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Hard Hiking Trails in Minnesota

The directory currently contains 10 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Minnesota. Their average mapped distance is 225 km and average recorded ascent is 834 m (2,736 ft); the longest route in the set is 1366 km.

This subset represents 16% of the 61 quality-checked routes in Minnesota. Its average distance is 225 km, compared with 40.8 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 834 m (2,736 ft), versus 187 m (614 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

This set contains routes rated hard or expert from their available distance and elevation measurements. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 10 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 6 (60%) 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

38.5 km

Snowbank and Disappointment Lakes Loop

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

3 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
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
Hard

Angleworm Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
21.0 km
/ 13.1 mi
Elevation gain
358 m
Typical duration
5 hr 6 min
  • Forest
Hard

Snowbank Trail

Minnesota · United States

Distance
32.7 km
/ 20.3 mi
Elevation gain
292 m
Typical duration
7 hr 47 min

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
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
Snowbank and Old Pines LoopMinnesota47.9 km375 m11 hrExpertApril to October
Angleworm TrailMinnesota21.0 km358 m5 hr 6 minHardApril to October
Snowbank TrailMinnesota32.7 km292 m7 hr 47 minHardApril 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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Other shortlists covering the same area or the same kind of terrain.

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