Bucket List Adventure Runs in Minnesota
By Matt Wardhaugh — May 3, 2021
Editor’s note: After I wrote and posted an article spotlighting the Bucket List Adventure Runs in Oregon a few weeks back, author Matt Wardhaugh offered to contribute a write-up on adventure runs in his neck of the woods: Minnesota. We now have two out of the fifty states represented! If anyone is interested in putting something together for your state, reach out! We’d love to someday have 50 articles representing all 50 states! Such a good resource for trail and ultra runners all over America. Huge thanks to Matt for putting this together!
Occasionally overlooked as part of the ‘flyover states’, Minnesota is somewhere I never anticipated living. Growing up in southern Scotland I was used to rolling hills, lush greenery and long winding river valleys that just oozed history and gave off strong Tolkein-esque vibes. My love for the outdoors grew out of weekend childhood hikes and eventually led me to compete in a 65K ultramarathon that ended less than five miles from my doorstep!
As I grew older, I began to develop a passion for understanding the history of the trails I ran on. Some regular routes included old ‘drove roads’ that farmers used to march their cows to market on, going as far back as the 1200s. Or St. Cuthbert’s Way, an old pilgrim path ending at Lindisfarne monastery which was famously sacked by the vikings.
Life is always providing opportunities to explore, so when I had the chance to move to Minnesota, quintessential midwestern American, I jumped at it. Keen to explore my new surroundings, I quickly discovered there’s something in the Mississippi headwaters that gives rise to some fearsome ultra-athletes. To name but a few: Scott Jurek, Courtney Dauwalter, Kurt Decker, Brittany Peterson, and Justin Grunewald all come from the hot-dish (not casserole) state.
I began to realize that Minnesota is criss-crossed with incredible trails. Within weeks of moving here, I was running into wild turkeys and whitetail deer on trails less than a mile from my backdoor. Minneapolis itself is one of the greener cities in the nation with sprawling parks, trails and bike paths to endlessly wander. Then getting further from the bustling masses we have routes that allow us to get up close and personal with some of the most underrated natural environments in the country.
Drawing on the inspiration from Chase Parnell’s Oregon bucket list, and as a fairly new arrival full of excitement to explore some of these trails myself, I present to you, the best adventure runs to be had in Minnesota.
Superior Hiking Trail (SHT)
Stats: 310+ miles, 39,000 feet gain.
Description: The Superior Hiking Trail is the crown jewel of midwestern long trails. The trail starts near Duluth on the border of Wisconsin and takes people on a journey along the shore of Lake Superior through the best the Northwoods has to offer. You’ll cross trout filled tributaries, countless waterfalls, the Sawtooth mountains and endless boreal forest. It’s so easy to feel a sense of escape anywhere along this route and you’re rewarded with incredible views of the lake from any high points. High points being a very subjective term here in Minnesota; the highest elevation in the state is Eagle Mountain, sitting at 2,301 feet above sea level. Maintained since the mid 1980’s by a hardy group of volunteers, the Superior Hiking Trail Association does a premier job of keeping the trail’s bright blue blazes easily visible. It’s also home to some incredible ultra events like the Superior Fall Trail Race, one of the original ten 100 mile trail events in the US.
Map:
GPX file: Click here.
Fastest Known Time Route: Superior Hiking Trail.
Route on Strava: Cody Lind and Brittany Peterson’s supported effort of 4d 9hrs 27min.
Border Route Trail
Stats: 64.6 miles, 10,200 feet gain.
Description: The Border Route Trail does what it says on the tin (Editor’s American translation: “on the tin” means “exactly”). It skirts the border of Canada passing through the primordial Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The BWCAW is a true and raw glimpse into remote untouched America. Requiring permits for entry, this network of lakes and rivers is wild and pristine, almost like going back a thousand years. Passing along bluffs overlooking countless lakes and expansive vistas looking into Canada, it is a route that gives a real feeling of solitude and appreciation for unspoiled wilderness. On this route, just looking at the FKT time gives testament to how rugged and bushwacky the trail can be. Be prepared for a long day. From late June onward the mosquitos and flies become relentless; definitely plan on attempting soon after the thaw or early fall to avoid being eaten alive.
Zoomed in. Look at all those lakes!
GPX file: Alexander Falconer’s Crossing for Save The Boundary Waters.
Fastest Known Time Route: Border Route Trail.
Route on Garmin Connect: Bryan Karban’s 2019 FKT of 21h 56min.
Gateway State Trail
Stats: 19.8 miles, 500 feet gain.
