Superior National Forest
~72 mi from DuluthMinnesota
Complete guide to Superior National Forest in Minnesota. BWCA Boundary Waters canoe routes, hiking trails, wildlife, permits, and trip planning for the northwoods.
11 min read
MN · Midwest
National Forests Near Duluth, MN
5 forest guides within driving distance
National Forests Near Duluth
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
~102 mi from DuluthWisconsin
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest spans 1.5 million acres of Wisconsin northwoods, offering hundreds of lakes, wild rivers, and the largest wilderness areas in the Midwest.
8 min read
Chippewa National Forest
~106 mi from DuluthMinnesota
Chippewa National Forest covers 667,000 acres of northern Minnesota lake country, containing more than 1,300 lakes and one of the densest concentrations of bald eagles in the lower 48 states.
7 min read
Ottawa National Forest
~125 mi from DuluthMichigan
Nearly a million acres of Upper Peninsula Michigan wilderness: waterfalls, Lake Superior shoreline, the Porcupine Mountains, Sylvania Wilderness, and some of the most remote backcountry in the Midwest.
6 min read
Nicolet National Forest
~181 mi from DuluthWisconsin
Nicolet National Forest covers northeastern Wisconsin's lake-and-forest country, with the Headwaters Wilderness, hundreds of pristine lakes, and excellent fishing and paddling opportunities.
4 min read
Trails Near Duluth
easyloop
Mount Valhalla Loop
4 mi300 ft gain
~56 mi from DuluthMay through October
A 4-mile loop near Washburn in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, offering lake views and dense northwoods forest on gentle terrain accessible to most hikers.
4 min read
easyloop
Porcupine Lake Wilderness Loop
4 mi200 ft gain
~76 mi from DuluthJune through October
A 4-mile loop through the Porcupine Lake Wilderness in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, circling a remote glacial lake in one of Wisconsin's three federally designated wilderness areas.
4 min read
easy-moderateloop
Bear Lake Loop
4.5 mi250 ft gain
~79 mi from DuluthJune through October
Guide to Bear Lake Loop near Ely in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. A 4.5-mile circuit through boreal forest and along a quiet backcountry lake in prime moose habitat.
5 min read
easyloop
Rainbow Lake Wilderness Loop
8 mi200 ft gain
~83 mi from DuluthJune through October
An 8-mile loop through the Rainbow Lake Wilderness in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, visiting remote backcountry lakes in one of Wisconsin's three federally designated wilderness areas.
4 min read
easyout-and-back
Magnetic Rock Trail
2.2 mi100 ft gain
~87 mi from DuluthJune through October
Guide to Magnetic Rock Trail near the Gunflint Trail in Superior National Forest. An easy 2.2-mile walk to a massive 60-foot basaltic formation that deflects compass needles.
5 min read
easy-moderateloop
Oberg Mountain Trail
2.2 mi300 ft gain
~88 mi from DuluthMay through October
Guide to Oberg Mountain Trail in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. A 2.2-mile loop on the Superior Hiking Trail with Lake Superior views and outstanding fall color.
6 min read
easy-moderateloop
Pines and Mines Trail Loop
5 mi300 ft gain
~92 mi from DuluthMay through October
A 5-mile loop in the Iron County area of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest connecting interpretive sites about the region's logging and iron mining heritage through northwoods forest.
3 min read
moderateloop
Suomi Hills Trail
7.2 mi180 ft gain
~95 mi from DuluthJune through October
A 7.2-mile loop through a lake-dotted backcountry area in the eastern Chippewa National Forest, passing several small lakes with dispersed camping access and excellent bird life throughout.
3 min read
easyout-and-back
West Fork Chippewa River Trail
7 mi200 ft gain
~95 mi from DuluthJune through October
A 7-mile out-and-back trail following the West Fork of the Chippewa River through hardwood bottomlands and northwoods forest in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
3 min read
easyout-and-back
North Country National Scenic Trail Section
10 mi400 ft gain
~95 mi from DuluthJune through October
A 10-mile section of the North Country National Scenic Trail through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, passing through classic Wisconsin northwoods with glacial lakes and mixed forest.
