Revealed July 18, 2026 08:05AM
As the biggest freshwater lake on the planet, Lake Superior holds roughly ten p.c of the Earth’s water provide. It’s so massive that it makes its personal climate, very similar to Denali and Mount Everest. It touches two international locations, spaning three states and a Canadian province. Earlier than any of these borders ever existed, its shoreline was dwelling to many First Nations.
Need to get to know the entire thing? There aren’t many higher methods than to paddle the Lake Superior State Water Path, a 150-mile route from Duluth’s St. Louis Bay to the Pigeon River on the Canadian border.
“With its spectacular basalt rock geology, sprawling forests, and lots of secluded seashores, it is among the greatest methods to discover the lake from a totally totally different perspective,” says Abby Halom, a paddling information and co-founder of Day Tripper of Duluth.
As a paddling information of greater than 17 years, Halom has achieved many elements of the path herself. Day Tripper of Duluth incessantly leads customized itineraries and day journeys alongside the Lake Superior Water Path. Halom spoke with Backpacker about all of the path has to supply paddlers, hikers, and anybody curious to see this unbelievable lake up shut and private.
A path of water and land
The path is split into 5 segments. Sea kayaks are advisable, and customers needs to be ready to camp alongside many of the journey. There are just a few factors the place you could possibly guide a lodge room for the evening. Nonetheless, you’ll must discover a place to retailer your kayak, and it’s possible you’ll want to arrange a journey into city.
The primary phase is 27 miles and begins at Boy Scout Touchdown alongside the Wisconsin-Minnesota border as much as Knife River Marina. Alongside the way in which, you move the St. Louis River estuary, the world’s longest freshwater sandspit with a maze of protected bays. They’re excellent for newbie paddlers to discover.
From Knife River, phase 2 is 30 miles to Break up Rock Lighthouse State Park, previous the city of Two Harbors (an important restocking cease).
The third phase is 41 miles, stretching all the way in which to Schroeder. This phase follows the shoreline cliffs alongside low basalt outcrops and rocky seashores.
The panorama then modifications within the fourth phase. It stretches 33 miles from Schroeder to Grand Marais, providing distant views of Minnesota’s Sawtooth Mountains and pine, spruce, and fir forests.
The fifth and closing phase is 46 miles, connecting Grand Marais to Pigeon Level throughout the Grand Portage Indian Reservation in Canada. Public entry is proscribed to some tent websites on the Grand Portago Lodge, so that you’ll must name to order a spot to dock. Moreover, the path ends on the Canadian border, and correct documentation is required for entry. So don’t neglect your passport.
Depart time to discover
Skilled paddlers is perhaps tempted to finish the journey in just a few days, however Halom recommends setting apart no less than three weeks for a full thru-paddle. “Whereas the water can appear flat as glass, Lake Superior is feisty and erratic, so at all times plan a ‘zero day’ throughout unhealthy climate,” she says. “Plus, plenty of the shoreline is alongside cliffs, so there’s nowhere to tug out if the climate turns.” Halom’s rule of thumb is to paddle 10 to fifteen miles a day with room inbuilt for any bad-weather days.
Luckily, climate days don’t should be wasted. The North Shore is stuffed with inland mountain climbing trails in state parks and alongside the Superior Nationwide Forest.
If you happen to can’t commit to a few weeks, you possibly can part paddle it, or select particular sections to paddle by means of. Halom recommends the 15-mile stretch from Break up Rock to Tettegouche State Park, with cliffs, sea caves, and shipwrecks for a real North Shore expertise. “Or you possibly can merely in a single day anyplace north from Grand Marais for solitude and countless water views,” she provides.
Logistics and help
Restocking meals and provides on the Lake Superior Water Path is difficult. There aren’t many stops with easy accessibility to cities. Halom recommends packing your Kayak stuffed with days’ value of meals and provides as an alternative. “Persons are typically shocked at simply how a lot your sea kayak can maintain, so fill her up with all of your provides, contemporary and dehydrated meals,” she suggests. Heading north from Duluth, it’s also possible to cease on the grocery retailer in Two Harbors.
“Tofte additionally has a backpacking clothing store on the principle highway for freeze-dried meals, and Grand Marais has loads of eating places so you possibly can refuel there for the ultimate stretch in direction of Canada,” she provides.
There are three several types of tenting alongside the water path. Watercraft campsites are free and first-come, first-serve. They’re capped at a one-night keep for a most of six paddlers per website. These are primitive, self-sustaining, water-access-only websites with no car parking or consuming water.
There are additionally reservable backpack/kayak websites within the state parks alongside the route, like Gooseberry Falls, Break up Rock Creek, and Temperance River State Park. If you happen to don’t wish to fear about discovering a watercraft campsite, these are nice alternate options.
Inland, fee-based campgrounds are the third choice and can be utilized as a base camp for day journeys.
“The fundamental guidelines to observe are to camp in designated websites, respect personal property alongside the remainder of the shore, pack out trash, and bury waste effectively away from the water,” provides Halom.
Notable hikes alongside the path
Lake Superior State Water Path additionally gives many detours to hike and discover the area on foot. Some sections of the Superior Mountain climbing Path run parallel to the shoreline and could be tackled as day journeys. “My favourite is Break up Rock Ridge path inside Break up Rock Lighthouse State Park as a result of paddlers can pull in and hike 5 miles alongside the river previous a sequence of small waterfalls and rock cliffs,” she provides. “It’s the form of detour definitely worth the time with out derailing the day’s mileage.”
Additional north, Decide C.R. Magney State Park has a steep hike as much as Satan’s Kettle, the place the river cascades over volcanic rock into two separate swimming pools. Halom suggests planning these hikes as a part of your 10- to 15-mile paddle day and never an add-on: A detour on foot solely works if there’s room left in your schedule to soak up it.
Total, the water path could also be tough logistically—however the unpredictability is strictly what retains paddlers coming again.
“Few locations provide the possibility to spend weeks touring a shoreline the place the one sounds are waves breaking towards billion-year-old rock formations and the decision of gulls overhead,” Halom says.
