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Elevated Hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail
North Shore of Lake Superior, Minnesota
7 Days
From $3495
An elevated hiking experience on the Superior Hiking Trail
Elevated Hiking on the Superior Hiking Trail
North Shore of Lake Superior, Minnesota
7 Days
From $3495
An elevated hiking experience on the Superior Hiking Trail
Trip Overview
Hiking the Superior Trail—Rugged terrain, Lake Views, and Remote Beauty
Named one of America’s top ten trains by Backpacker Magazine, the Superior Hiking Trail delivers a rewarding blend of remoteness, striking scenery, and challenging terrain. Stretching more than 300 miles along the ridgelines of Minnesota’s Sawtooth Mountains, this iconic trail offers sweeping views of Lake Superior and leads us through a mosaic of northern hardwood forests, rocky outcrops, and diverse ecosystems.
With cooler summer temperatures and crisp, fresh air, it’s an ideal setting for a more physically demanding hiking adventure. We’ll hike 5 to 8 hours each day over rocky, root-filled, and often uneven terrain, with moderate to significant elevation changes. Each evening, we return to lakeside lodging to rest, relax, and refuel.
Rated 4 in activity level, this trip is perfect for experienced hikers looking to push themselves and explore one of the country’s best-kept hiking secrets.
Maximum group size: 12
Looking for a less strenuous option? Check out our Autumn on the Superior Hiking Trail trip!
Highlights
- Hiking through stately, towering pines and birch trees near Lake Superior
- Enjoying scenic overlooks and waterfalls along the trail
- Lodging on the shore of Lake Superior, the greatest of the Great Lakes
- Long days of hiking on the North Shore, where you'll enjoy well-maintained and scenic trails
Inclusions
- 1 - 2 experienced AGC guides based on group size
- Six nights lodging: three nights are in single occupancy rooms; the first, second-to-last, and last night are double occupancy
- All meals from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the last day
- Round-trip transportation between Duluth, MN and the North Shore
Trip Info
We have rated this trip as a 4 as we will hike 5 to 8 hours a day with moderate to significant elevation gain and loss.
Rating: 1 2 3[4]5
This is primarily a hiking trip on a wooded trail, full of roots and rocks, that runs along the ridge overlooking Lake Superior. The trail is rolling in nature, with moderate ascents and descents and may be muddy/slippery depending on recent rainfall. This is an excellent trip for experienced hikers who are looking to escape the summer heat. We spend the last night in the beautiful small town of Grand Marais, Minnesota, where there are interesting small shops and bookstores.
We will spend the first night at the Inn on Lake Superior in Duluth. From here, we will spend the next three nights at Cove Point Lodge in charming shore-side cottages. On the final two nights, we will enjoy our slumber in a comfy bed at the Best Western in Grand Marais, a charming artistic town.
Trip Resources
Itinerary
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
DAY 1
Welcome to Duluth! Your guides will greet you at the Inn on Lake Superior at 5pm. If you arrive early, be sure to explore your surroundings. Duluth is a lovely city, right on the scenic shores of Lake Superior. Take some time to walk on the Lake Walk, where Lake Superior will greet you with lapping waves on the shoreline. Tonight will be our first gathering with a welcome dinner and orientation.
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Inn on Lake Superior, Duluth
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Inn on Lake Superior, Duluth
DAY 2
Today we'll gather early to fill our bellies with breakfast and our bodies with anticipation! After a delicious breakfast, we'll start our first drive up the North Shore. Passing through the boreal forest, we'll stop at Castle Danger to start our hike. We'll continue through the red and white pines, waterfalls, and more. This is one of the most beautiful sections of the Superior Hiking Trail! At the end of our hike, we'll be in Gooseberry State Park to enjoy some time on the beach. Our guides will get us settled into Cove Point Lodge, which features charming cottages right on the shores of Lake Superior. Once settled in, we'll have dinner and look forward to the adventures tomorrow will bring.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4.5-6 hours, 8 miles, 1,100 feet of elevation gain/loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4.5-6 hours, 8 miles, 1,100 feet of elevation gain/loss)
DAY 3
Awakening to the crashing waves and beautiful sights of Gitche Gumee (Lake Superior), we'll have breakfast and depart for our hike of the day. Just when you thought it couldn't get better, it will! Today we'll start at our cottages and explore the Split Rock portion of the Superior Trail. As we wander along the beach, we'll walk among dramatic anorthosite rocks lining the shore, and the frame of a lighthouse will come into view. The Split Rock Lighthouse is no longer used, but is a spectacle of the area for what once was. The term "Split Rock" was formed due to the midcontinent rift and volcanic activity millions of years ago in this area. With erosion over time, we see the rocks placed here today. What a spectacle! After we enjoy the views and hike through the forest, we'll continue back to our cozy cottages to eat dinner and settle in for the evening.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Travel Time: Driving (10 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5.5-7.5 hours, 10 miles, 1,100 feet of elevation gain/loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Travel Time: Driving (10 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5.5-7.5 hours, 10 miles, 1,100 feet of elevation gain/loss)
DAY 4
