Superior Hiking Trail Section

The Superior Hiking Trail is one of the premier long-distance hiking trails in the Midwest, tracing the ridgeline above Lake Superior's Minnesota shore for 310 miles from Jay Cooke State Park to the Canadian border. Its passage through Gooseberry Falls State Park offers a representative sample of its character: sustained climbing through boreal forest to ridge-top viewpoints above the lake, with the physical challenge of North Shore terrain compressed into a manageable half-day excursion. The trail departs from the Gooseberry River valley and climbs steeply through a forest of balsam fir, white spruce, and birch, crossing several small stream ravines on log bridges. The first significant viewpoint appears at roughly mile 1.5, where the ridge crest opens onto a panorama south over Lake Superior, the Gooseberry River visible as a silver thread entering the lake far below. The basalt lava flows exposed on the ridge show the same pillow structure visible in the gorge below, formed by lava extruding into ancient shallow water. The trail continues northeast to the park boundary and a second overlook at approximately mile 2.5, the turnaround point with views toward Two Harbors and the Duluth-Superior harbor in the distance. The Superior Hiking Trail Association maintains the path in excellent condition, with regular bog boards over wet sections and well-placed tent pads at designated campsites for those extending the journey.