Superior Hiking Trail

The Superior Hiking Trail runs 310 miles along Lake Superior's Minnesota shore - think of it as the Midwest's AT. The trail rides the ridgeline with constant lake views, passes waterfalls, and winds through boreal forest. You'll see the same ecology as Boundary Waters but you're hiking instead of paddling. The section from Split Rock to Tettegouche is spectacular. The trail is expertly maintained, there are trailheads every 10-15 miles for flexibility, and the shelters are actually nice. This is serious mileage backpacking - 10-12 miles per day over varied terrain - but the views are worth every step. It's the perfect bridge between Tier 1 backpacking and Tier 3 expeditions.