Thor's Trail

Thor's Trail is a short cross-country ski route in the Kawishiwi Ranger District of Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota, within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Mining Protection Area Mineral Reserve Area. The Forest Service manages the land, and the nearest town is Ely, about 8 miles away. The trail is an out-and-back of under 0.8 miles, starting at roughly 1,649 feet and reaching a high point of about 1,671 feet. The steepest stretch comes within the first third of the route at about 4%, and the total climb is about 47 feet one way. It's an easy route to fit into a day of exploring the surrounding area. Winter is the season for skiing here. Typical averages from the Ely weather station, about 8 miles away, show January highs around 15°F and lows near -7°F, with February a little milder at about 23°F. The station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run slightly cooler. Several other ski routes lie close by, including The Griz about 0.2 miles away and Hug-A-Tree about 0.3 miles off the trail. Coxey Pond offers a hike within a third of a mile. Paddlers can reach the Circle Route canoe route about 5 miles away.