Runner at Temperance River from Above – Photo Credit Tone Coughlin
Greetings Runners,
With three weeks to go, I wanted to check in and extend an early welcome to everyone. We cannot wait to see you all on the North Shore in a few weeks! I will, as usual, be sending out our final / week-of ‘2026 Superior Fall Trail Race Runner Welcome’ email with last minute / final updates and more, but wanted to share some things with you today.
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General:
Superior is on Friday September 11 & Saturday September 12, 2026.
If your plans have changed and you can no longer make it to the race, there is no need to contact us. We will know you are not running if you do not show on race day.
Bib number assignments have been made and can be found on the website HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/2026-bib-assignments/ – if you are making use of drop bags, use this information to mark your drop bags as described on the race info page(s).
Now is a good time to study up on the Superior race website – everything you need to know about getting to the race, the distance you are running, and the race course can be found on our website.
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Trail Conditions:
It has been very dry this summer and the trails are in great shape. While the trail was completely cleared of trees this spring, they continue to fall over the summer. We are clearing the ones that we have time to get to but will not get to them all. Any that remain should not be tough to get over or around. SHTs contractor that weed whips many of the north shore sections has gotten started on the racecourse sections. It is brushy in areas, our marking crew will try to trim as many face slappers as they can on the day they mark trails.
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Racecourse Updates:
For those that follow news on the North Shore, follow news about the Superior Hiking Trail, and those that have run the Superior Fall Trail Race previously and have a good understanding of the race course, we know you typically have a few questions about scheduled trail improvement projects and their associated closures, other reroutes / closures, and their effect(s) on the race. For those of you who are running for your first time or don’t follow Minnesota or Superior Hiking Trail news, you can probably just skim this info and concentrate on following the Superior Hiking Trail and our race markings.
IMPORTANTLY, all of the course maps, GPX files, and crew instructions, found HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/maps-and-data/ have been updated to reflect all of the following changes.
Topic: The first segment of the 100 mile race from Gooseberry Falls State Park to the first aid station at Split Rock will be the same as last year / 2025.
Section: Gooseberry to Split Rock
Impacts: 100 milers
The west side of the Split Rock River Loop was closed for last year’s race for a large scale trail rehabilitation project. While the project is now complete and the trail is open, we are opting to use last year’s reroute again in order to give the new work additional time to set up / heal prior to running the race on it. The route will be as follows; start at Gooseberry Falls State Park as normal, run 1.6 miles of Gooseberry Falls State Park cross country skiing and hiking trails (wide non-technical trails with some gradual elevation gain), to 0.5 miles of snowmobile trail (wide non-technical trail, may be wet), join the Superior Hiking Trail for 5.4 miles (undulating and technical SHT), intersect the beginning of the Split Rock River Loop at Strand Creek and run 0.5 miles down to the Split Rock Wayside Parking lot (in the opposite direction of the way we normally run the loop). Run .4 miles into the back side of the Split Rock Aid Station which will be in its normal location and at its normal distance of 8.5 miles. This option has about 100ft less elevation gain than the normal route. The cutoff at Split Rock aid station will remain unchanged. While we DO NOT cross Highway 61, there will be an approximate 1/3rd mile stretch run on the shoulder of Highway 61 (running against traffic), about half of which is inside of a guardrail. Once past the guardrail you will be asked to run single-file on the gravel / grass, not on the paved shoulder. HERE is a diagram detailing the end of this segment as we approach the Split Rick aid station, HERE is a revised static course map showing the entire route, HERE is an updated live map and downloadable GPX file.
Topic: Baptism River High Falls Suspension Bridge has been replaced and we will be returning to the original pre-2022 route.
Section: Silver Bay to Tettegouche and Tettegouche to County Rd 6
Impacts: 100 milers
The Baptism River High Falls Suspension Bridge was closed in 2022 due to damage from historic flooding, and was later completely dismantled and removed. The reroute we used between 2022 and 2025 in order to get to a different bridge / crossing of the river changed the location of the Tettegouche adding 1.8 miles in overall race distance. The breakdown of the added mileage was .65 miles before the Tettegouche aid station / to the Silver Bay to Tettegouche segment and 1.15 miles after the aid station / to the Tettegouche to County Rd 6 segment. With this reversion and a couple other very minor tweaks elsewhere, the overall race will be 1.9 miles shorter than it was from 2022 to 2025 taking it from 102.9 miles down to to 101 miles, with the Tettegouche Aid Station returning to its old / original location. Tettegouche will continue as a no crew access aid station. You will still be able to send drop bags to this aid station. Cutoffs remain unchanged. All maps, charts and crew information has been updated to reflect these changes.
