Top Backpacking Trails in Minnesota
19 routes. Each page shows when we last checked it. Updated October 2026.
Backpacking in Minnesota centers on the North Shore of Lake Superior and the lake country of the Arrowhead, with shorter trips in state parks farther south. The trips on this site include seven sections of the Superior Hiking Trail, the Border Route, Kekekabic, Snowbank Lake, and Powwow trails in the Boundary Waters, the Kab-Ash and Cruiser Lake trails in Voyageurs National Park, and backpack sites at parks such as Crosby-Manitou, Jay Cooke, Itasca, and Lake Maria.
Expect rocky, rooty tread, steep river gorges and ridges along the North Shore, and in the Boundary Waters, faint trails, beaver dams, blowdown, and old burns where navigation skills matter. Water is usually close by in lakes and creeks, but some campsites are dry and all water needs treatment.
Camping rules vary by managing agency. Superior Hiking Trail campsites are free and need no reservation, the Boundary Waters requires a permit and designated campsites, and state park and Voyageurs sites must be reserved. Cruiser Lake is reached only by boat, while Kab-Ash can be hiked from a road.
Check conditions before any trip. Wildfires closed the Boundary Waters in July 2026, and some areas stay closed under an order that took effect Oct. 1. The Superior Hiking Trail Association lists several washed-out or damaged bridges. Plan for bears, spring high water, and fall hunting seasons, when some trail sections close.
Quick picks
- Easy first overnight: Lake Maria State Park Backpack Sites
- Longest trip: Border Route Trail
- Waterfall trip: Superior Hiking Trail: Gooseberry Falls to Beaver Bay
- Boundary Waters loop: Snowbank Lake Trail
- National park hike-in, no boat needed: Kab-Ash Trail to Red Pine and Blueberry Ridge
Arrowhead
Boundary Waters
- Border Route Trail Superior National Forest and BWCAW (Gunflint Trail to the Swamp River) 65 miles Hard Designated campsites; BWCAW quota permit May 1-Sept. 30 for overnight trips
- Kekekabic Trail Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Gunflint Trail to Snowbank Lake Road) 41 miles Hard BWCAW designated campsites; quota permit May 1-Sept. 30, self-issued Oct. 1-April 30
- Powwow Trail Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (near Isabella) 30.2 miles Hard BWCAW designated campsites (two primitive); quota permit May 1-Sept. 30
- Snowbank Lake Trail Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (Snowbank Lake Road, near Ely) 24 miles Hard BWCAW designated campsites; quota permit May 1-Sept. 30, self-issued Oct. 1-April 30
Central Minnesota
- Glacial Lakes State Park Backpack Sites Glacial Lakes State Park (near Starbuck) 4 miles Moderate Four reservable backpack sites
- Lake Maria State Park Backpack Sites Lake Maria State Park (near Monticello) 2 miles Easy 17 reservable backpack sites; no drive-in campground
- Wild River State Park Backpack Sites Wild River State Park (near Center City) 4.7 miles Moderate Seven reservable hike-in sites (plus canoe-in sites)
Duluth
Northern Minnesota
- Cruiser Lake Trail Voyageurs National Park (Kabetogama Peninsula) 8 miles Hard Designated backcountry sites on interior lakes; reservation required
- Itasca State Park Backcountry: Hernando DeSoto Lake Itasca State Park (near Park Rapids) 5.5 miles Moderate Reservable backpack sites (11 in the park)
- Kab-Ash Trail to Red Pine and Blueberry Ridge Voyageurs National Park (Kabetogama and Ash River) 6.4 miles Hard Two reservable primitive hike-in sites
Superior Hiking Trail
- Superior Hiking Trail: Bean and Bear Lakes (Silver Bay to Tettegouche) Superior Hiking Trail (Penn Boulevard, Silver Bay, to the Highway 1 trailhead) 11.1 miles Hard First-come designated SHT campsites; no permits, fees, or reservations
- Superior Hiking Trail: Carlton Peak and Oberg (Temperance River to Lutsen) Superior Hiking Trail (Temperance River State Park to Lutsen Mountains) 17.5 miles Hard First-come designated SHT campsites; no permits, fees, or reservations
- Superior Hiking Trail: Gooseberry Falls to Beaver Bay Superior Hiking Trail (Gooseberry Falls State Park to Lax Lake Road, Beaver Bay) 16.5 miles Hard First-come designated SHT campsites; no permits, fees, or reservations
- Superior Hiking Trail: Grand Marais to Judge Magney Superior Hiking Trail (Pincushion Mountain Trailhead to Judge C.R. Magney State Park) 24.1 miles Hard First-come designated SHT campsites; no permits, fees, or reservations
- Superior Hiking Trail: Hovland to the Northern Terminus Superior Hiking Trail (Cook County Road 70 to Otter Lake Road and the 270 Degree Overlook) 24.7 miles Hard First-come designated SHT campsites; no permits, fees, or reservations
- Superior Hiking Trail: Lake Agnes and Lookout Mountain (Lutsen to Cascade River) Superior Hiking Trail (Lutsen Mountains to Cascade River State Park) 17.4 miles Hard First-come designated SHT campsites; no permits, fees, or reservations
- Superior Hiking Trail: Section 13 and Sonju Lake (Finland to Crosby-Manitou) Superior Hiking Trail (Lake County Road 6 to George H. Crosby Manitou State Park) 19.4 miles Hard First-come designated SHT campsites; no permits, fees, or reservations
Backpacking in Minnesota: common questions
Do you need a permit to backpack in Minnesota?
