Come to Tettegouche for a great sense of the North
Shore: the spectacular overlooks at Shovel Point; rocky, steep cliffs and
inland bluffs; the cascading 60 ft. High Falls of the Baptism River; and the
historic Tettegouche Camp where visitors can stay the night. This is a hiker's
paradise with miles of trails that overlook the Sawtooth Mountains and wind down
to inland lakes accessible only by foot. The Palisade Valley Unit features broad
scenic vistas coupled with an expanse of multi-use, four-season trails. Two more
trout lakes complement the fishing opportunities within the rest of the park.
The park is also known for rock climbing opportunities and quality birdwatching
in the spring, summer, and especially the fall.Quick stats:
9,346 acres
400,355 annual visits
Naturalist:
There is no naturalist on staff at this park.
Wildlife
The wide variety of plant communities in the park supports more than 40
species of mammals. Most commonly seen are white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, red
squirrel and beaver. Less commonly observed are moose, black bear, red fox, and
river otter. Occasionally, coyote, fisher pine marten, northern flying squirrel,
and even the timber wolf are seen. Northeastern Minnesota is recognized as one
of the better areas in the nation to find rare birds. Diversity of habitat,
geography and proximity to Lake Superior combine to produce a variety of bird
life at Tettegouche. In all, 140 species have been identified. Kinglets, spruce
grouse, and many northern warblers nest in bogs and coniferous forests in the
summer. In fall, hawk migration along the shore of Lake Superior numbers in the
tens of thousands. Winter is an excellent time to see northern owls,
woodpeckers, finches, and unusual water birds. The park is home to peregrine
falcons.
History
In 1898, the Alger-Smith Lumber Company began cutting the virgin pine forests
of Northeastern Minnesota. A logging camp was set up on the shores of a lake the
loggers called Nipisiquit, an Indian name from a tribe in New Brunswick, Canada,
the logger's native country. They took the Algonquin names for New Brunswick
landmarks and gave them to the lakes in Tettegouche. In 1910, after removing
most of the Norway and white pine, the logging company sold the camp and
surrounding acreage to the "Tettegouche Club," a group of businessmen from
Duluth who used the area as a fishing camp and retreat. One of its members,
Clement Quinn, bought the others out in 1921 and continued to act as protector
for the area until 1971 when Quinn sold Tettegouche to the deLaittres family.
The deLaittres continued Quinn's tradition of stewardship for the land,
beginning negotiations several years later for the preservation of Tettegouche
as a state park. During these years, the Nature Conservancy, a private land
conservation organization, played a vital role (along with other concerned
individuals and groups) in the transfer of ownership. Finally, on June 29, 1979,
legislation was enacted establishing Tettegouche as a state park.
Geology
The north shore of Lake Superior is a combination of rock cliffs, pebble
beaches, and bold headlands. The landscape owes its character to the erosion of
bedrock by running water and glaciers. Glacial action resulted in thin soils,
scoured lake basins, and numerous rock outcroppings. The North Shore drainage
pattern is one of short, steep rivers with many waterfalls and deeply eroded
gorges. Some present day features, however, are the result of much older
geologic processes. About 1.1 billion years ago, North America began to spread
apart along a rift that extended from what is now Lake Superior all the way to
Kansas. The deep basaltic lava that poured out of this rift formed virtually all
of the bedrock of the North Shore. Removal of lava from beneath what is now Lake
Superior caused the flows to tilt to the southeast. Spectacular examples of
these lava flows are Palisade Head and Shovel Point.
Landscape
Established in 1979 to preserve an outstanding example of the North Shore
Highlands Biocultural Region, the 9,346 acres of Tettegouche State Park contain
a unique combination of natural features: rugged, semi-mountainous terrain, one
mile of Lake Superior shoreline, six inland lakes, cascading rivers and
waterfalls, and an undisturbed northern hardwood forest. Nature lovers adore
this park! Hiking trails along the Baptism River provide views of many falls and
cascades including High Falls, the spectacular 60-foot waterfall. In addition, a
section of the Superior Hiking Trail runs through the park. Inland, the
birch-aspen forests of the shore are replaced by maple, yellow birch, basswood,
white spruce and red oak.
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