Course Descriptions and Map

The 25k/50k races are on the rugged Superior Hiking Trail in northeastern Minnesota. They are on single track trail and traverse the front range of the Sawtooth Mountains through the Superior National Forest. The trail encompasses some of the most beautiful scenery in northern Minnesota. The National Forest Service and Backpacker Magazine have ranked the Superior Hiking Trail as one of the top hiking trails in the United States

25k

The 25k race starts in front of the Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen. The distance to the SHT trailhead is 0.6 of a mile. From the trailhead to the turnaround at the Oberg Mountain parking lot is 7.0 miles. The course has everything from scenic overlooks to dense maple forests. The trail winds through boreal forests of birch, spruce, balsam fir and alder as it climbs to the top of Moose Mountain. A lot of ups and downs make this a very challenging section to run. This is one of the toughest sections of the Superior Hiking Trail and caution must be observed. The oldest section of the Superior Hiking Trail is at the gorge of Poplar River. Actual distance for the 25k race is 15.2 miles.

50k

The 50k race follows the same course as the the 25k, as described above. Instead of turning around at the Oberg Mountain parking lot, runners continue on to the second aid station at the Sawbill Trail parking lot (5.7 miles from Oberg Mountain) and then continue on to the turnaround at Carlton Peak (2.2 miles). Between Oberg Mountain and Sawbill the trail is mostly easy — rolling paths through maple and birch forests. Wet and seasonally wet ground is typical along this section. Actual distance for the 50k race is 31 miles.