It depends on the managing agency. The Superior Hiking Trail Association says no permits, fees, or reservations are needed at Superior Hiking Trail campsites, but the Forest Service requires a Boundary Waters permit year-round, with quota permits for groups entering May 1 to Sept. 30. Minnesota state parks say all campsites require a reservation, bookable up to 120 days ahead, and Voyageurs National Park requires reservations for all camping through Recreation.gov. Confirm with the agency before you go.
When is the best time to backpack in Minnesota?
There isn't one answer for every trip. The Superior Hiking Trail Association warns that shallow creek crossings can become impassable during spring melt or heavy rain, reviewers at Lake Maria describe mosquitoes from late spring through August, and Voyageurs began removing buoys and hazard markers on its big lakes as early as Oct. 5, 2026, which matters for the boat-access Cruiser Lake Trail. Late fall also overlaps deer hunting seasons, so check conditions and season dates with the managing agency.
Is the Boundary Waters open after the 2026 wildfires?
Partly. The Forest Service closed the Boundary Waters after wildfires sparked by a July 7, 2026 lightning storm and reopened it in phases, and a post-wildfire closure order effective Oct. 1, 2026 keeps portions of the wilderness and areas along the Echo Trail north of Ely closed. The trail pages on this site report that the Kekekabic, Snowbank, and Powwow entry points reopened Aug. 11, 2026. Check the Superior National Forest's current closure order and maps before you go.
How should you store food from bears in Minnesota?
Plan to hang food or carry a bear-resistant container on most trips. The Forest Service requires food and scented items in the Boundary Waters to be hung at least 12 feet up and 6 feet from a tree trunk, or kept in an approved container, from April 1 to Nov. 30, and the Superior Hiking Trail Association says to always use a bear canister or bear bag. Voyageurs asks campers to hang food 10 feet up and 4 feet out or use a canister, and it closed 17 Dryweed Island area campsites through October 2026 because of bear activity.
Is it safe to backpack in Minnesota during hunting season?
Hunting overlaps fall trips, and some trail sections close. The Minnesota DNR lists 2026 firearms deer seasons of Nov. 7-22 or Nov. 7-15 depending on the area, muzzleloader season Nov. 28 to Dec. 13, and archery Sept. 19 to Dec. 31. The Superior Hiking Trail Association lists several sections and a private parcel between Lindskog Road and Cook County Road 14 as closed during firearms season, and says the trail inside Jay Cooke State Park closes during muzzleloader season in early December. Wear bright clothing and check current closures.
Can you bring a dog backpacking in Minnesota?
On many trips, but rules vary by managing agency. Minnesota state parks require pets on a leash six feet or shorter and attended at all times, the Boundary Waters requires a leash of 6 feet or shorter, and the Superior Hiking Trail Association says dogs must be leashed. The Voyageurs trail pages on this site say dogs aren't allowed on the Kab-Ash or Cruiser Lake trips, so confirm with the agency before you bring a dog.
Where this comes from
- Superior Hiking Trail Association: Know Before You Go
- Superior Hiking Trail Association: Trail Conditions (updated Oct. 5, 2026)
- USDA Forest Service: BWCAW Trip Planning Guide
- USDA Forest Service: BWCAW Rules and Regulations
- USDA Forest Service: Superior NF alerts (Post Wildfire Closures, Effective Oct. 1, 2026)
- Minnesota DNR: Backcountry camping in state parks
- Minnesota DNR: State park and recreation area rules
- Minnesota DNR: Deer hunting news and season dates
- National Park Service: Voyageurs alerts and conditions (updated Oct. 1, 2026)
- National Park Service: Primitive camping at Voyageurs