472. Wanda's Wanda-rings: Superior Hiking Trail
A nice little climb up to the top of Pincushion Mountain along the SHT near Grand Marais, MN, about 3 miles roundtrip

Our summer 2012 trip, paralleling the North Country Trail for much of its route on our way out to Montana, seemed like a good opportunity to put another of the "Wanda's Wanda-rings" boxes out on its original trail, the Superior Hiking Trail, which I had hiked back in 1996 - especially since the SHT is now officially part of the NCT as well!

To reach this pleasant little section of the SHT, take the Gunflint Trail (route 12) a short distance west from route 61 in Grand Marais past the water tower, and turn right on Pincushion Drive to its end at the large parking lot for the Grand Marais Trailhead. Follow the blue-blazed SHT, which at this point is a joint hiker/biker/skier trail, northeasterly about a mile or so, crossing 4 wide bridges. Near the top of a gradual uphill trail section, before the "single track" sign on the left, note the Pincushion Mountain spur trail leading off to the right. Follow that white-blazed spur trail another tenth of a mile or so up a short steep rocky grade, crossing two small plank bridges before reaching the top with its sparse straight trees sticking up out of the bare rock supposedly reminiscent of pins in a pincushion!

Now, if you are just on "pins and needles" to find the letterbox, first find a small 4 trunk pine beside a small boulder ("sitting rock") in the middle of the smooth rock area. Next find a white blaze on the rock about 10 steps south of that tree. From there take around another 17 steps at 215 degrees, passing between two medium pines, to a rock located about 4 feet to the right of another medium pine. Look under the back edge of that rock behind several carefully placed stones to find the SHT logo stamp carved by RMN SD!

Copyright (c) Wanda and Pete. All Rights Reserved.

BEFORE YOU SET OUT, PLEASE READ THE WAIVER OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DISCLAIMER.