Topic: East Branch Baptism River Bridge near Sonju Lake Road Aid Station is still out and trail still rerouted.
Section: Finland to Sonju
Impacts: 100 and 50 milers
The East Branch Baptism River bridge near the Sonju Lake Road trailhead / aid station was severely damaged by flooding on June 18 2024 and remains ‘out’ / closed. As a result the Superior Hiking Trail (and thus the race course) has been rerouted to a different bridge in order to cross the East Branch of the river. As a result of this both 100 and 50 mile runners will run ‘through’ the aid station again, rather than spur in, and back out of it as we had historically done (a happy accident that eliminates two-way traffic). The distance added by the reroute is negligible (1/20th of a mile) but does run quicker as the reroute makes use of an ATV trail and Sonju Lake Road, which is a very infrequently traveled minimum maintenance forest road. This is a well established reroute and runners do not need to think a lot about this, the reroute will be clearly marked. For those that would like to review it, more information can be found HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/wp-content/uploads/Superior-100-Sonju-Reroute-and-Logistics-Revised-8-5-24-615PM-CST.jpg
Topic: The Onion River Bridge has been removed pending replacement of a new bridge, which will result in a rock-hop or wet river crossing.
Section: Sawbill to Oberg
Impacts: All distances; 100, 50 & 26.2 milers.
The bridge at the Onion River has been removed and will not be replaced until later this fall. This will result in a rock-hop or wet river crossing depending on river levels. As of today it is possible to get across the river with dry feet / by hopping over boulders and rocks. If we have substantial rains it may be a wet river crossing. This crossing is approximately .7 miles outside of / to the west of the Oberg Aid Station. Mile 93.2 of the 100M, mile 43.5 of the 50M, mile 18.1 of the 26.2M. HERE IS A PHOTO from 8/19.
Topic: The final mile of the race will be the same as 2025.
Section: Oberg to Finish
Impacts: All distances; 100, 50 & 26.2 milers.
Starting in 2024, for both our spring and fall races, in order to keep runners off of Ski Hill Road, an open / public roadway, runners have been routed off of Ski Hill Road onto Lutsen Mountain / the ski hill in the closing mile of the race. For the 2024 races runners went up the ski hill before coming back down to Caribou Highlands. For 2025 (and again in 2026) we agreed on a new / different route with Lutsen Mountain from what we used in 2024, and it worked very well. Once coming off of the trail and hitting the gravel portion of Ski Hill Road, runners will continue 750 feet on the gravel road (about the length of two football fields) and then need to get onto the East / left sidewalk along the paved portion of Ski Hill Road, runners will be on the sidewalk for 200 feet, then will cut up an embankment to their east / left, running behind the red gondola, will then head downhill for a short stretch crossing under Ski Hill Road on the ski run, will run behind Eagle Ridge condos / resort, over a ski hill and onto Caribou Highlands property for the finish. More information including a map / diagram can be found HERE https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/wp-content/uploads/Superior-Trail-Race-Revised-Finish-Route-5-12-25-700PM-CST.jpg
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100 Mile Pacer Policy Update:
100 mile runners 65 and older may have a pacer join them at anytime during the race, it had been 67 previously. All other pacer policies remain unchanged.
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Runners, please have a Crew, Pacer, Family, Friend, Pacer meeting before the race:
Runners who plan on having crew, pacers, family or friends attend the race and visit the aid stations should review all of the information on THIS page https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/crew-pacer-family-member-spectators-information/ and the linked Crew and Spectator Guide, then share and discuss it with your people so they are 100% clear and up to speed on what is expected of them on race weekend.