Today, we awaken to explore the Silver Bay and Tettegouche region. With more dramatic rock erosion, forest, and waterfalls: we'll continue to enjoy the hidden, varied landscapes of the Lake Superior region. We may even get to see a few birds of prey flying overhead! The name "ldquo Tettegouche" stems from the Tettegouche Club, an association of local businessmen which purchased the park in 1910 from the Alger-Smith Lumber Company. The lumber industry was industrial in how this region was discovered. As we continue on our hike, we'll encounter rushing rivers, discover where the Baptism River meets Lake Superior, and get to view the ever-popular waterfalls of the state. Once the days hike is complete, we'll return to our cottages for dinner at a local restaurant and our final night at the charming cottages of Cove Point.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Travel Time: Driving (30 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5.5-7.5 hours, 9 miles, 1,300 feet of elevation gain/loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Cove Point Lodge, Beaver Bay
Travel Time: Driving (30 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5.5-7.5 hours, 9 miles, 1,300 feet of elevation gain/loss)
DAY 5
Today we'll awaken to yet another fantastic day of hiking along the Superior Trail!. We'll make our way from our cottages to a spur trail, eventually making our way past Temperance River and to view Carlton Peak. Once immersed in the forest, we'll make our way to views of the rounded sawtooth mountain range, an old range that has been eroded by millions of years. At the top of these peaks, we'll get views of the "Big Lake" and all of the greenery the North Shore has to offer. After taking a few photos of being on the top of the peaks, we'll head to the picturesque lakeside community of Grand Marais to our hotel. We'll conclude the evening with a lovely fresh-cooked dinner and great conversation.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Best Western Plus Superior Inn, Grand Marais
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5.5-7.5 hours, 9.5 miles, 1,400 feet of elevation gain/loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Best Western Plus Superior Inn, Grand Marais
Travel Time: Driving (1 hour)
Daily Activities: Hiking (5.5-7.5 hours, 9.5 miles, 1,400 feet of elevation gain/loss)
DAY 6
Our final day hiking together features more awe and wonder within an ancient boreal forest! Along this trail, we'll get to view another lovely beach near Lake Superior. Once we've had a moment to soak it in, we'll continue to "wildflower hill," which will feature arctic-alpine wildflowers. Once we've seen the best the North Shore has to offer, we'll enjoy our final hotel night and tasty farewell dinner together. We'll compare our favorite hikes, photos, and celebrate the joy and awe of Minnesota's most gorgeous region.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Best Western Plus Superior Inn, Grand Marais
Travel Time: Driving (20 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4-6 hours, 9.5 miles, 900 feet of elevation gain/loss)
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Best Western Plus Superior Inn, Grand Marais
Travel Time: Driving (20 minutes)
Daily Activities: Hiking (4-6 hours, 9.5 miles, 900 feet of elevation gain/loss)
DAY 7
Once we've had breakfast and packed up, we will drive back to Duluth. We will be back in Duluth and to the airport by noon and you can plan to fly out anytime after 1:30PM. For those of you who drove and left your car at the first Duluth hotel, we will return you to the hotel to pick up your car. Until next time, North Shore!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Meals: Breakfast
Reviews
4.6
(8 reviews)
5
(5)
4
(3)
3
(0)
2
(0)
1
(0)
*These are the unfiltered reviews of women who have been on this trip in answer to the question "What made this trip special for you?". We take reviews very seriously and often tweak itineraries based on feedback. Please feel free to contact us about any questions you have.
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Vickie M.
11 months ago
Beautiful challenging hiking trails. A wonderful group of women who love to hike. Great leaders and beautiful accommodations.
Vickie D.
11 months ago
Ruthann N.
11 months ago
The plus of it was I got to visit the Lake Superior area and it pushed me to increase my fitness to do a level 4 hike. The downside of the trip was we saw and learned little of Lake Superior area, rather we spent the vast majority of our hike looking at our feet to avoid stumbling over the numerous rocks and roots, and in dense, but beautiful woods.
Claire W.
1 year ago
I reconnected with 3 other ladies who had met in the Canadian Rockies. Great to both hike with them & see them. I also was looking forward to seeing Lake Superior area. It was beautiful.
Katherine H.
1 year ago
We covered a lot of miles and beautiful scenery. Fun to explore a new area. Guides were experienced - wonderful accommodations and good food. Lively group of women who came ready to hike!
Lynn W.
1 year ago
Great guides and participants! Would have enjoyed it more in the spring or fall. Heat and mosquitos made it less enjoyable, therefore only a very good instead of excellent.
Tracy H.
1 year ago
I loved the trail, the guides, the participants, the food and the accommodations.
Andrea B.
1 year ago
Dates & Prices
| Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
July 18 to July 24, 2026 |
Available |
$3695.00 |
Make It Your Adventure
Turn any trip into a private experience for your group, or let us design a custom itinerary just for you! Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, we’ll make your journey unforgettable.
Common Questions
The guides will be cooking breakfasts and some dinners at your lodging; other dinners will be at restaurants where you can order off the menu. At breakfast the guides will put out 'fixings' for lunch and you will pack your own lunch and snacks.
If we know well in advance, we can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-sensitive diets. We cannot guarantee a completely gluten-free diet and we cannot provide a kitchen guaranteed to be free of cross-contamination. If you are vegan, we ask that you bring some additional protein bars; and if you are gluten-sensitive, please bring some gluten-free snacks. If you have severe allergies, Celiac disease and/or other significant dietary restrictions, please call the office before you register.
You only need to pay a single supplement if you want to guarantee you have your own room the first and last nights. Otherwise we will stay in condos where everyone has her own bedroom. Some bedrooms will have their own bathroom and others will share a bathroom (maximum 2), rooms will be assigned randomly, unless you request a roommate.
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