Hikers enjoy views of boreal forests, the Sawtooth Mountains, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife.

Many people use the trail for long-distance hiking, and facilitating this purpose are 94 backcountry, fee-free campsites.

The ceremony included a log-cutting event and many state government officials and SHTA founders attended.

[1][8] The North Shore section of the trail is 260 miles (420 km) long and begins at the Martin Road Trailhead on the northern boundary of the City of Duluth.

This section of the SHT passes near the towns of Lutsen and Grand Marais, and ends just before the Canada–United States border.

This then connects to the 41-mile (66 km) long Kekekabic Trail which gives the hiker the ability to hike all the way through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and end near Ely.

The trail was mostly built by crews of people that were hired from local towns or by the Minnesota Conservation Corps.

In addition, the SHTA coordinates the efforts of numerous volunteers who assist with trail and campground construction and maintenance.

Some groups have chosen to adopt a section of the trail to maintain, while others participate in scheduled maintenance hikes.