Fall color hikes abound in Cloquet MN area

Connector to Ogantz Trail, Jay Cooke State Park

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors in the Cloquet, Minnesota, area than

a hike.

The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of maples to the

scarlet and russets of oaks...the crisp, fresh autumn air and the last warm rays of sunlight before winter arrives...the crunch of fallen leaves and acorns beneath your boots...stopping to enjoy a warm mug of apple cider or a caramel apple pulled from your backpack – it all calls for an afternoon on the trail.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Cloquet to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton)
Hikers can walk through a forest of aspen, birch and maple at Jay Cooke State Park. A 2-mile round trip segment of the Ogantz Trail actually can be extended to a 4-mile round trip if doing the other segment; at one time, the trail was a loop but there’s now a gap in it. From Cloquet, take Interstate 35 south. Exit east onto Minn. Hwy. 210, driving through Carlton. Turn right/south into the lot and picnic area for the Oldenburg Point Shelter. Take the trail going northeast and at Trail Intersection Marker 12, continue left-straight/northeast. A second segment of the trail heads right/south from the marker.

Superior Municipal Forest (Superior)
A boreal forest may not seem like the best place to enjoy autumn leaves. The Superior Municipal Forest, however, delivers, with its extensive growth of gold-leafed white birch and aspen amid evergreen white and red pine, balsam, cedar, and black spruce. A 1.6-mile segment of the Millennium Trail winds through the woods. In Superior, at the 28th Street and Wyoming Avenue intersection, turn south to the municipal parking lot. The trail goes both east and west; skip the eastern side, which leads to multiple railroad tracks in Superior’s industrial section.

Congdon Park (Duluth)
Autumn leaves alongside billion-year-old rock and a creek sporting several small waterfalls await at Congdon Park in Duluth. The 1.2-mile (one-way) Congdon Park Trail follows Tischer Creek, as it makes its way down the bluffs toward Lake Superior. The orange of maple with the yellow of birch and the gorge’s red walls feels like you’re walking through a rainbow. In Duluth, park in the lot for Mount Royal Market at the corner of Woodland Avenue and East St. Marie Street. Walk East St. Marie Street east, entering the park at the junction with Vermillion Road.

Chester Creek (Duluth)
A pair of picturesque waterfalls, footbridges, and a walk alongside Chester Creek await hikers on the Chester Park Loop in Duluth. Located near the near the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus, the 2.4-mile trail is particularly beautiful in autumn when the golden bronze of maple and basswood leaves form a canopy over the path and float upon the creek. In Duluth from West College Street take North 19th Avenue E southeast. Turn right/west onto W. Kent Road, then right/west onto East Skyline Parkway after the curve right/northwest onto Chester Park Drive. Park off the road then walk back alongside it to East Skyline Parkway and cross the bridge to the trailhead.

Bear Beach State Natural Area (Brule, Wis.)
A walk along a pristine sand beach awaits day hikers of the Lake Superior shoreline in the Bear Beach State Natural Area. The unmarked trail runs for up to 3.4-miles round trip along narrow Bear Beach. Hiking the beach, you’ll get a good sense of what this area of the world looked like before Euro-Americans settled it. A thick woods hugs the sand’s southern side while the lake stretches wide beyond to the north. Though the forest this far north is heavy on the evergreens – especially balsam fir, white pine and white spruce – but in autumn the yellowed-colored leaves of paper birch and trembling aspen and the spring green of speckled alder are well-represented. From Brule, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. In Maple, turn north onto County Road F. Next, go left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 13 then right/north onto Beck’s Road. Park in the dirt lot at the end of Beck’s Road near the Lake Superior shore.

St. Croix State Forest (Sandstone)
Hikers can walk alongside pretty Tamarack River, where a variety of trees light up the trail in autumn. The 3.75-mile out and back Tamarack River Trail runs along the river’s west side before it flows into the St. Croix River. Rolling terrain features maple, basswood, ash, aspen, oak, tamarack along with the evergreens Norway, red and white pine. From Sandstone, take County Road 123 east then go straight-left/east on County Road 30. Turn right/south onto County Road 24 and then left/east onto County Road 25. After passing Markville Cemetery, take the next right/south. Park at the Tamarack horse camp and head south on the trail in the St. Croix State Forest.

Fall color hikes abound in Duluth, MN, area

Congdon Park, Duluth

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors in the Duluth

area than a hike.

