Which is harder, Rae Lakes Loop or Superior Hiking Trail?

Superior Hiking Trail is the tougher of the two on distance and elevation (275 mi (443 km), 10,597 ft (3,230 m) of climbing). See the full side-by-side breakdown.

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Rae Lakes Loop vs Superior Hiking Trail

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Units

	Rae Lakes Loop	Superior Hiking Trail
Distance	37 mi60 km	275 mi443 km
Elevation gain	6,969 ft2,124 m	10,597 ft3,230 m
Typical duration	—	—
Difficulty	—	—
Route type	Loop	Point-to-point
Network	Regional	Regional
Country	United States	United States
Best time to hike	Best from June to August	Best from September to September
	map Route & GPX	map Route & GPX

Rae Lakes Loop vs Superior Hiking Trail: which should you hike?

At 275 mi443 km, Superior Hiking Trail is the longer route — roughly 238 mi383 km more than Rae Lakes Loop (37 mi60 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, Rae Lakes Loop is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.

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