Hobo
Photo: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- 2.0 mi
- round trip
- 342 ft
- climb
- 1,519 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Aug–Sep
- best months
Is Hobo open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Hobo, so check the source for the area it covers.
Post Wildfire Closures, Effective October 1, 2026
Agency closure covering Superior National Forest · Order 09-09-00-26-11 · USFS · Superior National Forest
Forest Road Improvement Projects
Agency alert covering Superior National Forest · USFS · Superior National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Hobo is an easy, short out-and-back hike in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota. The route is about 2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 342 feet. The trail starts at roughly 1,494 feet and reaches a high point of about 1,519 feet before returning to the start. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Ely weather station put July highs around 79°F and lows near 53°F. Winters are cold, with January highs around 15°F and lows near -7°F. The trail is natural-surface and allows bikes. The hike takes about an hour to complete, and the forest keeps it open year-round. Several other trails sit close by. Hobo-Bass is about 0.4 miles away, and Bass Lake and the Bass Lake Trail are within a mile. Paddlers can find the Circle Route about 2 miles off.
Local outfitters
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Hobo-BassHiking0.4 mi
- Bass LakeHikingPhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)0.6 mi
- BASS LAKE TRAILHikingPhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)0.9 mi
Dry LakeHikingPhoto: Abnormally Weird, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)1 mi- Circle RouteCanoeing2 mi
Fenske Lake CampgroundPier fishingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain4.2 mi
Fall LakeCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain6.5 mi- Science BoulderRock climbing8.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Bass LakeHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- BASS LAKE TRAILHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: USDAgov, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- Dry LakeHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Abnormally Weird, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- ProspectorHiking · ~6 min drive
Everett-FenskiHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: Joe Passe, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Hidden Valley Birch HighlandsHiking · ~6 min drive
- Northwest PassageHiking · ~10 min drive
Fenske CampgroundHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- NORTH ARM TRAILHiking · ~11 min drive
- SLIM LAKE LOOPHiking · ~11 min drive
Best time to visit Hobo
Best months: August–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
15° / -7°
11 wet
Feb
23° / -5°
9 wet
Mar
36° / 10°
9 wet
Apr
51° / 25°
10 wet
May
65° / 38°
13 wet
Jun
75° / 49°
14 wet
Jul
79° / 53°
13 wet
Aug
78° / 52°
12 wet
Sep
68° / 44°
12 wet
Oct
52° / 32°
14 wet
Nov
34° / 19°
11 wet
Dec
21° / 3°
11 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ely, MN, 1.8 mi away at 1,382 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Closures we've recorded since August 2026
Forest-wide Fire Restrictions
Superior National Forest · Order dated July 12, 2026; seen Aug 23, 2026 → lifted Aug 25, 2026 · Forest Service