The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of maples to the scarlet

and russets of oaks...

the crisp, fresh autumn air and the last warm rays of sunlight before winter arrives...the crunch of fallen leaves and acorns beneath your boots...stopping to enjoy a warm mug of apple cider or a caramel apple pulled from your backpack – it all calls for an afternoon on the trail.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around Duluth to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Congdon Park (Duluth)
Autumn leaves alongside billion-year-old rock and a creek sporting several small waterfalls await at Congdon Park in Duluth. The 1.2-mile (one-way) Congdon Park Trail follows Tischer Creek, as it makes its way down the bluffs toward Lake Superior. The orange of maple with the yellow of birch and the gorge’s red walls feels like you’re walking through a rainbow. In Duluth, park in the lot for Mount Royal Market at the corner of Woodland Avenue and East St. Marie Street. Walk East St. Marie Street east, entering the park at the junction with Vermillion Road.

Chester Creek Loop (Duluth)
A pair of picturesque waterfalls, footbridges, and a walk alongside Chester Creek await hikers on the Chester Park Loop in Duluth. Located near the near the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus, the 2.4-mile trail is particularly beautiful in autumn when the golden bronze of maple and basswood leaves form a canopy over the path and float upon the creek. In Duluth from West College Street take North 19th Avenue E southeast. Turn right/west onto W. Kent Road, then right/west onto East Skyline Parkway after the curve right/northwest onto Chester Park Drive. Park off the road then walk back alongside it to East Skyline Parkway and cross the bridge to the trailhead.

Superior Municipal Forest (Superior)
A boreal forest may not seem like the best place to enjoy autumn leaves. The Superior Municipal Forest, however, delivers, with its extensive growth of gold-leafed white birch and aspen amid evergreen white and red pine, balsam, cedar, and black spruce. A 1.6-mile segment of the Millennium Trail winds through the woods. In Superior, at the 28th Street and Wyoming Avenue intersection, turn south to the municipal parking lot. The trail goes both east and west; skip the eastern side, which leads to multiple railroad tracks in Superior’s industrial section.

Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton)
Day hikers can cross a swinging bridge above a raging river running over nearly 2 billion-year old rock then enjoy incredible autumn colors at Jay Cooke State Park. The 1.5-mile round trip East Ridge Trail crosses and then partially follows the St. Louis River southeast of Duluth. A new $1.1 million swinging bridge opened in 2013. To the delight of most kids (and adults), the 219-foot pedestrian bridge bounces and sways. The rest of the trail heads through a hardwood forest whose green in summer rivals that of Oz’s Emerald City. The leaves turn an impressive array of yellows, reds and oranges as autumn sets in. From Interstate 35 take the exit for Minn. Hwy. 210, driving east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river.

Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors)
Golden aspen and birch leaves mixed with evergreens surround waterfalls and an agate beach at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The 1.8-mile round trip River View Trail runs through the heart of what many consider to be the most beautiful park on the North Shore, if not the entire state. From Two Harbors, take Minn. Hwy. 61 north. Turn right/east into the park, leaving your vehicle in the first lot. Take the connector trail northeast to a walkway, on which you’ll go left/north.

Bear Beach State Natural Area (Brule, Wis.)
A walk along a pristine sand beach awaits day hikers of the Lake Superior shoreline in the Bear Beach State Natural Area. The unmarked trail runs for up to 3.4-miles round trip along narrow Bear Beach. Hiking the beach, you’ll get a good sense of what this area of the world looked like before Euro-Americans settled it. A thick woods hugs the sand’s southern side while the lake stretches wide beyond to the north. Though the forest this far north is heavy on the evergreens – especially balsam fir, white pine and white spruce – but in autumn the yellowed-colored leaves of paper birch and trembling aspen and the spring green of speckled alder are well-represented. From Brule, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. In Maple, turn north onto County Road F. Next, go left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 13 then right/north onto Beck’s Road. Park in the dirt lot at the end of Beck’s Road near the Lake Superior shore.

Laurentian Divide Recreation Area (Virginia)
Orange and various hues of yellow and red leaves await hikers at the Laurentian Divide Recreation Area in Superior National Forest. About 5 miles of various connecting trails lead to the top of the rec area’s Lookout Mountain, which offers a fantastic vista. Fun fact: Streams on the divide’s north slope head to Canada and drain to Hudson Bay while those on south slope flow into either Lake Superior or the Mississippi River. From Virginia, take U.S. Hwy. 53 north. The rec area is on the right/east.

Sturgeon River Trail, Superior National Forest (Hibbing-Chisholm)
An aspen and birch forest awaits along the Sturgeon River in Superior National Forest. The 2.5-mile round trip segment of the Sturgeon River Trail heads through the second-growth forest as well as a stand of stately pines. From Hibbing-Chisholm, head north on Minn. Hwy. 73. Turn left/west onto County Road 65. Look for a large parking on the road’s right/north side in about 1.2 miles. Take the trail northwest to a shelter.

