Hiking Club Trail

The Hiking Club Trail at Savanna Portage State Park is a 5.3 mile hike through a mixed forest of pines and hardwoods. The trail is wide and follows what are likely former forest roads. The trail is mostly grassy and is well marked with blue hiking club signs. There are maps at trail intersections. Parking is available at the Shumway Lake boat launch. The trail head is located at the end of the lot away from the lake; look for the blue hiking club sign.

This hike follows a somewhat triangle shaped route on three different trails. From the trail head there is a short connector trail that leads to the Continental Divide Trail. As the name suggests, this trail follows a ridge that is the Continental Divide. Rain that falls to the west of the ridge makes its way to the Mississippi River and eventually to the Gulf of Mexico. Rain that lands on the east side of the ridge heads towards Lake Superior and the Saint Lawrence watershed. This trail is quite hilly. Near the end of the Continental Divide Trail there is a viewing platform with interpretive signs. Wolf Lake can be seen from this platform.

A short way past the viewing platform, take a sharp left onto the Old Schoolhouse Trail. This grassy trail is much less hilly and passes through a deciduous forest. The Old Schoolhouse Trail is a little over a mile in length. At the end of the Old Schoolhouse Trail, take a left onto the Anderson Road Trail. The Anderson Road Trail is quite flat, passing by some wetland habitat and stands of tall pines. After about a mile, the Anderson Road Trail meets the connector trail which will take you back to the trail head.

The Minnesota State Park’s Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. A Hiking Club kit can be purchased at most state parks for $14.95 (as of 2020). More information about the program can be found here.