Trip around superior?

[x2thez]

Anyone done the loop around superior? My budies and I were thinking about attemtping this, this year. I have heard its about 1400 miles, not sure what to expect, but could turn bad if we had a breakdown or run out of snow..

Just curious about others past expierence with this.

 

[snowpromod]

I would be interested in the same info!!

 

[The Artist]

I have done the Canada side of the lake there is no marked trail at Thunder Bay had to ask a local where to ride or you could get a shuttle ride you should call ahead for that area

it is hilly and twisty trail in the Screiber area

have fun

 

[APEX 06]

only made it to thunder bay and had to sleds go down and that was the end of that maybe these year.

 

[Swiss Sledder]

Your biggest challenge is getting around Thunder Bay. For the last couple of seasons, there has not been a trail going through or around Thunder Bay, so there is no way to do a loop. From Duluth, you can ride north up to Grand Marais and then cross the border and head north towards Kaskabowie, ON. If all your sleds in your group get good mileage, then you might be able to make it to Thunder Bay where the trail ends. You will need a Remote Area Border Crossing Permit to enter Canada, which you apply for in advance.

There use to be local services that would load your sleds up on trailers and drive you around Thunder Bay to Red Rock where the trail begins again. Not sure if they are still doing this or not.

Also, you can only enter Canada from Minnesota at Grand Marais, and not vice versa. To enter Minnesota from Canada, you need to go west to Crane Lake.

You will also need a remote border crossing permit when crossing the border from Minnesota into Ontario. Lots of good information about this portion of the trail can be find on the Atikokan Snowmobile Club web site.

 

[Super Sled]

Hey Swiss: That's pretty darn good for a guy from the U.K.!!!!!!!!!

There are two pretty good tours that are similar (used to live in Grand Marais -- live near Duluth now). The Cross Border Circle Tour and Lake Superior Circle Tour. I've never done either, but god willing I'm gonna do them both before my time here is through. I've done many sledding "incursions" into Canada, but never rode more than a few lakes in, and usually just to ice fish.....

Lake Superior Tour: Much longer and a logistical nightmare I guess. Best bet is to do it with a bunch of others and have a vehicle with a large trailer and a few spare sleds (and gas!!!) following you around. There are places where there is no trail (most notably Thunder Bay and across the section of Lake superior near MI's U.P. ), that you need to be trailered for miles and miles. It also takes over a week.....

The Cross Border Tour is pretty simple: Start somewhere like Ely or Isabella or Finland and go. The one recommendation is to bring gas. But it can be broken up and the sections are fairly well marked and easier. this one heads west at Kash over to Atikokan (My fav place in Canada) and then down to Crane Lake, MN. Much, much shorter and can be done in a long weekend.

But I've heard they are both the trips of a lifetime......

Mike

 

[Mikey]

Swiss you hit it right on the head No trail from the USA border to Dorion/Red Rock Area for the last 8 or so years. It could still be done there are trails but nothing groomed or signed. Gas stops are also few and far between and the terrain can be most unforgivable.

 

[Yamadog]

Don't forget - do not try this if you have ever had a DUI or any other conviction. You can't get across the border. ZERO tolerance on the Canadian side.

 

[APEX 06]

NEVER AT BEER TAKE A BEER WHEN RIDING