Thru-Hike the Superior Hiking Trail
Planning, Resupplying, Safety, Bears, Bugs and More
Plan and implement a day hike or thru-hike on northeastern Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail with this handy guide.
The Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) is Minnesota’s premier hiking trail. It offers 310 miles of rugged terrain along the North Shore, with sweeping views of Lake Superior, cascading waterfalls, secluded lakes, endless boreal forests and close encounters with wildlife. Thru-hiking the trail—completing the entire distance in one trip—is a dream of many hikers and backpackers. It is an extraordinary accomplishment.
Expert hiker and Minnesota author Annie Nelson shares her advice, research and experience to help you plan a successful trip. In Thru-Hike the Superior Hiking Trail, she answers questions like why thru-hike and how far to hike in a day. She delves into planning your trip, navigating the trail, and safety on the SHT. Annie further includes a detailed list of available food stops, lodging and amenities along the way, as well as a quick reference guide to campsite mileages.
With an emphasis on Leave No Trace principles, this is a useful book for anyone who loves the Superior Hiking Trail and for those who are experiencing its unparalleled beauty for the first time.
Annie Nelson learned how to build fires at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. She grew up climbing the northwoods’ trees and boulders, skipping stones into Lake Superior, and trying to swim in its frigid waters. She started backpacking solo in 2016. A year later, Annie thru-hiked the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) for the first time. Since then, she has backpacked more than 2,000 miles. In 2019, she thru-hiked the SHT a second time while hiking a third of America’s longest National Scenic Trail: the North Country Trail. (She made it 1,500 miles.) Annie is from St. Paul, Minnesota, and frequently travels to the North Shore. Thru-hiking the SHT changed her life. Her gratitude for that experience spawned a desire to help others successfully thru-hike the trail. Annie worked as a journalist for 10 years, and she hopes that her experiences as both a backpacker and a writer make for a useful, enjoyable guide.
