When people think of Tettegouche State Park, chances are the first thing they think of is hiking to the spectacular High Falls, and for good reason. Towering over 70 feet high, they are an essential component for a trip to Tettegouche.
But did you know that there is other great hiking to be had within Tettegouche State Park? The park boasts an extensive trail system. Much of it is tucked further back in the park, but there are also beautiful, accessible hikes from the area around the Visitor Center.
One of these is The Cascades trail. Often overlooked in favor of the High Falls hike, the Cascades trail actually boasts more time along the Baptism River than its famous brother. It is also shorter and easier, clocking in at barely half the distance and under one third of the elevation gain of the High Falls. This makes it a wonderful option for families with young kids, hikers with little to no experience, and anyone looking for a hike that takes less than an hour to complete with a nice waterfall payoff.
Take a peek at this brief guide for an overview of how to hike the Cascades in Tettegouche State Park!
The Cascades – Tettegouche State Park Hiking Guide
Parking
Just like the High Falls trail, you’ll start from the Tettegouche State Park visitor center on Highway 61. The visitor center is located on the right hand side of Highway 61, about 59.5 miles northeast of Duluth, MN. Use the restroom, stock up on water, and grab a map inside before starting your hike!
From the parking lot, you’ll walk along the road towards the campground and cross the bridge over the Baptism River. At the end of the bridge, look left for a sign marking the beginning of the Cascades Trail.
The Trail
Trail Start – Aim Upriver!
The Cascades trail is really straightforward – great news for inexperienced hikers or those who struggle with directions! Because of this, we won’t do a full walkthrough of every step of this trail.
However, I found the very beginning of the trail a little bit confusing, so here is what you need to know. When you start the trail from the sign pictured above, you will immediately descend towards the shore of the Baptism River and go underneath the bridge you crossed as you walked to the starting point, pointing upriver (away from Lake Superior).
From here, the trail opens up to your right, leaving you are free to explore along the rocks (picture below). What you’ll find, though, is that there are a bunch of mini-trails scattered around this area. Some of these head up the hill towards Highway 61. Presumably, these are from people parking on the side of the highway and bushwacking their way down to the trail. Ignore them. Others criss-cross the brush in your immediate vicinity – ignore those, too. You are looking for a well-maintained, flat trail heading straight up-river.
Hike Along the Baptism River to the Cascades
After this point, you are on a straight shot to your destination, roughly three quarters of a mile ahead. As mentioned above, the Cascades Hike is very straightforward. There are no forks in the trail, other than a few small staircases that take you down to the river in spots. Take your time and enjoy yourself – there are plenty of nice viewpoints and areas where you can get right next to the river.
This is also probably the easiest hike in Tettegouche State Park, perhaps with the exception of Shovel Point. At under 200 feet of elevation gain, it is wonderfully easy on the joints. This makes the one long staircase on this hike stick out like a sore thumb when you reach it – but the good news is, this signals that you are just about to your destination!
Exploring the Cascades
Soon enough, you’ll be brought back down to the rocky shore of the Baptism River. You’ll go up and over a small rock outcropping and find the Cascades immediately in front of you, opposite a small pool. The waterfall tumbles out of a narrow canyon flanked by tall trees before splitting into three parts and reaching the pool below. The aesthetic is totally different than the High Falls but is beautiful in its own right, inspiring a feeling of serenity rather than awe. The photo below was snapped on an early morning trail run as the sun was just beginning to filter through the dense trees.
If you make your way clockwise around the rocky edge of the river, you can experience the Cascades from a variety of perspectives. If you want, you can even climb up the rocky shelf on the left hand side of the waterfall to get a view of the top of the Cascades! From here, you can also get a glimpse of the Baptism River whitewater that feeds the Cascades.
Once you’ve had your fill, head back the way you came and continue your day in Tettegouche State Park.
Conclusion
The Cascades trail offers day hikers in Tettegouche State Park a lot, while asking only a little. Relatively short, easy, and accessible, just about anyone can enjoy it, but that doesn’t keep it from standing on its own two feet. Ample time on the Baptism River, plenty of photo opps and places to sit and relax, and a great waterfall payoff at the end make this trail punch above its weight. Don’t leave this one off your Tettegouche itenerary!
Cascades Day Hike – Summary & Trail Stats
- Trail System – Tettegouche State Park
- Distance – 1.8 miles out and back, .9 miles each way (slightly less if you don’t explore every little viewpoint like me!)
- Elevation Gain – 142 feet
- Best For – any North Shore visitors seeking a short, easy, and accessible hike with a nice waterfall
- May Not Be Great For – If you have very limited time and can only do one trail in the park, I would still lean towards the High Falls trail
Getting to the Cascades
From Duluth
- Follow Highway 61 northbound from Duluth, MN for 59.5 miles
- Turn into Tettegouche State Park visitor center
From Grand Marais
- Follow Highway 61 southbound from Grand Marais, MN for 51.1 miles
- Turn left into the Tettegouche State Park visitor center
For Your GPS
Tettegouche Visitor Center, 5702 MN-61, Silver Bay, MN 55614
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