Issued: December 2, 2022
Proposals Due: December 30, 2022
The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) seeks proposals from individuals and businesses with expertise and extensive experience in constructing new hiking trail according to modern, sustainable construction techniques and standards, including, but not limited to: clearing; building tread; installing puncheon and boardwalk; using local, on-site stone to build retaining walls and other trail improvement features.
About the SHTA:
The SHTA is a non-profit organization tasked with the maintenance and renewal of the approximately 320-mile long Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) that follows the rugged terrain along Minnesota’s north shore of Lake Superior from the Wisconsin border at its Southern Terminus to the Canadian Border at the Northern Terminus.
About the Project:
The project is located on the very popular Cascade River Loop, on the west side of the Cascade River. The loop is accessed from Highway 61, near Cascade Lodge in the south and County Road 45 (Pike Lake Road) in the north. This section is approximately halfway between Lutsen and Grand Marais, MN. The project is located entirely within the Superior National Forest, managed by the US Forest Service.
This reroute is about ⅔ miles long, with the goal of moving the trail upstream and away from a failed bridge to a location that is less severe that will require a much smaller structure to cross. The reroute crosses 4 small drainages that will require puncheon for an estimated total of 300 feet. Much of the planned route crosses flat terrain (about 1200 feet) which may require additional puncheon or raised tread. In addition to the trail construction, we would like to build a new campsite, which will consist of 5 individual tent pads, about 8x10 feet in size and a common area about 10x15 feet. There will be a short access trail (about 50 feet long) coming off the main trail for access. Precise location of the campsite is still under review.
The trail must be built with a finished tread width of 18 to 24 inch, full-bench construction, with a cleared corridor width of approximately 36 inches on either side of the center of the trail, for a total cleared width of 72 inches, or six feet. Trail can be roughed in with machinery, not to exceed 48-inch track width, but must be finished with a hand crew.