Hiking at Lutsen Mountains: summer trails and the Superior Hiking Trail

What the resort offers in summer

Lutsen Mountains advertises several miles of hiking trails, including part of the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT). The SHT runs the length of Minnesota's North Shore, from Duluth to the Canadian border. Two SHT access points are listed on either side of the resort: Oberg Mountain, 6.8 miles (10.9 km) to the west, and Caribou Lake, 6.2 miles (10.0 km) to the east.

The 4.5-mile loop with the gondola

The resort suggests riding the Summit Express gondola to the summit of Moose Mountain, then returning to the base area by the SHT Spur Trail and the SHT. The loop is 4.5 miles (7.2 km). The resort does not give a time, an elevation change or a difficulty rating for this loop, so bring sturdy footwear and allow some slack in your day.

The gondola rises 1,000 feet (about 305 m) above Lake Superior to the summit of Moose Mountain, where there are observation decks and the Summit Chalet restaurant.

Trails around Moose Mountain

• SHT Spur Trail: it links the SHT to the gondola, the Summit Chalet, the Mystery Mountain Overlook and the Moose Mountain Ridgeline Trail. It crosses the north face of Moose Mountain, which the resort describes as steep and rugged.
• Moose Mountain Ridgeline Trail: rated easy by the resort, with views of Lake Superior and the Superior National Forest. Combined with the Spur Trail, it makes a loop of slightly over a mile (about 1.6 km).
• Poplar River Falls Trail: it starts at the base area. Follow the gravel road to the parking lot, then take the SHT to the left as far as a bridge. Continuing past the bridge on the SHT leads to Moose Mountain. The resort points out a view above Poplar River Falls.

Other trails on the property

Old mountain bike trails and work roads cover miles across the resort's roughly 1,000 acres (about 405 ha). Difficulty ranges from easy to difficult. They may be unmaintained and maintenance vehicles use them, so the resort asks hikers to be careful.

Gondola: 2026 schedule and fares

The resort's published 2026 schedule listed the gondola daily from June 5 to October 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., then Saturdays October 24 and 31. Hours were extended (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) on September 19 and 26 and October 3 and 10. The resort said dates and hours were subject to change due to weather.

In a shared cabin, the resort listed two 2026 fares (before tax): the online fare, under the “2+ Days Online” heading, and the window fare. Adult aged 31 to 64: $38 online, $40 at the window. Young adult aged 13 to 30: $32 or $34. Senior aged 65 and over: $28 or $30. Child aged 5 to 12: $20 or $22. Free from 0 to 4. The resort asks you to buy tickets online in advance and print them at a pick-up box on arrival. They are valid only for the selected date and are non-refundable, including for weather.

Map

The resort provides a hiking map as a PDF on its trails page.