Of the Northstar State's long and long-ish footpaths, the 40-mile (or so) Kekekabic Trail - or "the Kek," as it's sometimes called - is probably the most rugged and remote trail in Minnesota. But those who make the trek are rewarded handsomely for their efforts.
The Kekekabic Trail runs from Snowbank Lake, east of Ely, to a spot 50 miles up the Gunflint Trail, west of Grand Marais.
(Or vice versa, of course.)
Most of the trail's 40 or so rugged miles lies within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
There are only two trailheads. No other roads connect with the trail, and no businesses, stores, or resorts lie along the trail or its spurs. Once you're on the trail, your choices are to hike forward or go back.
And whichever way you go on the Kek, the going is slow.
Most of the trail is narrow.
In the summer, it's often overgrown. Because of Wilderness Area rules, trail crews can only enter on foot and use human-powered tools to maintain the Kekekabic.
And often, nature works at a clip the trail crews can't always keep up with.
The nature of this wilderness, itself, means that the trail is not always what you might think of as a trail. There are places where bare rock gives way to knee-deep marsh.
There are famously dicey hikes over beaver dams.
And new beaver dams appear, submerging other parts of the trail.
Forty miles of fallen trees, rocky scrambles, and slogs through mud and water - that's the Kekekabic.
But the rewards are many. You'll find campsites with some of the best views in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
You'll experience wildlife encounters that that you wouldn't necessarily have if you didn't head into the woods.
And with each difficult step you take, all you need to do is look up.
And you'll be reminded of why you came to the woods in the first place.
To get an idea of what hiking the Kekekabic Trail is like, follow along with YouTuber Midwest Backpacker's trek on the Kek:
You will need to obtain a permit - or self-issue a permit between October and April - before hiking the Kek. Visit the Superior National Forest page on the Forest Service website for more information on permits, as well as trail conditions, fire closures, etc. The Kekekabic Trail is, notably, part of the Minnesota section of the North Country National Scenic Trail, which stretches from Vermont to North Dakota. So, it's kind of a big deal.
Although, at 40-ish miles, it's shorter than some of the state's better-known footpaths, like the Border Route or Superior Hiking trails, it is actually more remote. This means you won't have cell service during much (if any) of your hike. So, you'll need to download Kekekabic Trail maps onto your device, if you plan to use your phone for navigation. AllTrails+, for example, allows you to both download maps and use the smartphone app for offline navigation. Never rely solely on an electronic device for navigation, though - always bring paper maps with you as backup.
Have you hiked the Kekekabic Trail? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
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