Lake Superior Hiking Trail Guided Hike: Aug 21

I've participated in several of the Lake Superior Hiking Trail Associations facilitated hikes over the last couple-three years and they really are a lot of fun. Everyone cooperates in shuttling people to the start point, you hike at your own pace, you can talk to a naturalist if you want,  hike on your own or with others. I've met some great people doing these facilitated hikes.


The next one of note is:

August 21, 10:00 a.m. Lake County Demonstration Forest to Reeves Road
11.0 miles. New section! The highlights of this section start with the Lake County Demonstration forest, which has an interesting collection of hiking trails, including an interpretive loop. The relatively level section also features several old growth maple forests and the scenic Stewart River.


Meet at the Reeves Road Trailhead. At Hwy 61 milepost 26 in Two Harbors, turn north on Hwy 2 (Lake Cty Rd 2) and go 5.5 miles. Turn left at Reeves Road and take an immediate left into the trailhead parking lot.


What can a person expect from this hike? The first five miles go through predominately maple forest, at some points the canopy is so thick that there is just a carpet of leaf debris on the forest floor and a few scattered twisted stalk. There are a few rock knobs covered in lichen and moss that bring you up out of the forest before dropping back in. The trail then crosses the west branch of the Stewart River, crossing through a low area made up of ash, before coming to the Stewart River campsite and the river itself. A good lunch spot.

Happy hikers!

The trail then meanders through Lake County managed forests, crossing recent harvests and young spruce and red pine plantations. The path drops down into ash types, and through hardwoods. The hardwood stands are notable as Lake County Land Department is doing a variety of management opportunities such as thinning and patch cuts. A neat way to see how hardwood types can be perpetuated.

This trail is a bit different from other SHT segments in that it is moderately easy to rolling for the Superior Hiking trail. It doesn't have the huge rock outcrops that predominate the more northern segments. It also crosses numerous woods access roads, the North Shore Trail (a snowmobile trail in the wintertime) and goes under a railroad bridge.  A good hat and sunscreen are recommended!

North Shore State Trail crossing under the RR bridge