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The Sioux-Hustler Hiking Trail

The fall colors arrived as I started my 32-mile hike on the Sioux-Hustler Trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The trail is in excellent condition, by wilderness standards, with several scenic campsites. Trail highlights include lake views, streams and a waterfall, beaver dams, grouse, old pines, and a deep granite gorge named Devil's Cascade.

 

Spur trails to campsites are well marked. The trail tread gets thin around Pageant Lake but cut logs and rock cairns kept me on the trail. There are several beaver dam crossings and the trail is sometimes difficult to find on either side of a crossing. The west side is relatively flat and straight. The section from Shell Lake to Hustler Lake has more climbs, but nothing severe.

 

The Devils Cascade area features maple and oak trees providing a colorful fall walk. There are occasional stands of old red pines, white pines and cedars.

 

The trail often runs atop rock ridges and you will find plenty of blueberry plants there.