Description: The Gateway State Trail is a converted rail trail, all paved, perfect for speed. Built upon repurposed tracks of the Soo Line Railroad, the track has an industrial heritage that harks back to Minnesota’s booming war effort iron industry. Starting in the state capital of St. Paul it cuts through northeastern suburbs, parkland, wetlands and screeches to a stop in Pine Point Regional Park. Much more urban than previous trails, its proximity to the masses makes it accessible and lets a lot of people throw down some blistering times on the route. Some may argue this isn’t a bucket list route, but I urge you to run it in the fall, the colors are astounding.
GPX file: Click here.
Fastest Known Time Route: Gateway State Trail (MN).
Route on Strava: Justin Grunewald’s lightning fast run of 1hr 37min 37sec.
Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail
Stats: 15.9 Miles, 200 feet gain.
Description: Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. Lake Minnetonka is probably the most well known. Great fishing, fantastic restaurants, oh and it holds purifying waters according to Prince in the epic Purple Rain. Between Hopkins and Carver Park Reserve, this ribbon of dirt is a popular summer route for cyclists, runners and those looking to get away from downtown Minneapolis. Weaving between lakes and dense forest, you get to see upmarket Minnesota and all its lakeside mansion glory. Make sure you stop and grab some beer battered Walleye as a post run treat.
GPX file: Click here.
Fastest Known Time Route: Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail.
Route on Strava: Justin Grunewald cruising like a little red Corvette, 1hr 29min 31sec.
Kekekabic Trail
Stats: 39.1 miles, 2,100 feet gain.
Description: The Kekekabic Trail is a route located in the heart of the Superior National Forest in northern MN and winds its way back into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). It also forms part of the North Country Trail system which spans from North Dakota all the way to Vermont in the east. Extremely isolated, the trail requires annual maintenance and spring clearing trips are necessary for the trail to be in runnable condition. It weaves through the BWCAW’s lakes and rivers and passes through moose, wolf, and beaver habitat. Much like the Border Route Trail, this route gives you a glimpse back to the immaculate wilderness that once was. More hiked than ran, it presents a prime opportunity for any FKT goer, provided they can out tough out the ‘Kek’. Bonus points if you can spot any Ojibwe pictographs along the route.
GPX file: Click here.
Fastest Known Time Route: Kekekabic Trail.
Route on Movescount: Lane Johnson’s fantastic October 2019 FKT.
Mississippi Regional Trail (MRT)
Stats: 585 Miles, 9,400 feet gain.
Description: The Mississippi Regional Trail is a monster. The entire trail is a 3,000 mile epic journey. Shadowing the immense Mississippi river from the headwaters in Itasca State Park in northwest MN to the Gulf of Mexico down in Louisiana. We’ll just cover the MN portion which is a mammoth feat in and of itself. Flowing through plains and prairie initially, the trail meanders through the rural heart of the North Star state. A section of the trail from Lake Bemidji to Crow Wing State Park is known as the Paul Bunyan State Trail. Being a 115 mile route, it’s a wonderful section and a more manageable chunk for us mere mortals who might be intimidated by the whole MRT. It then follows the raging river through the Twin Cities Metro area before carving its way eastward through the incredible river bluffs bordering Wisconsin. Primarily a multi-use paved trail, ever popular with cyclists and bike-packers, it really is the best trail/path/road to see all of Minnesota and the cities and waters that make the state so special.
GPX file: Click here.
Fastest Known Time Route: From the research I’ve done, no one seems to have attempted an FKT on foot of the entire MN portion of the route. If anyone knows otherwise, please reach out.
All the maps you’ll ever need: Minnesota Department of Transportation MRT resource bank.
There you have it! I hope this article spurs on some unforgettable future runs! This list provides some of the best adventure runs in Minnesota but it really just scratches the surface of this incredible state. If I missed anything major, please share in the comments below!
Matt Wardhaugh is a store manager with Running Room in Minneapolis. Living in the USA for only a year, he grew up in southeast Scotland. Playing Rugby and running middle distance track were his first adventures into the world of sport. Gradually this adapted into trail and ultra running with a passion for the outdoors and a love for mountains. He competed in the St. Cuthbert’s Way 45M placing 13th and is currently training for the MN Voyageur 50 Miler. He lives in St. Louis Park, MN with his wife Kylee.
If you enjoyed this article, consider sharing it with a friend or supporting Treeline Journal by becoming a patron for as little as $2 a month! And don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly Rise & Grind newsletter, a single email every Thursday morning with all the latest ultra news, race reports, motivation, and inspiration. Thank you!
1 thought on “Bucket List Adventure Runs in Minnesota”