West Poplar River Campsites
West Poplar River Campsites
West Poplar River Campsites, SHT, MN
Free camping often comes with a beautiful hike or paddle, and when you get there it can be hit or miss if they are full since they are all first come first serve. Be prepared to have to continue on to the next area or return to your last point so you are not caught off guard or end up recking a wonderful experience for someone else. And remember to be mindful that much of the Superior Hiking Trail is on private land and they owner can remove it from the system if you are not respectful of this gift.
East Poplar River Campsites are located on the Superior Hiking Trail and the shores of the Poplar River. They can be reached by traveling south and west 4 miles from the SHT overnight lot on the Caribou Trail/Cty Rd 4 near White Sky rock, or by parking off Lutsen’s SKi Hill Rd SHT Trailhead parking lot and hiking northeast 1.9 miles. Remoteness and wet slopes make advance planning and caution important.
NOTE: Hike takes you through woods and to the banks of the Poplar River!
View links that are provided below for more detail on:
- safety concerns
- section closings
- updated trail locations
- conditions
Campsite Pads: 4 Pads – Single Tent Type
Water: River (Plan ahead for dry seasons in sections of the SHT where water may be more scarce. Always have a good water filter that can remove Giardia from the water.)
Superior Hiking Trail Association Note:
There are no fees, permits or reservations required to backpack on the Superior Hiking Trail.
There are 93 backcountry campsites located along the trail. You must camp at these designated campsites only since the trail goes through a great deal of private land and private land ownership is not marked. Campsites are required to be shared by parties. The “Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail” details each campsites, the number of tent pads, the water source, the setting, and the distance from the previous campsite to this campsite and the distance to the next campsite. You can use these distance mileages to plan your route for each day. All water for these campsites is surface water (streams, lakes, and beaver ponds) so must be treated before being used. Each campsite also has a backcountry latrine and a fire ring with benches. You must pack out all your garbage.
Dogs are allowed on Leash only.
For a long-distance hike, the best way to re-supply is to mail packages to yourself in care of General Delivery to the post offices that are within 2-3 miles of the trail. These packages will be held for 30 days. The “Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail” has a chart that describes each town within 2-3 miles of the trail and the services that can be found at these towns. State parks will not hold packages.
Daily mileage for an average backpacker is 1 mile an hour. Your pace may likely be faster (maybe about 2 miles an hour) but with breaks, picture taking, etc. you will often find at the end of the day you’ve covered about a mile an hour. More experienced backpackers have a better idea of their daily mileage so this is just a general guide.
Visit SHT Site Prior To Traveling
Superior Hiking Trail Detail Conditions Trail Packages, Maps & Guide Books SHTA Brochure LinkSupport this great association and visit their Office and Store in Two Harbors MN!
Interesting Information
Area Reference Link
All content the property of Superior Hiking Trail Association, mnflyangler.com (link above) and GLD research. GLD is not affiliated with any listed sources and simply presents their information if it appears reliable and potentially helpful.