A Weekend at Jay Cooke State Park
Jay Cooke State Park is perfect for day hiking, car camping, practicing long exposures, and catching up some R&R.
This state park has been on my list for a while. Every year, I just couldn't get in because it was booked up months and months in advance. But, I suspect because of the water issues at the park, I was able to get in this year.
Quick note on that: A water line was damaged at the park, which resulted in the Minnesota DNR turning the water off. It should be repaired in 2018, according to the website. If you go, make sure to bring plenty of water for you, your friends, your dog, your dishes, and your dog's dishes.
My wife Ashley and I hit the road Friday night after work. We made it to the park from the Cities in about three hours. It's basically a straight shot up 35. No big deal. Also, we saw a black bear on the way and there was an interesting report on MPR, so it made the drive a breeze.
Campsite #76
Even with the water issues at the park, we woke up in campsite #76 to a full house. The park was maxed out. Or at least it seemed that way.
After breakfast, we drove down to the park's main office to get a start on the day. The plan wasn't to take on all 50 of the park's trails but to enjoy the nice weather and check out the famous swinging bridge.
The Swinging Bridge
If you had just 5 minutes at the park, this is what you'd see. Hands down. It's the staple monument of the park, and for good reason. It's a short walk from the main trail head's parking lot. You pass areas full of wildflowers, picnic areas, and informational signs that tell of the bridge's tumultuous history.
A brief history:
The bridge was built in the 1920s by the Conservation Corps out of wood and rope. You can see a picture of the (sketchy-looking) bridge here. It was refined over time until the 1950s when the second most intense flood on record came through and destroyed all that hard work.
It was rebuilt again in a way that resembles today's iteration. But, as it happens, history repeats itself. In June 2012, the actual most intense flood came through and totally destroyed the bridge. I mean, gone.
Today's version of the bridge was built higher and presumably sturdier than before. But, it hasn't lost its appeal. Its construction includes tall stone pillars and a very nice deep green paint job.
Walking across the bridge, you get this slight tremble. You can tell it's suspended, not totally still. You can really feel the sway during high foot traffic as people tromp on and off the wooden planked bridge. It makes it pretty difficult to get a steady shot.
The Silver Creek Trail
What's nice about Jay Cooke State Park is that it caters to hikers of all kinds. Backpackers can find what they're looking for in the northern part of the park. Hardcore hikers can take their chances with 50 miles of rugged northern terrain. And day hikers like myself can take down the very mellow 3.5-mile loop that is the Silver Creek Trail.
You hop on this trail after walking across the swinging bridge. It's a natural progression. The trail takes you through along the St. Louis River before diving into the park's hardwood forest. At points, the trail hooks up with the Superior Hiking Trail and the North Country Trail.
The Morale of the Story
I'm on a mission to go to as many awesome state parks as possible, to see as many scenic places as possible, and to enjoy the great outdoors as much as possible. Jay Cooke State Park did not disappoint or detract from that mission whatsoever.
Who is this park for? Everybody, of course.
But, I think car campers would get the most enjoyment out of this park. The campground is nice, the staff is helpful, and it's highly accessible from the nearby roadways.