SHT Thru-Hike Gear Checklist
The Superior Hiking Trail runs along Minnesota's North Shore with a campsite about every few miles, no permit, and rocky, rooty, often muddy tread. Thru-hikers write about rain, bugs and cold nights more than about weight. They carry real rain gear and a way to keep sleeping clothes dry, a head net, more water capacity than the water map suggests, poles for the mud, and a stove, because fires are allowed only in the rings at designated sites.
What shapes your gear on Superior Hiking Trail
- Campsites and permits
- The trail association maintains 94 backcountry campsites. They need no permit or reservation, must be shared, and most sit near a natural water source. Camping is allowed only at the designated sites, never at a trailhead.
- The southern stretch
- The southernmost 54.7 miles, through Duluth to the Wisconsin line, have one backcountry campsite at the Red River. Backpackers there use fee-based campsites or lodging.
- Terrain
- The trail is always climbing or dropping, between 602 feet and 1,829 feet above sea level. Trailheads sit 3 to 11 miles apart. Hikers report rock, roots and slick mud after rain, and one thru-hiker saw a fellow hiker switch to sturdier boots after foot pain.
From Superior Hiking Trail Association, Zpacks and Quetico Superior Wilderness News
- Weather swing
- A September southbound group says late-summer nights run in the upper 30s to low 40s, and that a wind shift can drop the temperature 20 to 30 degrees. Another thru-hiker started in an excessive heat warning and later pulled on every layer under freeze warnings.
From Zpacks and Quetico Superior Wilderness News
- Bugs by month
- Forum regulars say biting insects thin out week by week once the peak passes, with late August better than early August. A July thru-hiker called black flies maddening, while a June group met mosquitoes at a trailhead.
From Backpacking Light forums: superior hiking trail (forum thread), Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail July 2021 Thru and The Thousand Miler
- Water
- Lake and river water must be treated. A July hiker in an extremely dry year found water harder than expected, and a forum regular says to carry more than 2 liters of capacity, since one campsite is often dry in midsummer.
From Superior Hiking Trail Association, Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail July 2021 Thru and Backpacking Light forums: 2010 Gear List for Superior Hiking Trail
What the agency requires on Superior Hiking Trail
Designated campsites only
Camp only at the association's designated sites, never at a trailhead. Break up large groups, since most sites suit 9 people or fewer.
Food stored from animals
The association says to use a bear canister or a bear-bag for all food.
A stove, with fires only in the rings
Fires are allowed only in the fire rings that sit at each campsite, never with garbage, and the association advises carrying a stove and skipping the fire. Burn bans apply.
A trash bag and a map
There are no trail-run bins, so pack out all trash including food scraps. The association also lists a map and compass among the basics.
What hikers carry on Superior Hiking Trail
Rain gear and a dry bag for sleeping clothes
One thru-hiker was drenched for two and a half hours in a sudden downpour with no shelter. Their rain gear, waterproof pack and daily dry bag were soaked, but clothes and sleep system in separate waterproof bags stayed dry. A June group on the same trail waited out a morning shower before starting, and the association itself tells hikers to bring an extra layer or rain gear.
The same hiker says rain has fallen on every overnight trip they have taken here.
From Quetico Superior Wilderness News, The Thousand Miler and Superior Hiking Trail Association
A head net and permethrin-treated clothes
A forum regular would not want to sleep under a tarp and bivy in mosquito season and suggests a full tent. A commenter from Bemidji who returned for a hike called the bugs shocking and said a head net is a must with treated clothing. Another commenter adds repellent is still needed because permethrin protects only what it covers.
From Backpacking Light forums: 2010 Gear List for Superior Hiking Trail, Reddit r/Ultralight: Shakedown: Help me Prep for the Superior Hiking Trial! and Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) Shakedown + long term gear suggestions
More water capacity than 2 liters, plus a filter
Most campsites are near water that needs treatment, and a thru-hiker filtered river water just outside a camp. In an extremely dry July, water was harder to find than one hiker expected, and a forum regular usually brings more than 2 liters of capacity.
From Superior Hiking Trail Association, Quetico Superior Wilderness News, Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail July 2021 Thru and Backpacking Light forums: 2010 Gear List for Superior Hiking Trail
Trekking poles
Forum regulars call poles a blessing in mud and on slippery descents. One says a wet cedar root can be like wet ice, and a friend without poles wished for them on a muddy day. A June group slipped and slid all of their second day after rain.
