Minnesota · Hiking · Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Shell-Pauness

Shell-PaunessPhoto: rtclauss, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
1.3 mi
round trip
165 ft
climb
1,307 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Shell-Pauness open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Shell-Pauness, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Superior National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Shell-Pauness is a short, easy out-and-back hike in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, within the Lacroix Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and sits entirely inside designated wilderness, so it is a compact outing for anyone already exploring this remote corner of the state. The route is about 1.3 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 165 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at the start, about 9 percent, and the trail returns to its starting point. The high point is 1,307 feet, and the low point is 1,236 feet, so the hike is a small rise and fall rather than a significant climb. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 77°F with lows near 56°F, while winter highs stay in the teens and 20s. The hike takes about half an hour, and the trail is open year-round. The closest neighbor is Devils Cascade, about 0.8 miles away, and Ruby-Lynx and Sioux Hustler Spur E are each about 2.8 miles off. Jeanette Lake campground lies about 5.3 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.