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VERY IMPORTANT – CAMPING OR SLEEPING IN YOUR VEHICLE IN THE LUTSEN PARKING LOT IS NOT ALLOWED:
Lutsen Mountain graciously allows racers to park in their large surface gravel parking lot, across Ski Hill Road from Caribou Highlands Lodge for both the Spring and Fall races. They have asked us to pass a note to race participants that camping or sleeping in your car, van, truck, etc. is not permitted in their parking lot or anywhere on their property. Failure to comply with this could negatively impact the race. If you need somewhere to camp the night before or after the race we suggest one of the following options; Burlington Bay Campground in Two Harbors, Gooseberry Falls State Park northeast of Two Harbors, Split Rock Lighthose State Park southwest of Beaver Bay, Black Beach Campground in Silver Bay, Tettegouche State Park northeast of Silver Bay, Finland Campground near Finland, Eckbeck Campground near Finland, Wildhurst Lodge and Campground near Finland, Lambs Resort in Schroeder, Temperance River State Park near Tofte, Cascade River State Park northeast of Lutsen, Grand Marais Municipal Campground in Grand Marais.
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T-Shirts!
This year’s t-shirt design is a tip of the cap to the friends, family, crew, pacers, and—of course—the volunteers who support our incredible runners. Whether they’re filling water bottles, pacing, patching up a runner and sending them on their way, or holding vigil with signs and ringing cowbells at the at the aid stations, it’s the community that makes these races possible, and special. This fun character was featured on ALL OF OUR RACE SHIRTS THIS SEASON! We will have a limited number of HOODIES with this same design for sale at the race.
Nerd’ing out if I may… These shirts were year’s in the making. Designing and sampling / prototyping them was of course a lot of fun, but an insanely time-consuming affair. There is a reason you don’t see many 7 color race shirts as its complex and hard to pull off well. For this years t-shirt we went with a 100% cotton with the same weightless water based ink we normally use on our t-shirts. These shirts are the exact same cut / fit as the triblend fabric shirts we have been using for years, so your normal size should fit perfectly. For the hoodies we had to go with a little heavier print on these in order to get the color match to the t-shirt but they wear well. A note about fabric and sizing on the hoodies – this print is going on what we are calling the RSR Heavy Blend 8oz Hooded Sweatshirt. If you have bought hoodies from us in the past, these are different. They are a little heavier. We love the fabric and the generous hood in conjunction with this full color design. The material is 50% cotton, 50% polyester. These are sized similar to our other hoodies to start but they do shrink a touch more. If the previous hoodies you have purchased from us were just on the small side for you, you may want to size up.
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Always Improving:
Superior Trail Race core team, volunteers, and runners came together with Superior Hiking Trail Association Staff and volunteers to build 400′ of new boardwalk outside of the County Road 6 Trailhead this past June. 100 milers will enjoy this new work (and now mud-free stretch) as soon as they leave the aid station, enjoy! https://photos.app.goo.gl/KHEJmSDrN9VbhdTE9
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Sponsors!
Please be sure to check out our awesome sponsors and partners. We have real relationships with all of these businesses / organizations and most of the owners and/or employees are personal friends, they volunteer, captain aid stations, run the races and are part of our local running community. https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/sponsors/
Superior Hiking Trail
Caribou Highlands
Visit Cook County
Twin Cities Running Company
Mill City Running
ACG
Vaniply / Vanicream
Fika Coffee
Best Day Brewing
Trail Transformation
Northwoods Running
Performance Running Gym
Consilience Coaching
Climb Above Endurance Coaching
Discover Strength
North Coast Trail Running
Bridge Realty – Bill Pomerenke
State Farm Insurance – Geri Martin
LutZen Massage Studios
Full Sun Services
Mile in My Shoes
Northwest Outlet
Captain Ken’s Chili
Relentless Courage – Jon Howard
Austin Jarrow
St. Croix Law
Critical Connections Ecological Services
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If you are not quite ready to get back to what you were doing, linger a few more minutes and get stoked for what’s to come! https://www.superiorfalltrailrace.com/photos-2025-highlights/
That is all I have for you today, thank you for your time! Look for one final communication from me about a week out from the race. We can’t wait to see you all at Superior!
In Community,
John Storkamp
Race Director
Superior Spring Trail Race