Superior National Forest: Herriman Lake Trail

Herriman Lake Loop

I just needed to get out of the house. Even though the forecast called for rain, I decided to get out and go for a hike. My destination was the Herriman Lake Trail System in the Superior National Forest near Crane Lake. I saw three bald eagles on the drive to the trailhead and arrived ready to hike in the rain.

The trail was pretty swampy, like I had expected.

On the first short section of trail I found a deer skull in the leaves off to the side of the path.

I crossed the Echo River on a footbridge

and continued on a section of trail I had hiked last June. For a while, my path ran parallel to the Echo River.

There were lots of ferns unfurling their fronds

and a few scattered piles of wolf scat, unmistakable with large chunks of bone embedded in fur.

I soon came to a turn off for the Herriman Lake Loop

where, last time I had hiked on the Echo River Loop.

The trail ascended a ridge and then quickly descended to a beaver dam and pond.

On the other side of the dam the trail ascended another ridge

and followed that ridge for a pretty long distance. Along the way were lots of blooming wildflowers.

The trail entered the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

and soon there were scattered views through the trees down to Herriman Lake. The map I printed off the Forest Service website showed a view point, but I never did catch a clear view of the lake.

I then descended off the ridge above Herriman Lake and down into the swampy lowlands,

filled with marsh marigold.

On the exposed rock ledges the trail was marked with cairns.

I spied a float plane overhead

and then made my way down to Knute Lake.

There is a nice secluded campsite on Knute Lake and I relaxed there and ate a snack. The view was beautiful and there was plenty of leatherleaf,

and blueberry

in bloom along the water's edge. Eventually, I parted ways with the serene scene at Knute Lake and made my way past a few more beaver ponds and meadows

to the trailhead and my car.