“Good morning,” I said to the woman behind the counter. “I’m planning to hike the loop on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT), and I was wondering if there’s a trailhead and parking here on your property?” She kindly explained that they didn’t offer public parking for the SHT and suggested a couple of alternative access points.
I left feeling a bit disappointed. While I had thru-hiked the entire SHT a couple of years earlier, there were still several loops and spurs I’d been eager to experience. And this one topped my list. But I wasn’t ready to give up. I pulled up a trail mapping app on my iPhone, highlighted three alternate routes, and was reinvigorated with excitement. I couldn’t complete my original plan, but I knew this new route would be even better. I drove to the trailhead, grabbed my daypack, and hit the trail.
How to Access the Beaver Bay (Cove Point) Loop
Known as the Cove Point Loop, this six-mile lollipop loop section was built in 1996 with assistance from volunteers provided by Cove Point Lodge. While the trail begins across Highway 61 from the lodge, there’s no public parking on-site. Lodge guests can walk up the driveway and cross Highway 61 to access the trail. If you’re not staying at the lodge, consider these two alternative routes:
Option 1: Beaver River Wayside
If you’d like to experience the spur from Highway 61, consider parking at the wayside along the Beaver River in Beaver Bay. This spot offers plenty of parking, water, and flush toilets. From the wayside, walk along the Gitchi-Gami State Trail about one mile to the SHT spur. You can find the GPS coordinates here. From there, it’s about another mile to reach the loop. The loop itself is three miles, so plan seven miles round trip if you choose this route.
Option 2: SHT Beaver Bay Trailhead (Recommended)
The second—and in my opinion, better—option is starting at the SHT Beaver Bay Trailhead. Start early or hike on a weekday since this small parking lot is extremely popular, especially on weekends. If you find it full, have a backup hike planned and return later. There are strict parking rules around many SHT trailheads, and being mindful of where you park is always the courteous thing to do.
From the Beaver Bay Trailhead, cross Lax Lake Road and follow the beautiful new boardwalk west toward Duluth. This section is part of the main SHT and covers one and a half miles to the loop, making the entire trek six miles.
Whichever route you choose, the route is well-marked with signs and blazes. Blazes are the blue and white vertical strips you see painted on trees and rocks. The blue blazes follow the main SHT trail, and the white blazes follow spur trails.
After a lovely walk through the forest from the Beaver Bay Trailhead, watch for where the trail splits. The trail to the left will lead you to the bottom half of the loop on a spur trail. Here you’ll enjoy a beautiful deciduous forest—dense and green in the summer (bring bug spray) and a color-filled wonderland in the fall. Parts of the trail can get muddy during wet years, so wear footwear you don’t mind getting dirty.
This section of the trail is about one and a half miles and will eventually bring you back to the main SHT, which you came in on. Pay close attention through this section. Along with the spur that heads south toward Cove Point Lodge, the trail also crosses a couple of mountain bike trails.
When you get back to the main SHT, you’ll want to take a right to head east back toward Beaver Bay. This part of the trail follows a rocky, pine-studded ridge with fabulous overlooks into the vast northern forest. Other than some mud and a few gentle climbs, this trail is easier than much of the SHT and other popular trails in the area. Plan to allow three to four hours to savor this six-mile adventure fully.
The Top 3 Reasons to Hike the Beaver Bay (Cove Point) Loop
3. Fabulous Foraging
“My fingers are still stained purple from all the berries I ate on yesterday’s hike,” I texted a friend, including a photo of my berry-stained fingers. “Looks like a day well spent,” she replied.
I’ve hiked this section of the SHT many times: once during my thru-hike, once on a day hike with my spouse from Beaver Bay to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, and twice during an out-and-back training hike in preparation for my thru-hike. And somehow, I’d forgotten about the abundant foraging opportunities along the trail.
In mid-summer (June and July), watch for endless stretches of juneberries—also known as serviceberries or saskatoons. Later in the season (typically July and August), look down as you cross the pine-studded ridges for some of the sweetest blueberries in the northland. As summer progresses into August and September, you’ll find an abundance of thimbleberries on the lower half of the loop.
Safety note: If you’re new to foraging, always err on the side of caution and never eat anything unless you’re absolutely certain you’ve identified it correctly.
2. Epic Scenic Vistas
While not the most Instagrammed views along the North Shore, these vistas are absolutely lovely, overlooking inland forests, ridges, and valleys with occasional glimpses of Lake Superior. The seemingly endless forest makes this an exceptional hike for fall colors.
1. Quiet and Solitude
Speaking of fall hikes, if you’ve visited the region during peak fall colors, you know it’s become quite the hotspot. Parking lots at popular trailheads like Bean and Bear Lake and Oberg Mountain overflow onto the roadside. They’re beautiful spots, certainly, but when I head outdoors, I prefer more quiet and solitude. And this is a great hike to experience just that.
At the time of writing, I can assure you this is one hike where you won’t be overwhelmed by leaf-peeping crowds. My spouse and I hiked this section from the Beaver Bay Trailhead to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on a Saturday during peak fall colors. During the entire thirteen-mile hike, we encountered only two other parties of hikers.
On the perfect summer Friday when I recently completed this loop, I met one couple hiking out as I was heading in, and another couple heading in as I was finishing up. In my book, that’s exactly what makes this loop hike one of the best on the SHT.
Why This Loop Deserves a Spot on Your List
There’s no shortage of stunning trails in Minnesota’s Arrowhead region, but the combination of natural beauty and peaceful solitude makes this one a true hidden gem. If you’re looking for something different and off the beaten path during your next trip to Minnesota’s North Shore, be sure to add the Beaver Bay (Cove Point) Loop to your hiking bucket list.
