Minnesota Arrowhead Country Hiking Tour
Dates:
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Assembly Point: Duluth |
Tour Cost: $2,095 (includes all lodging, all meals, van shuttles, park entrance fees, leaders, tour maps and narratives) |
Forever in search of a new adventure, Timberline invades Minnesota’s Arrowhead ready to tackle the remarkable Superior Trail. Conceived in the mid-1980’s as a through hiking trail extending from Duluth to the Canadian border, often along the ridgeline overlooking Superior’s North Shore, the trail is 286 miles. No, we’re not hiking the entire length of the Superior Trail this season. But …. we plan to conquer it over the next three seasons, really!
For the season ahead, the first segment of our Minnesota Arrowhead Country Hiking Tour will be a 6-day program focusing on selected segments, capturing much, of the trail’s scenic excitement. We’ll also strive to convey a significant sense of hiking an extended through trail that many believe rivals, if not surpasses in quality of experience the better-known Appalachian and Pacific crest Trails.
We’ll assemble in Duluth early morning of Day 1 and van shuttle to Gooseberry Falls State Park, where we’ll join the Superior Trail. We’ll spend the better part of the day hiking along the meandering course of the Gooseberry River within the park with outstanding views of several dramatic waterfalls as the river plunges toward the lake (8 miles). We’ll spend our first of two overnights, and return to the park and rejoin the trail the following morning. We’ll climb initially to the crest of Bread Loaf Ridge and continue along the ridge with its stunning views of Superior, descend to Split Rock River and spend the afternoon hiking along the river as it cascades over sheer red rock on its way to Superior (11 miles).
Early morning of Day 3, we’ll shuttle to Silver Bay and rejoin the trail in time to enjoy one of its most challenging sections. Lots of up and down on the hike this day, but count on some of the best views of Superior, adjacent bluffs and the dramatic High Falls of the Baptism River. We’ll hike into and through Tettegouche State Park and spend the night in Little Marais.
On Day 4, we’ll hike from Cross River in Temperance River State Park, hike along the deep chasm through which the Temperance flows, and then scramble to the top of Carleton Peak, with its astounding vies of Britton Peak and Raven’s Ridge above Tofte (11 miles). We’ll shuttle to Tofte and an overnight at the beautiful Bluefin Resort on the shores of Superior.
From the Bluefin early on Day 5, we’ll shuttle east to Cascade River State Park and hike from the park along the cascading waterfalls of Cascade River. We’ll complete the hiking of the river loop that returns to the park and settle into the Cascade Lodge within the park for our final night (8 miles).
No early flights home on this final day because we just can’t resist one last hiking adventure. We’re headed a few miles east of Grand Marais where we’ll rendezvous with the Devil Track river Trail. We’ll hike initially to the bridge that spans awesome Devil Track river Canyon, Minnesota’s deepest gorge, and beyond to the summit of Pincushion Mountain. The awesome views of Superior from Pincushion’s crest are an appropriate finale to an extraordinary week (10 miles). We’ll have a late lunch (early dinner?) in Grand Marais and return to Duluth where our Minnesota Arrowhead Country Hiking Tour concludes.
| Day 1 | Group assembles early morning in Duluth; van shuttle to Gooseberry Falls State Park. Hike along the Gooseberry River | 8 miles |
| Day 2 | Superior Trail - Bread Loaf Ridge to Split Rock River | 11 miles |
| Day 3 | Silver Bay - Superior Trail - High Falls of the Baptism River - Tettegouche State Park | 11 miles |
| Day 4 | Cross River - Temperance River State Park - Carleton Peak | 11 miles |
| Day 5 | Cascade River State Park - Hike Cascade River | 8 miles |
| Day 6 | Devil Track River Trail - Pincushion Mountain, van shuttle to Duluth | 10 miles |
Total Hiking Mileage - 59 miles