Pictured Rocks

Miners Beach

Miners Castle

Miners Castle

Miners Falls

Munising Falls

Munising Falls

Cascade River State Park

Friday we headed up the coast to Cascade River State Park.  Another gorgeous park chock-full of waterfalls.

The gorge through which the Cascade River flows is a series of cascades and waterfalls.  If any one of the eight state parks we visited were somewhere else in a waterfall-deprived world, they would be world famous.

A view looking upstream of Cascade Falls framed by White Cedars.

Several painters had set up easels along the right bank below this falls.  It seemed like it would be time well-spent, even if the painting never turned out.

Looking down at a split in the cascades.

Water rushing down the cascades.

We hiked up to lookout point after checking out the gorge.

Later, we relaxed and explored along the shoreline.

Temperance River Gorge - Hidden Falls

Upstream from the campground, the Temperance River comes out of a narrow and deep gorge.  Hidden Falls is one of the highlights of the gorge.

The Temperance River used to have a wide and tall falls at this plunge pool in the river.  Now it has cut its way upstream into Hidden Falls.

The brightness of the morning and the dark of the gorge make for challenging photography.  Hidden Falls is tucked back in the shadows.

Hidden Falls

Another view back up the gorge towards Hidden Falls.

Joy posing by the edge of the gorge.

Looking down at Hidden Falls' pothole.  Swirling water has carved many circular potholes along the gorge.

Laney and I hiking along the trail.

One of the many falls along the gorge.

'Just another common, everyday waterfall...'

The Superior Hiking Trail crossed the gorge above Hidden Falls.  The Moose Mountain Marathon passed this point.

This spruce log wedge against the walls fascinated me.  It was maybe twelve feet above the water, but it had clearly been deposited there during a flood.  That would have been an impressive sight.

Joy peering over the edge of the gorge.  There weren't many guardrails at these parks...

Temperance River gorge

Looking back downstream at the gorge.

It was a beautiful, sunny morning for a hike.

A shadow group photo.

Judge Magney State Park

Thursday afternoon we stopped by Judge Magney State Park.

A trail led along the Brule River to Upper Falls.  The mist and breeze coming off the falls was considerable.

Laney and I checking out the falls.

Further upstream, the trail climbed towards Devil's Kettle.

Devil's Kettle would win the award for the most unusual waterfall on the north shore.  

The river splits in two, with half going over the 50' falls, and half plunging into a pothole.

Apparently, the exit to the pothole has not been found, despite dye tests and ping-pong ball tests.

It seems hard to imagine where the considerable volume of water could be going, but either way, it is a cool waterfall.

Joy posing with the Devil's Kettle

Grand Portage

Thursday morning, we broke camp at Gooseberry Falls State Park and got packed up right before the rain.  We were thanking God, since packing up a wet camp in the rain is not pleasant.  It happened to be one of the best times to rain, as we had a two hour drive north to Grand Portage.

Just north of Grand Portage is Mount Josephine, which rises 740 feet above the lake.  Isle Royale is on the distant horizon.

On our way north, we observed this cool funnel type cloud.  

Grand Portage State Park was the northern most point on our tour.  The park is along the Pigeon River, which makes up the US/Canada border.  High Falls might not be as famous as the other waterfall on the border, but it is certainly beautiful.  It is the tallest falls in Minnesota, at 120 feet.

The rain had stopped by the time we got to the park, but it was still misty and cool.  We spent some time at the park and the historical site for the Grand Portage, and then headed back south to the next park.

Tettegouche State Park

Wednesday we went to Tettegouche State Park.  Yet another state park with amazing waterfalls and a gorgeous coastline.  Above is the top half of Two Step Falls.

Further upstream was High Falls.  This is looking straight down over the falls from the right bank.

The trail crossed the Baptism River on a suspension bridge just above High Falls.

Someone was trying to be brave, but the grating was sharp, and the bridge swayed.

Carrying my puppy across the bridge

The brink of the High Falls from the left bank.

Laney and I walked down to the bottom of the falls for a different view.

High Falls

We all hiked to a lookout point to eat lunch.  There were ripe blueberries and moose pellets near the trail.

A view of the birch trees on the hills

The mouth of the Baptism River

Looking north along the shore

The rocky beach at the river mouth

Laney and I at the river mouth

Shovel Point