To preserve and expand backcountry skiing opportunities along the highlands of Lake Superior
Superior Highland Backcountry is a local nonprofit organization promoting the preservation and expansion of backcountry skiing opportunities along the highlands of the North Shore of Lake Superior and is a member of the National Winter Wildland Alliance.
In an effort to achieve our goals, we are working on many fronts. We want to thank our sponsors whose help is vital to our success.
The Glades
To find a glade we look first for total vertical feet, then at forest type. Mature trees will provide a dense canopy, which limits undergrowth, which is good! Some glades are this way by nature, while others need some light clearing.
Once we find a prominent hill with a skiable forest type, we look at the aspect, or which cardinal direction the hill is facing. We also look at slope. These two features together will determine the snow conditions; a south face will melt down faster, whereas a north face may be windblown.
Map Your Route
Sharing your tracks and observations helps us identify and advocate for the protection of high-priority lands for backcountry and Nordic skiing and other human-powered winter adventures.
- Download the free Mountain Hub App for your smart phone (iOS/GooglePlay) and get after it!
- Create an account on Powder Project to map important backcountry ski areas and get access to information on backcountry skiing areas across the country.
Hut-to-Hut
Picture a classic Northwoods log cabin, handbuilt, at the top of a snow-covered hill. Add a view of Lake Superior, a cozy woodstove and bunks, and a pair of sick powder skis. Best vacation ever!
Our destination here at SHB is a hut-to-hut trail system. As we identify, obtain access to, and designate each Glade, we intend to erect a hut at the summit. These will be connected by trails, designed for ease of travel from Glade to Glade. Beginning in Finland and ending in Lutsen, this vision is the pinnacle of our inspiration.
Our grand vision for skiers and winter travel enthusiasts of the North Shore is to create a Hut-to-Hut trail system. Our current plan outlines skiable areas along a travel route from Finland to Lutsen. Finland Glades is up and running, and Moose Glades is in the permitting stage. Plans for permitted huts are next up on deck.
Join us to build a Hut-to-Hut system along the Lake Superior Highlands!
Moose Mountain Update
As a part of an impressive collective effort, we advocated for the denial of a permit for Lutsen Mountain Ski Resort to expand its alpine operations onto the public portion of Moose Mountain, and the permit was denied in full in December of 2023! We will continue to advocate for the preservation of skiable backcountry terrain in the future, as needed.
Moose Mountain Saved!
After opposing Lutsen Mountain Resort’s expansion proposal for four years, we are ELATED to announce that the Superior National Forest denied their permit IN FULL on December 15th, 2023! This means that the 750′ of the most continuous, prime, fresh turns in the state are now preserved in their natural state for the public to enjoy! THANK YOU to all of you who supported this incredible effort!!
