Bridge on Superior Hiking Trail near Lindskog Rd Trailhead failed safety inspection, will remain closed

A trail bridge on the Superior Hiking Trail approximately half a mile west of the Lindskog Rd Trailhead in Grand Marais has been closed following a failed safety inspection.

“The bridge was assessed for safety this fall and failed its inspection,” Lisa Luokkala, the Superior Hiking Trail Association executive director, said. “The bridge is permanently closed.”

The bridge closure is located within the 4.9-mile section of trail stretching from Grand Marais to Lindskog Rd Trailhead (C.R. 58). The section includes a descent to the Devil Track River gorge and then ascends to the ridgeline for views of Lake Superior and canyon edge.

Hiking access on the Superior Hiking Trail is available up to the closed bridge, but thru-hiking traffic will not be passable.

Luokkala said the bridge will be added to the bridge replacement list, and the Superior Hiking Trail Association will be working with the U.S. Forest Service to identify potential funding to assist with the bridge replacement cost.

“No timeline for replacement is identified,” Luokkala said. “But the public should anticipate at least one full trail season.”

For thru-hiking traffic, the Superior Hiking Trail Association recommends a route south on Lindskog Road to MN 61, west to 5th Street in Grand Marais, north on the Gunflint Trail till the North Shore State Trail, to the Superior Hiking Trail east of the Pincushion Mountain Trailhead. The total distance of the detour is 5.4 miles.

Kalli Hawkins November 27, 2024