Cascade Falls State Park

Today we drove back 'down' Route 61 to Cascade Falls State Park, a series of waterfalls and gorges that has the Cascade River flowing through it, then roars down to Lake Superior.

Parked right opposite Lake Superior

Crossed over the bridge and hiked a bit further before turning around

As soon as we stepped onto the trail we could hear the roar of the Cascade River.  Very tannic, not polluted, just wild running water flowing through channels of granite dropping down to lake level.  Very pretty.  Serene, peaceful.  We followed the trail until it crossed over the river, then we followed the trail until it joined up and became the Superior Hiking Trail, followed it a bit up river, then turned around and followed the river on the west side down to the lake.  Yeah, we can add the SHT to our list of trails we have followed (Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Santa Fe, Pony Express, Immigrant Trail, California Trail, Oregon Trail, Natchez Trail, Lewis and Clark's Discovery Trail, etc.)

It's official - we hiked a tidge of the Superior Hiking Trail

Young girl sitting sketching (seen from across the river) 

Water is very tannic, for decomposed organic material, not polluted

Where the Cascade River joins the lake

The Superior Hiking Trail starts in Duluth and follows Route 61 north, intersecting with state parks along the way.  The trail is over 300 plus miles long, has trailheads every 3 to 11 miles, and campsites for hikers ever 10 to 15 miles.  Maintained, groomed, but only for foot traffic, no mountain bikes.

Once we got to Lake Superior and back to the car, we decided to go find some more trails to hike.  Instead we turned north and followed a county road up to Eagle Mountain, the highest elevation in Minnesota.  Most of the road was dirt packed, very level, but dusty.  Had to slow down when a car approached so you would not get dinged with flying stones.  Even had a logging truck zoom by us.

Start of drive up into the forest and BWCAW

The lupines were out in full glory, oh the color!

Wild iris'

Bog, ponds, small lakes, big lakes - all beautiful

Along the way we passed many small lakes (bogs or ponds) and some really big ones.  Absolutely stunning scenery.  Once in a while you would see a home/cabin tucked up against the shore of a lake, but we were mostly by ourselves.  Always on the lookout for moose - again, did not see one.  Found Eagle Mountain's trailhead and read the information about it and decided not to hike the trail - too strenuous and too long (7 miles one way) and we had arrived too late in the day to attempt it.

Found trail to Eagle Mountain - too difficult

Again, in the BWCAW 

Not today

Cascade Lake 

A very big lake!

Sharp tailed grouse, saw a couple of these boogers

Watch out for those logger trucks!

Beaver dam - did not see the beaver, tho

Drove on and eventually found our way back down out of the gravel road to paved, and back down to Highway 61.  We were surprised that we really had not gone that far, just seemed like it since we were only traveling about 25 miles an hour.  Too pretty to just zoom by.  Stunning, gorgeous day.