Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Minnesota with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 9,679 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Minnesota's North Shore (Lake Superior) and Boundary Waters define its hiking identity — rocky shoreline, boreal forest, and the rolling Sawtooth ridges. Eagle Mountain (2,301 ft) is the high; SHT climbs up from Lake Superior repeatedly hit 700-1,000 ft gains per segment. Black bears, hypothermia even in summer near Lake Superior, and intense mosquito and blackfly seasons in early summer.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 9,679 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Minnesota — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #10. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. NPS Clam River Group Campsite Route
NPS Clam River Group Campsite Route ranks #1 for vertical gain, sitting near Webster in Burnett County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the NPS Clam River Group Campsite Route trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Cedar Interpretive Trail
Cedar Interpretive Trail ranks #2 for vertical gain, sitting near Grantsburg in Burnett County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Cedar Interpretive Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Mitchell Red Cloud Trail
Mitchell Red Cloud Trail ranks #3 for vertical gain, sitting near La Crosse in La Crosse County. Expect dirt surface on a expert-only grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mitchell Red Cloud Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Canadian Shield Trail
Canadian Shield Trail ranks #4 for vertical gain, sitting near Grand Marais in Cook County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Compared to similar trails in Minnesota, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Canadian Shield Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Humfield Summit Trail
Humfield Summit Trail ranks #5 for vertical gain, sitting near Onalaska in La Crosse County. Expect grass surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Humfield Summit Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Mystery Loop Trail
Mystery Loop Trail ranks #6 for vertical gain, sitting near Lutsen in Cook County. Expect ground surface on a genuinely demanding grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Mystery Loop Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Moose-Extra Trail
Moose-Extra Trail ranks #7 for vertical gain, sitting near Lutsen in Cook County. Expect ground surface on a expert-only grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Moose-Extra Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#8. Table Rock Quarry
Table Rock Quarry ranks #8 for vertical gain, sitting near La Crosse in La Crosse County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Table Rock Quarry trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#9. Ferry Rock Trail
Ferry Rock Trail ranks #9 for vertical gain, sitting near Brownsville in Houston County. Expect dirt surface on a expert-only grade. Compared to similar trails in Minnesota, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ferry Rock Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#10. Long Trail North
Long Trail North ranks #10 for vertical gain, sitting near Eau Claire in Eau Claire County. Expect dirt surface on a genuinely demanding grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. The natural-surface tread can get slick after rain and muddy in spring — pick a dry weather window if you have the flexibility. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Long Trail North trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Minnesota trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Minnesota. Late May through early October — summer brings mosquitoes; fall colors in late September peak the visual experience. Black bears, hypothermia even in summer near Lake Superior, and intense mosquito and blackfly seasons in early summer.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Minnesota hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Minnesota coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Minnesota — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Minnesota — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Minnesota — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Minnesota — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Minnesota — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Minnesota — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Minnesota — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Minnesota last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
