MN State Park Adventure 27

Tettegouche State Park

The few photos we have of this state park were taken in and around the Visitor Center, as some trails and camping areas were closed. The trails that were open were moderate to moderately difficult, which for me were a bit more than my back and hip could handle at that time.

The Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center does not require a State Park Vehicle Permit. However, going further into the park does require a permit.

There was no sign at the entrance announcing that we had found the place. However, it has an exceptionally large Visitor Center!

As a matter of fact, the Visitor Center comes with its own Fact Sheet, which I found impressive and exciting!

“Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center and MnDOT Class 1 Safety Rest Area

Highlights:

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Department of Transportation are pleased to present the new Tettegouche State Park Visitor Center and Class 1 Safety Rest Area. The shared facility includes a new building, parking facilities and site amenities to complement the natural setting of the landscape. The new site design improves pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular circulation.

Building and Grounds:

• 11,000-square-foot, fully accessible space (similar in size to the Interpretive Center at Gooseberry Falls State Park) and meets current safety standards.
• Expanded restroom facilities open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• 750-square-foot exhibit space with interpretive panels to help visitors learn about the historical and cultural significance of the area.
• Amphitheater.
• Gift shop, open area picnic shelter, lakeside patio, and enclosed front porch.
• Meeting spaces and multi-purpose room for interpretive programming, as well as community meetings and functions.
• Rain garden and storm water management improvements.

Energy and Landscape Features:

• 24.3 KW photovoltaic array (which is expected to generate 36% of the building’s energy needs).
• Energy efficient building design made with sustainable forest products, high efficiency windows, and structural insulated panel (SIP) walls and roof. LED lighting and high-efficiency fixtures are employed throughout the building, parking lots and entrance drive.

Safety and Usage:

• In 1986, Tettegouche became the first combined state park and safety rest area in the state. It was followed by a partnership at Gooseberry Falls State Park in 1996, and then a similar facility at Grand Portage State Park in 2010.
• About 28,000 people visited Tettegouche State Park in 1986 following construction of the original building. More than 332,000 visited in 2012 –nearly 12 times what the original building was designed to accommodate.
• The new building serves as a central office location for three state parks (Tettegouche, Temperance River and George H. Crosby-Manitou), two state forest recreation areas (Finland and Eckbeck) and two state park waysides (Caribou River and Ray Berglund). It also houses Green View staff who are charged with maintaining the rest area components of the site.
• Based on an August 2000 study, rest area users utilized the facility at the following rates:
  • Motorists traveling by car stayed an average of 45 minutes.
  • Visitors traveling by recreational vehicle stayed an average of 40 minutes.
  • Truck drivers stayed an average of 25 minutes.
• Rest areas on Highway 61 are spaced at 25-mile intervals, which is half the typical spacing interval for MnDOT rest areas, due to the corridor’s unique, winding character.

Funding:

• $7 million project, of which the DNR’s portion was approved in the 2008 bonding bill.
• Most of MnDOT’s portion was provided by federal Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) funds. The purpose of CBI funding is to improve the safe movement of motor vehicles at or across the land border between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico.

Tettegouche State Park:

• Established in 1975.
• 9,346-acre park that supports an abundant wildlife population.
• 5th most visited of the state’s 75 state parks.
• Four waterfalls on the Baptism River, including the highest waterfall entirely inside Minnesota’s border.
• Miles of hiking, skiing and snowshoe trails, and scenic overlooks including Shovel Point and Palisade Head. Popular rock climbing and photography destination.
• Popular campground and the historic Tettegouche camp – listed on the National Register of Historic Places”

A sign above the fireplace welcomes visitors to Tettegouche State Park.

A large display of Lake Superior’s shore, telling of life on the shoreline, and connecting with nature.

In this display, surrounding the tree are tracks, scat, or left over food of animals in Tettegouche. If you are unsure which animal left the track, answers can be found by lifting the flip doors.

Several of the trails, such as Shovel Point Trail and Cascades Trail, do not need a State Park Vehicle Permit. These trails can be reached from the Visitor Center. The trails are Moderate to Moderately Difficult and are 1.5-3 miles long.

There is a self-registration station available if needed.

When you drive past this sign, you need a State Park Vehicle Permit. High Falls can be accessed from inside the park Trailhead Lot, when High Falls is open. It was closed when we visited.

Campgrounds include 28 drive-in sites (22 with electricity), 5 backpack sites, 6 walk-in sites, and 13 cart-in sites. Bear-proof storage lockers are available.

Tettegouche is one of five state parks available for rock climbing. Climbing policy questions should be directed to the park.

“Important information: please read before visiting the park.

Closures:

• The High Falls bridge is CLOSED indefinitely due to flood damage. Superior Hiking Trail thru-hikers will have to detour down toward the park office to cross the river on the park road bridge.
• Tettegouche Camp Lodge is CLOSED for rehabilitation all winter. Cabins and shower building are currently open. Please stay out of construction area around Lodge.

Bean and Bear Lakes Loop, campsites and vistas closing May 15

2.2 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail will be closed from May 15 until further notice, to repair serious erosion and other issues. This closure includes the popular Bean and Bear Lakes Loop, the Penn Creek and Bear Lake campsites and all Bean and Bear Lake vistas and overlooks. Hikers can use spur trails to bypass the closed section. Closure dates and duration will depend on construction progress and the weather. Contact the Superior Hiking Trail Association (link is external) for more information.

Finland & Eckbeck State Forest Campgrounds

Recent logging was conducted in these campgrounds to remove dead and damaged spruce and fir trees that were infested with Spruce Budworm. These trees were both a falling hazard and highly flammable. For safety concerns for our guests, these trees were removed. Ongoing cleanup and new tree plantings will take place in the future.”