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State Parks

Minnesota

Bear Head Lake

  • Location: 9301 Bear Head State Park Road Ely, MN 55731
  • About: “Secluded in the Northwoods, this park contains pristine lakes; it is home to black bears, nesting eagles, wolves and moose. Stands of white and red pine trees tower over the birch, aspen and fir trees. Located just south of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, the park shares a similar wilderness quality. Explore miles of shoreline by canoe. Swim at the beach, picnic in the shelter building, or fish for walleye, bass, crappies or trout. Trails in the park link-up with the Taconite State Trail and offer snowmobilers, skiers and hikers plenty to enjoy. Rent a three-bedroom guest house or camper cabin any season of the year.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 365-7229

Cascade River

  • Location: 3481 West Highway 61 Lutsen, MN 55612
  • About: “Come to Cascade for the rushing river and grand waterfalls that lay within a gorge, lush with moss and ferns that grow on black volcanic rocks. Hike the trail through birch, spruce and white cedar; stop to see the views of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Trails connect with the Superior Hiking Trail and the North Shore State Trail and offer great recreational opportunities to hikers and cross-country skiers. Drive-in and backpack campsites are available.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 387-3053

George Crosby Manitou

  • Location: 5702 Highway 61 Silver Bay, MN 55614
  • About: “Come to this north-country wilderness park where waterfalls cascade through a volcanic canyon surrounded by majestic forest. The trails in the park are carved through a forest of fir, cedar, spruce, and northern hardwoods. Although the trails are steep and challenging for hikers and backpackers, they offer spectacular views. Secluded campsites are for backpackers only. Trout (brown, rainbow, and brook) and splake (a hybrid of brook and lake trout) reside in Benson Lake. Watch for moose, deer, bear, and wolves.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 226-6365

Gooseberry Falls

  • Location: 3206 Highway 61 East Two Harbors, MN 55616
  • About: “Gooseberry Falls is the gateway to the North Shore. It is known for its spectacular waterfalls, river gorge, Lake Superior shoreline, Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures, and north woods wildlife. Listen to the thunderous roar of the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls of the Gooseberry River as it plummets through a rocky gorge. Watch for waves, ships, or the moon rise on Lake Superior from an ancient lava flow known as the Picnic Flow. Hike or ski to see the Fifth Falls through a forest of evergreens, aspen, and birch, and enjoy camping in modern campsites, picnicking, and relaxing along the Lake Superior shoreline or the Gooseberry River. To get the most out of your visit, stop by the Joseph N. Alexander Visitor Center where you can find park information, interpretive displays, a park video, Nature Store, and more. Don’t miss the Gateway Plaza for outdoor interpretive signs on area resources and history.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 834-3855

Grand Portage

  • Location: 9393 East Highway 61 Grand Portage, MN 55605
  • About: “Torrents of wild water plummet 120 feet over the High Falls down to the Pigeon River in this park on the U.S. – Canadian border. The falls, the highest in the state, presented a serious obstacle to river travel, so a “carrying place,” or portage, was necessary. American Indians created the ancient nine-mile trail from Lake Superior to bypass the falls. This trail became known as “The Grand Portage.” Today, visitors of all abilities can take a one-half mile trail and boardwalk to the falls overlook area. The park is designed for day use only and contains mixed hardwood-conifer forests and hiking trails along the banks of the Pigeon River. The spectacular scenery sets the stage for recreational opportunities that include hiking, photography, and picnicking. The park lies within the Grand Portage Indian Reservation and is bordered by Canada on the north and east. Lake Superior is about one mile east of the park.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 475-2360

Iron Range Off-Highway Vehicle

  • Location: 7196 Pettit Road Gilbert, MN 55741
  • About:  ”Come and experience Minnesota’s premier off-highway vehicle recreation area, located in Gilbert. With 36 miles of OHV trails, whether you ride an ATV, an OHM, or an ORV, there is something for you! Trails range from easy Easy to more difficultMore Difficult tomost difficult Most Difficult. Gas, restrooms, food, and lodging are all available in nearby Gilbert.” -MN DNR
  • Map
  • Contact: (218)748-2207

