State Park Information
Tettegouche State Park
  3.5 Stars (8 Ratings)
  5702 Highway 61
      Silver Bay, Minnesota 55614
  United States
  (218) 226-6365
  Unknown
Description

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.

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, and especially to the glacial excavation of the Lake Superior basin. Glacial action resulted in thin soils 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-sourced 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. These are made of rhyolite, a light-colored volcanic rock that contrasts with the more common, dark basalt along the rest of the shore.

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.

Park Stats
Campgrounds: 3 Campsites: 52
Photos: 23 Reviews: 8
Views: 3,251 Likes: 0
   

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   Tettegouche State Park Photos
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   Tettegouche State Park Reviews


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Jeff P.
3 Star Rating3.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
Baptism River campground has moderate tree coverage and privacy. It's a relatively small campground. The cart-in sites are nice and private and some offer a very nice view. It is a bit of a hike since you park on one side of Hwy 61 and have to go under the bridge to the other side. Site E is the most incredible site I've ever seen. Just behind the site you can walk to a rock cliff ledge and have a breathtaking view of Lake Superior.
Erin R.
5 Star Rating5.0 out of 5 stars
  Great campground
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
Stayed here for 2 nights in the fall. For being weeknights, the campground was still bustling with activity, so book your site early if you want to stay during the Fall colors. The hiking paths were great. The entrance and rest area on the park are under construction, so there was a temporary entrance for us. Hopefully by next year it will be better. So keep an eye out for changes. Will definitely be back next year!
Unknown
5 Star Rating5.0 out of 5 stars
  Excellent North Shore Campground
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
This is one of our favorite campgrounds. Love the boardwalk hike to shovel point. Half or more of the sites are now electric. The new check in lodge is beautiful and has WiFi if needed.
Unknown
3 Star Rating3.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
A beautiful park and campground that is not as nice as it was before they plowed out many of the sites to accommodate RVs. That has really hurt the character of this park.
Unknown
4 Star Rating4.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
Walks along Lake Superior as the sun sets is all I have to say.
Unknown
3 Star Rating3.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
Unknown
3 Star Rating3.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
The group camp sites don't have much coverage. You're quite exposed. The hiking is nice.
Unknown
3 Star Rating3.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed on June 19th, 2020
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