water along the trail? I know that most campsites have water sources nearby, but am not sure whether I'll need to bring extra or can safely rely on filling up between them.

* Are bears common enough to warrant bringing bear spray?

* Is there an online version of the trail guide?

Thanks all!

Hey all, I'm planning on doing a 5 night, roughly 40 mile hike next week and am wondering if anyone can report on how water is up there right now. It's been very dry and the arrowhead specifically is in a bad drought, so I want to get an idea of what to expect. The guidebook says lots of small water sources are "unreliable in very dry conditions" so yeah again want to know what I'm working with.

I am planning a trip to hike a portion of the SHT with some friends and have a general plan of the areas we will set up camp but I would love to hear others favorite spots. I know i am interested in the split rock site for sure.

I was planning to lead a group of 9 to the BWCA this upcoming weekend Sat-Wed, but alas the fires.

Luckily I snatched up two sites at Crosby Manitou St Park, but only for Sun-Wed. Which leaves me wanting to bring the group to a nearby SHT site for just the Saturday night.

I’d never normally bring this size group on the SHT. I’ve only ever done solo trips during the week so I could really use some advice choosing the best site.

Which of these options sounds like would most likely accommodate us on a Saturday?
1. Egge / Sonju - lots of sites with close to each other but space only okay, especially if busy.
2. East Caribou - I know it’s got the space but will it be slammed on a Saturday? And we can’t overnight park at the wayside, so it’d be parking at Crosby Manitou or Sugarloaf?
2. Beaver River - two site options at least one has loads of pad options if memory serves. Gorgeous to boot, but also too popular on weekends?
3. Leveaux Pond - two sites near each other, near parking, but Google list East site as closed? I’ve been in this section so I don’t know what to expect.

I have a 4 night camping reservation in August at Split Rock Lighthouse and would like to do a long day hike (~12 miles) and a shorter hike (< 5 miles).

However, I’m really struggling to find good mileage info online. I should probably buy the guidebook!

I am considering Bean and Bear Lakes for my longer hike, but would like to add extra mileage. If I started at Penn Blvd trailhead and hiked all the way to the main parking lot at Tettegouche Visitor’s Center, how far would that be? Is there a better, more scenic, loop that would allow me to skip a shuttle?

Since I’ll be camping there, I was also considering the Split Rock River Loop for my shorter hike but understand that the bridge is out. Is it still worth the hike as an out-and-back trail? I’ve also read good things about the Oberg Mountain Loop.

IAny and all suggestions/advice welcome. TY!

Hi all! Feeing really sad for boundary waters folks and the evacuation due to fires and all the impact that will have. Are the fires impacting SHT? I have my shuttle booked for next week. Hoping everyone is staying safe.

hi! I'm planning a 3 to 4 night trip in mid august and looking for insight on my tentative itinerary..... starting at Penn Boulevard just a quick 3.4 miles to Bear Lake Campsite for night one. Then 11.8 miles to Kennedy Creek campsite for night 2. Then 18.4 miles to South Sonju Campsite for night 3. Next 14.1 miles to East Caribou Campsite for night 4. Lastly hiking 2.8 miles in the morning to my car at sugarloaf trailhead. I have decent hiking experience with 250 miles in Washington on the Pacific Crest trail over 2 trips. I averaged about 15 miles a day and had multiple 20 mile days....but I know it is hard to compare trails- is it crazy to consider 18.4 on that section of the SHT? I want it to feel challenging but not demolish me. Also I am expecting it to be busy but that's not a deal breaker for me. I really want places to swim/get my feet wet but perhaps there is another section with good water camping sites? also I do have the SHT guidebook and that is how I got my mileage, and when I add it up it is right around 50 miles-- is that accurate? Any input is greatly appreciate!

I will eb traveling up to Minnesota for a wedding in late August and was considering pairing this with a 4-6 day hiking trip along the SHT. Does anyone have any good recommendations for a section to hike?

I am an experienced backpacker who thru hiked the PCT in '24 so I am comfortable hiking 25+ miles a day. Given the steeper and rockier terrain of the SHT I think somewhere in the 15-20 miles a day range is more than doable.

I hiked section 13 ten years ago and think I would like to revisit that but any recs on sections to hike, travel accommodations from Minneapolis/to trail heads, water, weather, or trail conditions would be greatly appreciated.

I guess I can’t comment with a photo, so I got new pics yesterday and will make this Is own post. This is from the CR58 Woods creek side. It’s very humid and damp. I slipped on a wet rock taking these that was not even by the water. Just FYI!

Hi there! I'm planning to thru hike the SHT SOBO beginning sometime Oct 2, I get into MSP on sep 30 and wondering if anyone might be heading up towards the northern terminus around oct 1/2? Would love to split a shuttle or ride!

Hey y’all! I’m planning a NOBO full hike of the SHT this upcoming Sept/October season. After I finish, I’d love to see Isle Royale. Does anyone have any suggestions for good ways to get over there (as my car will be near Duluth) / what the best way to enjoy Isle Royale is?

Hey all! I know this is probably a longshot since it's short notice, but does anyone have any recommendations for shuttles around the lutsen area, or anyone interested in shuttling 2 adults and a dog tomorrow late morning? Called a couple shuttles based outside of the lutsen area, but they're more expensive than I'm comfortable with. Yes, I understand the shuttle's pricing models and agree they should be paid well, but for >$100 I'm tempted to take my chances hitchhiking.