Bear Lake State Park (Ely)
A forest of yellow birch and aspen surround three glacial lakes at Bear Head Lake State Park. A 2.8-mile loop heads through the woods and around the scenic lakes. Stands of orange tamarack and green red and white pines, fir and cedar offer accent colors to the autumn display. From Ely, take Minn. Hwy. 1 west. Turn south onto County Road 128, aka as Bear Head State Park Road. Upon entering the park, stay on County Road 128 and turn right/south into the Norberg Lake parking lot. From the lot, take the trail heading east.

Tettegouche State Park (Silver Bay)
A hike though an amber-leaved birch and aspen forest that ends with an incredible view of Lake Superior awaits at Tettegouche State Park. The 1.1-mile round trip Shovel Point Trail is fairly flat as it runs atop billion-year-old rock. Throughout autumn, birds migrating south past the point. From Silver Bay, drive north on Minn. Hwy. 61. After crossing the Baptism River, turn right/southeast into the park entrance. Go straight on the park entrance road and veer left into the northernmost lot. From the lot’s southeastern corner, pick up the interpretive trail that heads toward Lake Superior.

State park trail heads to historic cemetery

Map for Thomson Trail, courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

Jay Cooke State Park's
Thomson Trail runs
2.7-miles round trip

Day hikers can head alongside a scenic river to a pioneer cemetery at Minnesota’s Jay Cooke State Park.

The 2.7-mile round trip Thomson Trail rambles part of the way alongside the St. Louis River south of Duluth.

Baby Ottos' gravestone at Thomson
Pioneer Cemetery.

To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 35 take Minn. Hwy. 210 to the River Inn Visitor Center parking lot. Try to find a space close to the park headquarters. At the HQ, follow the footpath running southeast then turn right/southwest onto the trail heading to the amphitheater. This technically is not the Thomson Trail but a river route that leads to it.

In short order, you’ll pass the amphitheater on the right/north.

Of much greater interest, though, are the views to the left/south. Through the breaks in the tress, you’ll be able to see the St. Louis River as it rushes over cascades and dark-colored greywacke, 1.9-billion year-old sand that has compacted into rock. The river grows quieter as heading upstream.

At junction 9, the trail veers north away from the river as it crosses Hwy. 210. Be sure to look both ways and hold hands of any children with you, as the road can be busy.

You’ll reach the Thomson Trail proper at junction 7. The CCC Trail heads right/east with the other two trails the ends of the loops for the Thomson Trail. Go straight/northwest, taking the loop’s top half.

At junction 8, you’ll arrive at the loop’s west end. Go right/west.

You’ll soon come to a junction with a trail that heads northwest. The equestrian trail can be hiked but stays close to the highway on its way to the Willard Munger State Trail. Continue straight/south.

The trail next arrives at the Thomson Pioneer Cemetery, an open area. Its scattered gravestones are weather-beaten and some fallen; a few of the inscriptions can be made out, though. Pioneers from the nearby village of Thomson were buried here in the 1880-1890s.

After taking in the sights, turn back. This time at junction 8, however, go right/southeast onto the bottom segment of Thomson Trail loop.

At junction 7, when you come to east end of loop; turn right/south. From there, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Silver Creek Trail follows river, stream

Yellow lady's slippers in Jay Cooke State Park.
Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR. 

Walk in Jay Cooke
S.P. crosses
swinging bridge

Day hikers can walk alongside a scenic river and stream in a pleasant woodlands on northern Minnesota’s Silver Creek Trail.

The 3.25-miles round trip trail in Jay Cooke State Park follows the St. Louis River and its tributary, Silver Creek. The route described here combines a segment of the East Ridge Trail with the Silver Creek Trail to make a loop.

To reach the park from Duluth, Minn., head south on Interstate 35. Exit onto Minn. Hwy. 210 and drive east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river.

The trail leaves from the parking area’s southeast end. This actually is a stem for the loop and heads through a picnic area before reaching the St. Louis River.

Swinging bridge and ancient rock
Crossing the river requires walking over a new $1.1 million swinging bridge, which opened in November 2013. To the delight of most kids (and adults), the 219-foot pedestrian bridge bounces and sways. It replaces the 1953 bridge damaged during flooding in 2012.

As crossing the swinging bridge, outcrops of ancient Thomson Slate can be seen on the St. Louis River. During the Precambrian era when this part of world was under a shallow tropical sea, the growing weight of sediment compressed into shale and then slate. Over time, the rock layers folded and tilted, leaving the odd and sharp angles seen here.

