Come to Cascade for the rushing river and grand
waterfalls that lay within a gorge, lush with moss and ferns that grow on black
volcanic rocks. Hike the trail through birch, spruce and white cedar; stop to
see the views of Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world. Trails
connect with the Superior Hiking Trail and the North Shore State Trail and offer
great recreational opportunities to hikers and cross-country skiers. Drive-in
and backpack campsites are available.Quick stats:
2,865 acres
135,445 annual visits
Naturalist:
The best way to learn more about Cascade State Park is to stop at the park
office for a map and information about the park. Although the park does not have
a naturalist on staff, interpretive programs are offered occasionally throughout
the summer season.
Wildlife
Wildlife abounds in this hilly terrain. Moose, wolves, pine martens, bears,
and many other animals have been sighted in this park. Wintering deer converge
from the interior to Lake Superior's south facing slope. Here the temperatures
are warmer, the snow is not as deep, it is more sheltered from the wind, and the
conifers provide food and cover. During the summer months, the area along the
North Shore abounds with a variety of birds and hawks. Visitors can enjoy being
serenaded by the sweet chorus of warblers and chickadees.
History
Years ago, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had a camp at the Cascade
River. The men in this camp worked on a variety of conservation projects. Today,
you can see some of their handiwork on the trails that wind along the river. One
enrollee told how they cut and moved the large pine logs from Cascade down to
Gooseberry Falls State Park to finish buildings in that park. From the
beginning, Cascade was thought of as a state park, but it wasn't until 1957 that
it was officially designated as such.
Geology
The geology of the North Shore and the Cascade River is complex. It started
billions of years ago when the ancient bedrock was covered with molten lava from
volcanoes. Later, shallow seas covered the area and deposited sediment over the
lava beds. The sedimentary rock formed from the seas was bent by great mountain
building forces. Other complex geological processes took place before the
glaciers scoured the area several times leaving the present Lake Superior basin.
Erosive forces are still taking place today.
Landscape
Aptly named, the Cascade River flows down one ledge after another for a total
drop of 900 feet in the last three miles of its journey to Lake Superior. The
park setting is a boreal hardwood-conifer forest of aspen, birch, fir, spruce
and cedar. Visitors can stand on the footbridge that spans the river, or at any
of the viewing spots above the river, and feel the vibration of the rushing
torrent of water as it cascades down a volcanic canyon.
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