Jay Cooke

  • Location:  780 Highway 210 Carlton, MN 55718
  • About: “Trailblazers: this park is a must! Park trails link up to the Willard Munger State Trail at the north edge of the park; perfect for backpackers, bikers (both mountain and tour), hikers, horseback riders, and skiers. Check out the wildflowers in the spring, and the vivid colors in the fall. Walk on the swinging suspension bridge high above the raging St. Louis River. Visit the historic cemetery and the gorge at Thomson Dam.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 384-4610

Judge C.R. Magney

  • Location: 4051 East Highway 61 Grand Marais, MN 55604
  • About: “Come for the quiet, the solitude, and the famous Devil’s Kettle waterfall. The most popular hike leads from the trailhead upstream along the Brule River to Devil’s Kettle, where the river splits around a mass of volcanic rock. Half of the river plunges 50 feet into a pool, while the rest pours into a huge pothole. Anglers can catch brook and rainbow trout in the Brule River or its tributary, Gauthier Creek. The park offers camping, picnicking and hiking.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 387-3039

McCarthy Beach

  • Location: 7622 McCarthy Beach Road Side Lake, MN 55781
  • About:  “Come to McCarthy Beach State Park and you’ll remember the lakes. The sandy beach on Sturgeon Lake was rated one of the top 17 beaches in North America by Highway’s Magazine. Walk along the half-mile of shoreline, or venture out into the shallow water that extends hundreds of feet into the lake. Launch a boat on Side Lake or Sturgeon Lake to explore the five connected lakes of the Sturgeon chain. Hikers, mountain bikers, and skiers enjoy scenic trails that wind along pine-covered ridges and through stands of birch. Snowmobilers and horseback riders take advantage of the Taconite State Trail to access miles of trails outside the park. Located near many tourist attractions, McCarthy Beach State Park offers opportunities for both relaxation and exploration.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 254-7979

Soudan Underground Mine

  • Location: 1302 McKinley Park Road Soudan, MN 55782
  • About: “This park is home to Minnesota’s oldest iron ore mine, where visitors can learn about how mining shaped the history and culture of the Iron Range. Explore the dry house, drill shop, crusher house and engine house, and take the boardwalk past one of the deepest open mine pits. Don’t miss the hiking trails that take you through a northern hardwood conifer forest, past the famous Soudan Iron Formation! Underground mine tours are not available at this time, due to ongoing repair work from the spring 2011 shaft fire.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 753-2245

Split Rock Lighthouse

  • Location: 3755 Split Rock Lighthouse Road Two Harbors, MN 55616
  • About: “This park is situated on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Perhaps best known for its historic lighthouse, this park offers numerous recreational opportunities. Visitors can cart-in their supplies to pristine campsites along Lake Superior. Scenic trails along the lake link up to the spectacular Superior Hiking Trail. Anglers cast their lines for lake trout, salmon, and brown trout. The rocky beach is perfect for skipping stones into Lake Superior.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 226-6377

Temperance River

  • Location:  5702 Highway 61 Silver Bay, MN 55614
  • About: “Take the trail that winds along the edge of the Temperance River gorge and enjoy the rushing waterfalls surrounded by pine, spruce, cedar and birch forests. The rapidly flowing river has cut deep potholes in and along the riverbed. Hike the trail to Hidden Falls or connect up with trails into the Superior National Forest and the Cross River Wayside. Visitors come to camp and picnic along the shore of Lake Superior. Winter brings cross-country skiers and snowmobilers to tackle the hilly terrain. Carlton Peak, a recent addition to the park, is popular with rock climbers and offers even more recreational opportunities to park visitors.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 663-7476

Tettegouche

  • Location: 5702 Highway 61 Silver Bay, MN 55614
  • About:  ”Come to Tettegouche for a great sense of the North Shore: the spectacular overlooks at Shovel Point; rocky, steep cliffs and inland bluffs; the cascading 60 ft. High Falls of the Baptism River; and the historic Tettegouche Camp where visitors can stay the night. This is a hiker’s paradise with miles of trails that overlook the Sawtooth Mountains and wind down to inland lakes accessible only by foot. The Palisade Valley Unit features broad scenic vistas coupled with an expanse of multi-use, four-season trails. Two more trout lakes complement the fishing opportunities within the rest of the park. The park is also known for rock climbing opportunities and quality birdwatching in the spring, summer, and especially the fall.” -MN DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (218) 226-6365

