Beyond the ever-popular Gooseberry Falls State Park are several other rugged and picturesque parks to explore. Cascade River, Temperance River, Judge Magney and Grand Portage are some of the finest state parks Minnesota has to offer. North Shore State Parks give adventurers opportunities to chase rum-colored waterfalls or hike to superb viewpoints of Lake Superior.
A few years ago, an adventure buddy and I loaded our families up and made our way; way up north. In just a few days we found beauty and peace in those North Shore State Parks.
Judge Magney State Park
Our North Shore State Park home base was Judge Magney State Park. We selected this park for its small campground with large tent pads but also for its location. Magney State Park is just outside Grand Marais, allowing for easy access to grocery stores or other conveniences.
Convenience aside, the real draw to Judge Magney State Park is Devil’s Kettle Falls. Here, the Brule River splits over a massive rock. Half of the river flows over the 50-foot falls, while the other half seemingly disappears into a pothole. The water eventually rejoins the water from Brule River Falls but where exactly is not yet known. You can read more about the mystery of Devil’s Kettle here. The hike to Devil’s Kettle is considered strenuous as there are steep sections and 175 stairs to climb. It’s all worth the effort.
Grand Portage State Park
After pondering the mystery of Devil’s Kettle, we made our way to Grand Portage State Park. The entrance to Grand Portage is the last stop in the United States before the port of entry. The main attraction here is the one-mile round trip trek to see High Falls; the largest waterfall in Minnesota. The hike is entirely boardwalk with a few stairs.
photo credit: Kate Hansen
After the short walk to the falls, we had a picnic lunch at the park’s shelter area before venturing off on a longer hike to Middle Falls. The hike to Middle Falls is a bit steep and far more rugged. It’s a 4.5-mile round-trip hike with an overlook featuring views of Lake Superior around the halfway point. Unfortunately for us, it had recently rained. A lot. The trail was very muddy. No matter, we trudged along and enjoyed wading in middle falls.
Cascade River State Park
Our second day on the North Shore was spent exploring the quaint town of Grand Marais and the rushing waters at Cascade River State Park. Here we opted for the short, half-mile loop hike, that skirts the Cascade River. This hike offers scenic views from Cascade Overlook and up-close glimpses of Cascade Falls. Our picnic lunch location was on the banks of Lake Superior with an afternoon exploring the Lake Superior Shoreline Trail.
Lake Side Celebration
On our final night on the North Shore we decided to skip the meal we planned to make at the campground and opted instead to skip rocks and roast hot dogs lakeside while the sunset. Tired and grimy from a few days in the wilderness but the joy we felt from this adventure left us beaming.
Temperance River State Park
Our final stop on the North Shore was Temperance River State Park. We spent only an hour in the park was we were en route back home. We walked the Temperance River Gorge Trail to Hidden Falls. The terrain is very rugged and rocky at Temperance. Be sure to watch your step.
Painted Rocks
On this North Shore adventure, our boys were ages five and seven. Young enough to need constant entertainment which is sometimes tough to do while camping. To keep their minds and hands occupied we gathered a few rocks around the campsite and created decorative images and messages to contribute to the popular painted rock treasure hunt that was popular at the time.
Our painted rocks were a great way to stay busy at the camp site. They were also a motivator on the trails, as we found many painted rocks while hiking.
For more on fabulous North Shore State Parks see our posts on Gooseberry Falls and Split Rock Lighthouse, George Manitou and Tettegouche State Parks.
Happy Adventuring, Rochelle
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