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Best Mountain Hikes in Minnesota

The directory currently contains 12 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Minnesota. Their average mapped distance is 185 km and average recorded ascent is 691 m (2,267 ft); the longest route in the set is 1366 km.

This subset represents 20% of the 61 quality-checked routes in Minnesota. Its average distance is 185 km, compared with 40.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 691 m (2,267 ft), versus 187 m (614 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

These routes carry the mountain tag. Their measured distance and ascent are shown separately so the label is not used as a proxy for difficulty. Within this set, 1 routes (8%) are rated easy, 8 (67%) are rated hard or expert, and 4 (33%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

10.5 km

Brule Lake Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

147 m

Powwow Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Wintertime Sunrise on Lake Superior
Expert

Superior Hiking Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
477 km
/ 297 mi
Elevation gain
2,423 m
Typical duration
116 hr
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
  • Long-distance path
Expert

Border Route Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
106 km
/ 65.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,292 m
Typical duration
26 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
Moderate

Brule Lake Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
10.5 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
185 m
Typical duration
2 hr 28 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Horseshoe lake, where the portage trail crosses the powwow hiking trail
Expert

Powwow Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
48.5 km
/ 30.1 mi
Elevation gain
147 m
Typical duration
11 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
The Little Indian Sioux River as it passes Echo Trail (Ely-Buyck Road) in the Superior National Forest near Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) entry point (EP) 9 / 14.
Expert

Sioux-Hustler Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
49.9 km
/ 31.0 mi
Elevation gain
490 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Forest
Expert

Kekekabic Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
61.9 km
/ 38.5 mi
Elevation gain
550 m
Typical duration
15 hr
  • Mountain
  • Long-distance path
View from Hawk Ridge, Duluth, MN
Moderate

Hawk Ridge Trails

Minnesota · United States

Distance
5.5 km
/ 3.4 mi
Elevation gain
256 m
Typical duration
1 hr 32 min
  • Mountain
Bloomington, Minnesota
Easy

Hogback Ridge Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Typical duration
28 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Eagle Mountain Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
166 m
Typical duration
1 hr 20 min
  • Mountain
  • Forest

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
North Country National Scenic Trail (MN)Minnesota1366 km2,139 m328 hrExpertApril to October
Superior Hiking TrailMinnesota477 km2,423 m116 hrExpertApril to October
Border Route TrailMinnesota106 km1,292 m26 hrExpertApril to October
Snowbank and Disappointment Lakes LoopMinnesota38.5 km272 m9 hr 8 minExpertApril to October
Brule Lake TrailMinnesota10.5 km185 m2 hr 28 minModerateApril to October
Powwow TrailMinnesota48.5 km147 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Sioux-Hustler TrailMinnesota49.9 km490 m12 hrExpertApril to October
Kekekabic TrailMinnesota61.9 km550 m15 hrExpertApril to October
Hawk Ridge TrailsMinnesota5.5 km256 m1 hr 32 minModerateApril to October
Snowbank and Old Pines LoopMinnesota47.9 km375 m11 hrExpertApril to October

North Country National Scenic Trail (MN), Superior Hiking Trail, Border Route Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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