Rippled among the slate are dikes of molten rock that now form “dikes.” While the slate was underground, magma worked its way into fissures and then hardened. One such dike runs from the bridge’s north end southwest across the river, ending east of an island.

Once across the bridge, go left/east onto the East Ridge Trail. At Trail Intersection 30, head left/east. This part of the trail follows the river, which leaves behind the turbulent rapids of the narrow dales and quiets as broadening.

After the river and trail turns south, you’ll come to where Silver Creek flows into the former. The trail then parallels Silver Creek. A shelter overlooking the creek sits atop 50 feet of red clay left behind when Glacial Lake Duluth covered this area at the end of the last ice age some 11,000 years ago.

Deer and wildflowers
At Trail Intersection 37, a spur leads to Silver Creek’s shore. From the trail intersection, go right/northwest; you’re now technically on the Silver Creek Trail.

The open understory of the surrounding woodland is not due to flooding but whitetail deer. Protected within the park limits, the deer population has grown unchecked and eat any new saplings they find. As the park’s deer have become accustomed to people, you’re likely to spot one or more along the trail.

One wildflower you’ll probably see despite the deer is the yellow lady’s slipper, which bloom about mid-June. They’re most common near the end of the trail as it heads back toward the river once Silver Creek swerves west.

At Trail Intersection 53, go right/north. This takes you back onto the Ridge Trails. To reach the swinging bridge and come full circle, go straight/north at Trail Intersection 31, then right/northeast at Trail Intersection 28, and finally left/north at Trail Intersection 32. At the bridge, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Topo maps for day hiking trails in Minnesota’s Jay Cooke State Park

No one ever should hit the trail without a topographical map. Here are topo maps for three day hikes in Minnesota’s popular Jay Cooke State Park.

About 50 miles of hiking paths run through the park just southeast of Cloquet. To reach the park, from Interstate 35 take the exit for Minn. Hwy. 210, driving east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river; most of the park’s trails can be accessed from the visitor center.

Trails are marked in yellow on the maps. Click each map or open it a new window for a larger, printable version.

Carlton Trail

C.C.C. Trail

East Ridge Loop

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Hike across swinging bridge at Jay Cooke

Rapids of the St. Louis River in Jay Cooke State Park.

Rock at Jay Cooke S.P. nearly 2 billion years old

Day hikers can cross a swinging bridge above a raging river running over nearly 2 billion-year old rock on the East Ridge Trail at Minnesota’s Jay Cooke State Park.

The 1.5-mile round trip trail is one of about 50 miles of hiking paths through the park just southeast of Cloquet. To reach the park, from Interstate 35 take the exit for Minn. Hwy. 210, driving east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and use the lot nearest the river.

The trail leaves from the parking area’s southeast end. This actually is a stem for the looping East Ridge Trail, which is on the river’s south side. The stem heads through a picnic area before reaching the St. Louis River.

Swinging bridge
A new $1.1 million swinging bridge opened in November 2013. To the delight of most kids (and adults), the 219-foot pedestrian bridge bounces and sways. It replaces the 1953 bridge damaged during 2012’s flooding.

Beneath the bridge is the raging St. Louis River, which rushes over exposed bedrock formed about 1.9 billion years ago when a vast sea covered this area of North America. Over the eons as the mud and sand compacted into shale and greywacke, heat and pressure converted the buried stone into slate. Then, about 1.1 billion years ago, molten rock worked its way through fissures and covered much of the ground, leaving black basalt in its wake.

Once across the bridge, go left/east. You’re now officially on the East Ridge Trail, with this segment paralleling the river’s edge. Raging floodwater from melting glaciers some 10,000 years ago formed the river’s current course.

At Junction 29, go right/southeast. The rest of the trail heads through a hardwood forest whose green in summer rivals that of Oz’s Emerald City. The leaves turn an impressive array of yellows, reds and oranges as autumn sets in.

Upon reaching Junction 30, go right. The trail meanders about quite a lot along this segment but essentially heads west.

Variety of wildlife
Watch for a number of animals as walking through the woods. White-tailed deer will be easy to spot, but also look for signs of black bear, timber wolf and coyote.

At Junction 31, head right/north. The trail at this point has looped back toward the river.

More than 180 species of birds make their home in the park, so keep an eye to the sky when the trail opens up. Among the most fascinating birds in the park are the great blue heron, the marsh hawk, and the pileated woodpecker.

Upon reaching Junction 28, go right. The trail is now in its homestretch. At Junction 32, turn left and walk along the river shore; the trail soon arrives at the swinging bridge. Cross and follow the stem trail back to the parking lot.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.