From Backpacking Light forums: superior hiking trail (forum thread) and The Thousand Miler
Boots or shoes that hold up to rocks and roots
The association asks for sturdy footwear. One thru-hiker met someone who had to change to sturdier boots after plantar fasciitis, and says the rocks and roots wore down even an experienced walker.
From Superior Hiking Trail Association and Quetico Superior Wilderness News
A real warm layer and sleep insulation
Late-summer nights drop into the upper 30s, and lakeside nights can run colder than inland ones. One June hiker in a hammock wore every piece of clothing one night, then added a puffy coat and rain pants over long underwear the next. Commenters on a September shakedown add thin gloves for frost and a bag liner.
From Zpacks, The Thousand Miler, Reddit r/Ultralight: Shakedown: Help me Prep for the Superior Hiking Trial! and Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail Thru-Hike Shakedown
A stove, not a fire
Fire is allowed only at rings, and the association recommends carrying a stove. A thru-hiker cooking dinner as a storm hit ate under a spruce instead.
From Superior Hiking Trail Association and Quetico Superior Wilderness News
A map of the trail sections
Blazes mark the whole trail, but the association lists a map and compass among the basics and sells section maps.
10 people can go on one permit. Split this list between them so nobody carries two stoves.
Plan a trip hereWhat hikers regret or leave behind on Superior Hiking Trail
A trowel
A July thru-hiker found a site about every 5 miles, with a latrine at the sites, and says you probably do not need to bring a trowel.
From Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail July 2021 Thru and Superior Hiking Trail Association
A tarp and bivy as the only shelter in bug season
A forum regular advises against it in mosquito season and suggests a small two-person tent instead.
From Backpacking Light forums: 2010 Gear List for Superior Hiking Trail
Trusting the waterproof pack
In the two-and-a-half-hour downpour the thru-hiker's waterproof pack and daily dry bag soaked through. Only items in separate waterproof bags stayed dry.
A hammock as your only bed
The association reports that hammock hangers had trouble at several named campsites, and a June hiker's hammock night got cold enough that they wore everything they had.
From Superior Hiking Trail Association and The Thousand Miler
Gear questions for Superior Hiking Trail
Do I need a permit to camp on the Superior Hiking Trail?
No. The association's backcountry campsites need no permit, fee or reservation, but they are first come and must be shared. State park campsites along the trail do need a reservation and a fee.
Do I need a bear canister on the Superior Hiking Trail?
The association says to use a bear canister or to bear-bag your food, and it names no other method.
Can I have a campfire on the Superior Hiking Trail?
Only inside the fire rings at designated campsites, and the association asks you to carry a stove and consider skipping the fire. Burn bans override the rings.
How much water should I carry on the Superior Hiking Trail?
Treat everything you drink. Most campsites, though not all, are near water. A forum regular carries more than 2 liters of capacity for dry midsummer campsites, and a July hiker found a dry year harder than expected.
From Superior Hiking Trail Association, Backpacking Light forums: 2010 Gear List for Superior Hiking Trail and Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail July 2021 Thru
When are the bugs worst on the Superior Hiking Trail?
Forum regulars say biting insects fall off week by week once the yearly peak passes, so late August beats early August. Most thru-hikers pick late summer or early fall, though a July hiker still met black flies.
From Backpacking Light forums: superior hiking trail (forum thread), Zpacks and Reddit r/Ultralight: Superior Hiking Trail July 2021 Thru
Sources
- Know Before You Go · Superior Hiking Trail Association · Agency
- Superior Hiking Trail '16 · Zpacks · Trip report
- The peaks and valleys of a Superior Hiking Trail thru-hike, Part I · Quetico Superior Wilderness News, Holly Scherer · Trip report
- Superior Hiking Trail 2018 · The Thousand Miler · Trip report
- superior hiking trail (forum thread) · Backpacking Light forums · Forum thread
- 2010 Gear List for Superior Hiking Trail · Backpacking Light forums · Forum thread
- Superior Hiking Trail July 2021 Thru · Reddit r/Ultralight, u/claymation_station · Reddit thread
- Shakedown: Help me Prep for the Superior Hiking Trial! · Reddit r/Ultralight · Reddit thread
- Superior Hiking Trail Thru-Hike Shakedown · Reddit r/Ultralight · Reddit thread
- Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) Shakedown + long term gear suggestions · Reddit r/Ultralight · Reddit thread