I’m on vacation from my main gig, and when my coworkers from all around the globe asked if I had any exciting travel plans, I gave them all the same explanation. Living up north means I don’t have to go far to find something special. Around here, fun isn’t a plane ticket away—it’s right outside the door.
My first order of business was brook trout opener, but when the brookies refused to bite, we took the hint and took a hike instead. That detour led me to my very first steps on the Superior Hiking Trail. We wandered through thick woods on a clear, well-worn path, surrounded by towering trees and fresh spring smells. The sun peeked through the branches, and I knew one thing for sure: it won’t be my last time out there.
There was still snow clinging to the trail and as we hiked, my husband said, “It’ll be so nice when all this snow is gone.” I just grinned and said, “Sure, until it melts and we trade snowbanks for skeeters.”
The following day, I told my vet—well, not my vet, my dog Loki’s vet—that he and I would be hitting the Superior Hiking Trail this summer to get back into shape. We’ve both been carrying extra “winter weight.” (Okay, maybe other weight, too!)
Turns out, she’s a big fan of the trail herself. We ended up gushing over the views, the peacefulness, and how it somehow makes exercise feel like a treat.
I mentioned to her that I’d love to help maintain the trail myself. After all, we had already encountered some—yep, you guessed it— downed balsam that was definitely in the way. She smiled and told me there are plenty of volunteer opportunities, and that she’d always wanted to pitch in, too. I guess when you’re a fan of a trail, you can’t help but want to give back… even if it’s just clearing some trees out of the way!
I hopped online to see what I could find about volunteering on the trail, and sure enough, there’s a ton of info—many opportunities are starting right around the corner in May. I reached out to Barbara Budd to learn more, and she was more than happy to fill me in on the details.
Budd is the Education and Volunteer Coordinator for the Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA), a role that brought her back home to Minnesota. After growing up here, she spent time in Washington State, but three years ago, she returned to her roots to work on the trail. It was a role worth coming back for.
“The Superior Hiking Trail is a gem. It’s a state treasure, and it’s a national treasure,” she said. “I get the privilege of helping people help maintain it. Volunteers are a huge and important part of the existence of the trail. It’s just really important, and it’s lovely to be able to support that work.”
Maintaining the trail is no small task. The SHT spans over 300 miles, stretching from the Minnesota- Wisconsin border near Jay Cooke Park all the way up to Pigeon River, close to the Canadian border. Along its path, there are 94 established campsites and numerous trailheads that help support the trail’s access.
Volunteers began building the trail in 1986, and they continue to maintain the footpath for the hundreds of thousands of hikers who enjoy the forests, waterfalls, lakes, and breathtaking views along the way.
Last year alone, over 500 volunteers dedicated 9,500 hours of work. While those numbers are impressive and a testament to the volunteers’ dedication, there is still plenty of land to cover.
“We don’t get everything done, even with that number of hours,” said Budd. “There’s a lot of work that has to go into the trail. We do actually still need a lot of help.”
There are many ways to offer that help, including the upcoming spring trail clearing weekend events. Each event has a limited number of slots for volunteers, including sawyers who must be certified.
“Outside of that, no experience is necessary,” Budd said. “We will give you all of the training you need in order to come help on the trail.”
There are a lot of resources for volunteers available on the SHTA’s website, including safety videos, checklists for what to bring, and a wealth of information on various volunteer opportunities to get in-volved in.
Budd’s advice is to “wear sturdy shoes, long pants, dress for the weather, and bring a rain jacket.” She also provided a pro tip: bring more water and snacks, along with a lunch, than you think you’ll need.
“You’re going to be using up some calories!” Budd said. “Come prepared to have fun, but also come prepared to take care of yourself. Come knowing you can have a good time, and you’re going to be working with good people.”
The SHTA provides breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, as well as dinner on Saturday night. There is also an opportunity to do some camping.
“We provide camping, so if you’re coming from a distance and can’t drive home at night, bring your tent and your sleeping bag,” said Budd.
Those who participate in trail clearing should expect uneven ground and should be able to walk at least a couple of miles, working at a moderate pace during the events, which last around 7-8 hours.
“We’ve got a variety of tasks, so folks can always find something that fits their energy level and skill level,” assured Budd.
Though kids 12 and over are welcome, as long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian, Budd admits that trail clearing is “pretty grueling work,” and the long day may be too much for younger kids to participate in. There is helpful information regarding kids and volunteering on the SHTA’s website for parents to review before signing up their child to help maintain the trail.
Spring trail clearing events begin May 3-4 in Duluth at Korkki. At the time of this writing, there is still a need for a few sawyers and a lot of “swampers”—a term for those clearing the brush behind those cutting it up.
Budd expressed concern about the Schroeder clearing event on May 17-18, which will meet at the Schroeder Town Hall, noting that there are still many open spots for both sawyers and swampers.
There are also a few spots still available for the final spring trail clearing weekend, which will take place May 31-June 1, starting at the Grand Marais Campground.
Budd encourages anyone interested to reach out and highlighted the many benefits of helping maintain the trail, including the sense of community it fosters.
“There are friendships made by coming out with a group of people who also care about what you care about. Friends come from that, and the community grows. Plus, we just have a lot of fun when we’re out there,” said Budd. “It’s really satisfying to do that work. It can be hard work, but it’s really fun and rewarding.”
If the spring trail clearing weekends don’t fit into your busy schedule, there are still plenty of ways to help. You can adopt a section of the trail or a campsite to maintain year-round, or get involved in other summer initiatives happening along the trail.
“The trail through Duluth takes about 2,000 hours a year to maintain by volunteers so we need a bunch of folks on the trail in Duluth,” said Budd.
If you’re interested in other volunteer opportunities, there’s a helpful and comprehensive webinar recording outlining all the planned activities for this summer and into the fall. There’s plenty of great work ahead, and even more hands are needed.
“The Superior Hiking Trail exists because of volunteers, and it wouldn’t exist if we didn’t have volunteers,” said Budd. “There is that need for volunteering, but beyond that, people that volunteer get, when they give back to the trail, a feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of ownership of the trail.”
Visit superiorhiking.org/volunteer to sign up for the trail clearing weekends and other opportunities, and be sure to sign up for the volunteer newsletter, “Boots on the Ground.”
Even though my vacation is winding down, I’m heading back to work feeling grateful—and maybe just a little smug. While others I work with board planes or hit the highway during their PTO, I found adventure, peace, and purpose not far from my front door. That’s the magic of living up north—where the getaway is right here, and the stories write themselves.
