SHT: Britton Peak to Caribou Trail
Lutsen, MN
What’s better than backpacking on the SHT? Going with friends! We went up to the north shore for the third year in a row, but this time with Liz, Ryan, and Tino! We met up at Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth on Friday night and had some wood-fire pizza and cold beer while we melted in the 90-degree heat, listening to good live music. We checked into the hotel and rested up before starting our hike!
Day 1: Britton Peak to West Rollins Creek Campsite
We got our traditional breakfast of champions (McDonald’s, of course), dropped a car at our end point, then arrived at the Britton Peak trailhead and jumped on the trail. It was HOT, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. We took a spur up to Britton Peak and right away were treated with views of Lake Superior, still as glass. We hiked past the Leveaux beaver pond, saw a beaver, and got eaten alive by bugs!
We took the Leveaux Loop spur, which is the shape of a figure-8. We opted not to complete the full loop, and ended up missing the prettiest view! By the time we realized it, we were too hot, sweaty, and tired to turn back. We figured hey, it’s a great day hike for the future. Great way to start the trip, getting lost, that is - ha! We stopped at the Onion River for a long lunch break. We filtered water, had some snacks, and relaxed there for a while. It was shaded and somewhat cool, and it was nice to take our time, and take in nature.
Next we passed the spur to the Oberg Loop, which we opted to skip since we had all done it as a day hike in the past. We crossed a few creeks and then finally made it to West Rollins Creek Campsite - we were the first ones there, and we would end up having it all to ourselves that night! The campsite was situated in a cedar grove, with plenty of tent pads, open space, and a nice little fire area. We pitched the tents under a big cedar tree, made a fire and dinner, then Liz and Ryan introduced us to Phase-10 which would start an obsession with this game! We passed around some warm whiskey (yuck), played games, and chatted, while the dogs chased around critters and wore themselves out. Overall a great first day! The dogs did great hiking and they get along so well together - so do the humans!
Day 2: West Rollins Creek Campsite to West Poplar River Campsite
Sunday was Crimmy’s second birthday! We were on the trail by 9:30 and it was already hot, very hot. As if the heat wasn’t enough, the trail immediately started to ascend…a lot. Just when we thought the incline was over, we turned a corner and up it went! There was a nice overlook of Lake Superior at the top of Moose Mountain, and we played leap frog with two other hikers who said they saw a bear cross the trail right before we caught up to them!
The trail started to descend after that, a welcome relief, and we took a nice long break at Mystery Mountain campsite. We hiked along a ski trail and then to a bridge with a gorgeous view of the Poplar River gorge. Rushing white water collided against rugged grey boulders, and the river cascaded down the gorge toward Lake Superior in the distance. It really was a beautiful sight, and we stayed there for a while admiring the dreamlike view. We crossed the bridge, and after that the trail started another steep ascent. The heat and the sun were relentless, and that coupled with the lack of wind made the last part of Sunday’s hike quite challenging. There was an unmarked overlook of the Lutsen ski area, then more rolling hills to Glove Overlook with pretty views of the Poplar River valley.
By this point in the day we were all convinced the campsite would be just around the corner. Well, that’s a really great way to set yourself up to be disappointed! Finally the trail started a consistent descent down to the Poplar River, and we hiked along the bank for a short while before coming to the West Poplar River campsite. The river was wide and flowing fast, and after we set our stuff down in camp the four of us laid in the river and relaxed! The dogs even came in too (although Crimson did not come willingly). We laid there in the river for a while, reclined on rocks, and let the current flow past us like hot tub jets! The view of the terrain from the river was beautiful too - pines towering ahead on a tall hill as the river disappeared around the bend.
We dried off and got dinner going, played some more cards (Phase-10 and Golf), and enjoyed a nice sunset over the river. The campsite itself was really nice - elevated above the river which gave us some nice views through the trees, and we had the whole campsite to ourselves AGAIN!
Day 3: West Poplar River Campsite to Caribou Trail
We got on the trail early Monday morning, and started off by hiking along the Poplar River. Next the trail ascended to a series of incredible overlooks on rocky outcrops with views of the Poplar River valley. We continued hiking and came to an overlook of Lake Agnes, and then our favorite part, down to the shores of Lake Agnes. In my opinion (Ashley here), Lake Agnes is the most beautiful inland lake on the SHT (that I’ve seen so far - but really it’s that pretty that I think it’s the best one out there). It is very Boundary Waters-esque - clear blue water, rugged rocky shoreline with pines everywhere. We would have stayed all day if we could!
Next came a rocky, tough-footing section that was a little difficult to navigate, especially for the hikers with eager dogs attached to them! We ascended one last short, but steep, spur up to White Sky Rock with beautiful views of Caribou Lake! When we got to the top, the dogs veered into the woods and laid down - a clear sign they were ready for the hike to come to an end. Then we descended to Caribou Trail, where Ryan’s car was waiting for us. Before heading out we all swam in Caribou Lake, which was so refreshing! Tino showed off his dock jumping and swimming skills, and we all floated in the water for a while to cool off. It was a great end to a great weekend of hiking!
The tired pups slept all the way back to the Britton Peak trailhead, and the six of us met at Fitger’s in Duluth for a (few) well-deserved beers and appetizers. We reminisced on a great trip - the dogs did great, and the humans didn’t do too shabby either! But in the end we all agreed 80-degree heat is not the ideal situation for backpacking. The bright side? Swimming on the SHT, something we’ve never done before! And finding new hiking buddies. Can’t wait for the next trip!
Thanks for stopping by, check out the rest of the pictures in our gallery.