Snowbank Trail
- 15.3 mi
- one way
- 1,169 ft
- climb
- 1,592 ft
- high point
- Point to point
- route
- May, Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Snowbank Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Superior National Forest. It doesn't name Snowbank Trail, 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.
Snowbank Trail is a 15.3-mile point-to-point hike in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, within the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest. The State Department of Natural Resources manages the land, and the route rises from about 1,550 feet to a high point of 1,592 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,169 feet. The climb is steady, and the steepest stretch comes at about 9.2 miles, where the grade reaches 8 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Ely show July highs around 77°F with lows near 55°F, while winter highs stay in the teens and 20s. The trip takes about 5.5 hours. Bikes and horses are not allowed. The Benezie-Becoosin Loop starts less than a mile away, and the Kekekabic Trail is about 2.8 miles off. Paddlers can reach BWCA entry points and the Kawishiwi River within about 8.5 miles.
Local outfitters
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Benezie-Becoosin LoopHiking0.7 mi
- Snowbank DisappointmentHiking1.4 mi
- Thomas Lake WinterCross-country skiing2.2 mi
- THOMAS LAKE WINTER TRAILHiking2.2 mi
- Kekekabic TrailHiking2.8 mi
- BWCA Entry PointsCanoeing8.3 mi
- Kawishiwi RiverCanoeing8.5 mi
- Knife RiverCanoeing8.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Flash-SnowbankHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Secret Blackstone SecretHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- THOMAS LAKE WINTER TRAILHiking · ~4 min drive
- Kekekabic TrailHiking · ~5 min drive
- Flash-MooseHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Benezie-Becoosin LoopHiking · ~1 min drive
- Old Pines LoopHiking · ~5 min drive
- Snowbank DisappointmentHiking · ~2 min drive
- Snowbank and Old Pines LoopHiking · ~9 min drive
- SnowbankHiking · ~6 min drive
Best time to visit Snowbank Trail
Best months: May and July–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°
9 wet
Feb
21° / -4°
8 wet
Mar
34° / 9°
8 wet
Apr
47° / 24°
9 wet
May
62° / 38°
12 wet
Jun
72° / 50°
14 wet
Jul
77° / 55°
12 wet
Aug
75° / 53°
11 wet
Sep
66° / 44°
12 wet
Oct
50° / 32°
12 wet
Nov
33° / 19°
9 wet
Dec
20° / 3°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Ely 25e, MN, 2.9 mi away at 1,444 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
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
