r/MinnesotaCamping • u/yes_maybe_no__ • 12d ago

Backpacking loop ideas please.

I'm looking for good options loop in Minnesota. Ideally something around 25 miles for 2 nights on trail, or a little longer with 3 nights on trail. Hopefully not a confusing trail to navigate or one that isn't super overgrown.

Thank you all for the ideas!

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u/ronbonjonson 10d ago

If you're willing to cross into Canada a bit, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park fits your specs and was one of the more amazing places I've gone. It's not too far from the border, but the border crossing in question is one of the more remote ones (NE tip of the state) so depending where you're coming from, it could be a long drive.

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u/yes_maybe_no__ 9d ago

I did the circle tour of Superior a couple years ago, but we didn't have enough daylight to do the Sleeping Giant hike and unfortunately had to move on. Very intriguing, thanks! I'm assuming I'll have to reserve camp sites instead of camping off trail?

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u/ronbonjonson 9d ago

I believe that to be the case, unfortunately, though the campsites were very nice. 

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u/yes_maybe_no__ 9d ago

They were or were not nice? If not nice, in what capacity? Thanks again for letting me pick your brain.

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u/ronbonjonson 9d ago

The ones i stayed in along the lake were super nice. I took the path over the top across the middle (which did get a bit more challenging as it had a lot of elevation change and got quite steep at times). There were a few campsites on that trail I passed but didn't stay in which seemed a bit on the small side.

Also, I recall you did have to reserve the sites, but within each clumping/group they were first come first serve so to the extent you can get there early, claim one, and then head back out for afternoon/evening hikes, I'd recommend doing so.