Pincushion-Mountain Loop
Pincushion-Mountain Loop is a 4.9 miles trail in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Superior National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 47.7740, -90.3124 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 47.7786, -90.2892 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 13 segments.
The trail
| Length | 4.9 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | snow trail, land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 10-12 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 21025E, 21025E SNOW |
| Forest | Superior National Forest (unit 0909) |
| States | Minnesota |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 04/01 to 04/01 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
| Snowshoeing | Allowed year-round |
| Cross-country skiing | Allowed year-round |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Camping nearby
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
Explore
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Pincushion-Mountain Loop?
4.9 miles, the sum of the 13 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Superior National Forest.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Pincushion-Mountain Loop?
hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Pincushion-Mountain Loop start?
The line begins at 47.7740, -90.3124 and ends at 47.7786, -90.2892. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Pincushion-Mountain Loop in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Pincushion-Mountain Loop?
No federal campground is recorded within five miles of the trail. Dispersed camping is allowed on most National Forest land outside posted closures. The forest office has the current rules.
How developed is the Pincushion-Mountain Loop?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Pincushion-Mountain Loop?
The typical grade is 10-12 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Pincushion-Mountain Loop accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Pincushion-Mountain Loop?
Superior National Forest, Forest Service unit 0909. The trail is in Minnesota.
Source
This page is built from 13 segments named PINCUSHION-MOUNTAIN LOOP in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0909. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.