Minnesota's Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) keeps delivering, even in grim weather. That's the takeaway from a recent trip report covering days 18 to 20 of a southbound (SOBO) section hike near Grand Marais, where the hiker — returning a year after a knee injury forced an early exit — finally closes the gap she'd left behind.
Day one of this stretch was a washout, so instead of grinding miles, she and her companion Bill turned it into a sightseeing day. They drove north on Highway 61 — one of Minnesota's prettiest roads — to Judge C.R. Magney State Park, home of Devil's Kettle Falls, where half the Brule River vanishes into a mysterious pothole while the rest tumbles toward Lake Superior. A one-mile hike with plenty of stairs got them there, and this time the knee held up. The afternoon went to Voyageur Brewing Company in Grand Marais, packed with locals escaping the rain, before retreating to a reserved campsite at Cascade River State Park — a spot she calls a highlight of the whole vacation.
Better weather on day 19 meant real trail time: an 11-mile day from Judge Magney south to a small trailhead off Cook County Road 14. The standout section is the SHT's only proper visit to a Lake Superior beach, where the pair ate hot chicken noodle soup from a thermos while watching heavy waves crash in. Practical note from the trail: that 1.5-mile beach walk on loose pebbles turned out to be the hardest terrain of the day — harder than the rocks and roots inland. The route crosses Highway 61 and the Kadunce River before finishing at the trailhead.
Day 20 brought the payoff — reaching Grand Marais. From County Road 14 they hiked 12 miles south to the Pincushion Trailhead outside town, over rooty, rocky tread, up and over Wildflower Hill, past the Woods Creek campsite, and through a striking stand of giant old pines near the Lindskog Road trailhead, with views of the Devil Track River along the way. Feeling strong, she added two bonus solo miles from Old Ski Hill Road back to Pincushion, downhill all the way — and even got a lucky honk from Bill as their cars crossed paths on the Gunflint Trail, the main highway out of Grand Marais.
Why does this matter to a traveller? The SHT is one of the Midwest's best long-distance trails, and this section shows how flexible it is: you can thru-hike it, section-hike it over multiple years, or just cherry-pick day hikes between Highway 61 trailheads with a two-car shuttle. Grand Marais makes a friendly base with breweries, groceries and campgrounds at Cascade River and Judge Magney state parks (reservations recommended). Pack layers — even in hiking season, Lake Superior can serve cold wind, mist and grey skies that make a thermos of soup the best piece of gear you carry.