Wisconsin

Amnicon Falls

  • Location:  6294 S. State Road 35, Superior WI 54880
  • About: “Amnicon Falls State Park features a series of delightful waterfalls and rapids along the Amnicon River. You can view them from a covered foot bridge or trails along the river, or—if you’re sure-footed—from the rocky shore of the river. The park is a place to picnic, camp, walk in the woods, and learn about the Douglas Fault, the geological formation that created the falls. There are many things to do and see in the area, too. It’s part of Wisconsin’s Superior Coastal Plain Landscape.” -WI DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (715) 398-3000

Big Bay

  • Location: Madeline Island, Bayfield, WI 54814. County Highway H loops around Madeline Island from La Pointe. To get to Big Bay State Park, take Highway H counterclockwise (Middle Road) from La Pointe about 4 miles to Hagen Road and continue east on Hagen Road about 2 miles to the park entrance.
  • About: “Big Bay State Park is on Madeline Island, the largest of Lake Superior’s 22 Apostle Islands. The 2,350-acre park has a 1.5-mile beach; campground with drinking water, showers and toilets; an indoor camp for nonprofit groups; an outdoor group camp; picnic areas; and more than seven miles of hiking and nature trails with incredible views of Lake Superior. Bayfield and Madeline Island also offer bus tours, golfing, art galleries, marinas and the old La Pointe Indian Burial Grounds – Ojibway (Chippewa) Indians were the original inhabitants of the area. Big Bay State Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Admission stickers are required for all motor vehicles.” -WI DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (715) 747-6425

Brunet Island

  • Location: 23125 255th S. Cornell, WI 54732
  • About: “Brunet Island State Park, on the Chippewa and Fisher rivers, contains more than 1,200 acres of scenic beauty, wildlife, and recreational opportunities. Each summer, thousands of visitors come to camp, fish, boat, canoe, hike, swim, and picnic. During the winter they can ski, snowshoe, and ice fish. Quiet lagoons and channels are excellent for canoeing and wildlife watching. The landscape here in Chippewa County is a product of the most recent Ice Age (the Pliestocene Epoch). The rolling terrain carries a wide variety of forest types and is home to a multitude of wildlife.” -WI DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (715) 239-6888

Copper Falls 

  • Location: 36764 Copper Falls Road Mellen, WI 54546.
  • About: “Ancient lava flows, deep gorges, and spectacular waterfalls make Copper Falls one of Wisconsin’s most scenic parks. Log buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s add to the park’s charm. There are many things to do—hiking, picnicking, fishing, and swimming. The park is one of the highlights of the North Country National Scenic Trail in Wisconsin. For overnight stays, there are 54 regular campsites, a group camping area big enough for 40 people, a backpack campsite, and, for people with disabilities, a rustic cabin. Average season snowfall of more than 100 inches enables the park to maintain 12 kilometers (8 miles) of cross-country ski trails.” -WI DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact: (715) 274-5123

Pattison

  • Location: 6294 S. State Rd. 35 Superior, Wisconsin 54880-8326
  • About: “Pattison State Park features the highest waterfalls in Wisconsin and the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Big Manitou Falls is 165 high, and Little Manitou Falls is 31 feet high. Over these falls, water in the Black River tumbles from Wisconsin’s northwest lowlands ecological landscape to the Superior coastal plain. The 1,436-acre park also has a lake with a beach, nature programs and guided hikes, a nature center, camping, 9 miles of hiking trails, and abundant wildlife. The cities of Superior, Wisconsin, and Duluth, Minnesota; Amnicon Falls State Park; Brule River State Forest; Wild Rivers State Trail; Gandy Dancer State Trail; and Lake Superior are all within an hour of Pattison State Park.” -WI DNR
  • Maps
  • Contact:  (715) 399-3111

*Info on the above State Parks comes from the Minnesota DNR and Wisconsin DNR