5 min read
moderateout-and-back
North Country Trail: Black River Waterfalls
8.5 mi600 ft gain
~97 mi from DuluthMay through October
An 8.5-mile out-and-back along the Black River corridor in Ottawa National Forest, stringing together five major waterfalls on the North Country National Scenic Trail before reaching Lake Superior.
3 min read
easy-moderateout-and-back
Presque Isle River Trail
3.5 mi300 ft gain
~97 mi from DuluthMay through October
A 3.5-mile out-and-back following the Presque Isle River gorge to Lake Superior in the Ottawa National Forest / Porcupine Mountains border area, with dramatic cascades and lake access.
3 min read
moderatepoint-to-point
North Country Trail Chippewa Segment
9 mi210 ft gain
~99 mi from DuluthJune through October
A 9-mile point-to-point through the eastern Chippewa National Forest on the North Country National Scenic Trail, passing through birch and aspen uplands with periodic lake views and minimal other foot traffic.
3 min read
easyloop
Norway Beach Loop
3.5 mi60 ft gain
~100 mi from DuluthMay through October
A 3.5-mile loop around the Norway Beach peninsula on Leech Lake, combining forest trail with open lakeshore walking and one of the best bald eagle viewing spots in the Chippewa National Forest.
3 min read
easyout-and-back
Honeymoon Bluff Trail
0.9 mi180 ft gain
~100 mi from DuluthMay through October
Guide to Honeymoon Bluff Trail in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. A short 0.9-mile hike to a panoramic overlook above Poplar Lake on the Gunflint Trail corridor.
4 min read
moderatepoint-to-point
Foothills Trail Connector
8.5 mi260 ft gain
~100 mi from DuluthJune through October
An 8.5-mile point-to-point linking the southern Chippewa National Forest to the adjacent Foothills State Forest trail system through aspen clearcuts, mature hardwood, and several creek crossings.
3 min read
easyout-and-back
Secret Falls Trail
1.6 mi100 ft gain
~104 mi from DuluthMay through October
Guide to Secret Falls Trail near Grand Marais in Superior National Forest. An easy 1.6-mile walk through birch forest to a hidden waterfall in a creek canyon on the North Shore.
5 min read
moderateout-and-back
Eagle Mountain Trail
7 mi600 ft gain
~105 mi from DuluthJune through October
Hiking guide to Eagle Mountain Trail in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. A 7-mile out-and-back to the highest point in Minnesota at 2,301 feet, with views of the BWCA.
5 min read
easyloop
Cut Foot Sioux Trail
4.8 mi80 ft gain
~106 mi from DuluthMay through October
A 4.8-mile loop around a series of small lakes near the historic Cut Foot Sioux Ranger Station, with reliable bald eagle viewing and easy, flat terrain throughout.
3 min read
moderateout-and-back
Porcupine Mountains Escarpment Trail
4 mi300 ft gain
~109 mi from DuluthMay through October
A 4.0-mile out-and-back along the Lake of the Clouds Escarpment on the boundary of Ottawa National Forest and Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, with sweeping views over old-growth forest and the Carp River valley.
3 min read
moderateout-and-back
Caribou Rock Trail
6.5 mi700 ft gain
~110 mi from DuluthJune through October
Guide to Caribou Rock Trail on the Gunflint Trail in Superior National Forest. A 6.5-mile out-and-back to a rocky overlook with BWCA views in remote northern Minnesota wolf country.
6 min read
moderatepoint-to-point
Border Route Trail: Moss Lake Section
8 mi500 ft gain
~115 mi from DuluthJune through October
Guide to the Moss Lake section of the Border Route Trail in Superior National Forest. An 8-mile point-to-point with dramatic BWCA lake overlooks and blueberry ridges along the Canadian border.
6 min read
moderateloop
Migis Trail
6 mi140 ft gain
~117 mi from DuluthJune through October
A 6.0-mile lollipop loop through jack pine and aspen in the northern Chippewa National Forest, passing small fishing lakes and offering one of the quietest trail experiences in the forest.
3 min read
moderateloop
Shingobee Recreation Area Trail
5.5 mi220 ft gain
~118 mi from DuluthJune through October
A 5.5-mile loop through rolling forest near Walker, following the Shingobee River and crossing the most varied terrain in Chippewa National Forest, including the Shingobee Hills viewpoints.
3 min read