50 Circuit Hikes

A Stride-by-Stride Guide to Northeastern Minnesota

2002
Author:

Howard Fenton

Filled with tempting trails and intriguing trailside lore, this comprehensive guide introduces hikers of all abilities to the unique natural beauty of northeastern Minnesota.

Filled with tempting trails and intriguing trailside lore, this comprehensive guide introduces hikers of all abilities to the unique natural beauty of northeastern Minnesota.

Filled with tempting trails and intriguing trailside lore, this comprehensive guide introduces hikers of all abilities to the unique natural beauty of northeastern Minnesota. Choose a hike to match your mood, time frame, and skill level.

Over 225 miles of spectacular scenery to choose from: Lake Superior vistas, woodland trails, hidden waterfalls, rocky outcroppings, wildly dashing rivers.

Trails in six counties: Pine, Carlton, Aitkin, St. Louis, Lake, and Cook.

Each hike is a loop (or circuit): every step takes you to new territory; no cars to jockey between start and finish points.

Hikes for all ages and abilities: families, weekend walkers, hard-core hikers.

From quick strolls (30 minutes) to all-day outings; mostly in the 1-3 hour range.

Whether it’s a wilderness trek or a city trail, each walking adventure in 50 Circuit Hikes is outlined with superb detail:

Ratings for length and difficulty: 10 easy hikes, 18 moderate, 12 difficult, 10 strenuous.

Detailed maps including complete directions to the trailhead (with GPS coordinates) and parking facilities.

Stride-by-stride milepost information accurately describing landmarks so you can easily keep your bearings.

For pre-hike preparation or on-the-trail exploration: a wealth of natural history information on geology, plants, and animals you’re likely to see; guidelines for safe hiking, plus points of special interest.

Howard Fenton, biologist by training, recreational hiker and bird-watcher by inclination, has trekked trails all across the United States, from the Sierra Nevada to Acadia National Park, as well as in Western Samoa. When he moved to Minnesota from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Howard couldn’t find a top-quality trail guide to the Arrowhead Region—so he wrote it!

Pine County
Quarry Loop Trail
National Christmas
Tree Trail
Aitkin County
Remote Lake
Solitude Area
Continental Divide—
Savanna Portage Trails
Carlton County
Rolling Hills
Rogers Lake
Silver Creek—
Bear Chase Trails
Organtz Trail
St. Louis County
Mission Creek Trail
Magney-Snively
Park Point Nature Trail
Summit Ledges
Otto Lake
Laurentian Divide
Big Hole & Ridge Trails
Sturgeon River Trail—
South Loop
North Dark River
East Bay—Norberg Lake
Becky & Blueberry Lakes
Bass Lake Trail
Ole Lake-
North Star Run
Angleworm Trail
Astrid Lake Trail
Echo River &
Herriman Lake
Dovre Lake Trail
Ash River Falls—Loop B
Agnes, Ek, &
Cruiser Lakes
vi
The Hikes
Lake County
Gooseberry River
Split Rock River
Corundum Mine Trail
Split Rock Creek
Bean & Bear Lakes
Mic Mac & Nipisiquit
Lakes
Mic Mac Lake—
Mount Baldy
Matt Willis &
Yellow Birch Trails
Manitou River
McDougal Lake Trail
Flat Horn Lake Trail
Eighteen Lake
Divide Lake
Hogback Lake
Ninemile Hiking Trail
Ennis, Blackstone, &
Secret Lakes
Cook County
Cross River Wayside
Leveaux Peak
Oberg Mountain
Lookout Mountain
Cascade River
Pincushion Mountain
Mucker Lake—
Border Route

Resources
Bibliography

Index