Cascade River State Park
Hiking Club Trail

The Hiking Club Trail in Cascade River State Park follows the Cascade River past several waterfalls, then climbs to the top of Lookout Mountain for some long views of the Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior.

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The river portion of the hike has great views of the tortuous path the river takes as it descends to the lake. The climb up and back down Lookout Mountain is peaceful and easy - a nice walk in a pleasant forest.

Approach

From the junction of W. 8th Ave. and Hwy 61 in Grand Marais Minnesota, take Hwy 61 southeast 8.3 miles to the entrance to Cascade River State Park.

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Take a right to enter the park, then follow the park road 0.9 miles to the trail center parking lot.

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There is an entrance station just after you enter the park where you can buy a pass to hike in the park.

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Coordinates for the hike: 47.7091270,-90.5212060

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Parking / Trailhead amenities

The dirt parking lot is level and has room for a half dozen cars or so. There is a clean pit toilet a short ways away and a trail center adjacent to the parking lot.

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Trail observations

The trail exits the parking lot across from the trail center.

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The trail is a pair of lollipops - you'll walk the stem, then do half of the first loop counterclockwise, walk a second stem, then follow a big loop counterclockwise, retrace the second stem, finish the first loop, then retrace the first stem back to the parking lot.

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Be sure to follow the Hiking Club Trail signs - the trail is well marked, though sometimes the Hiking Club Trail signs seem to be pointing down unlikely paths. Trust them - they worked for me!

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Trail statistics

The trail is 3.56 miles long. The sum of all the uphill climbs is 272 feet.

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Trail waypoints

0.03 mi	Parking	Parking lot
0.13 mi	Trailhead	Trailhead
0.21 mi	Stay left	Branch - stay left
0.25 mi	Bridge	Cross the bridge
0.33 mi	Go right	Go right along the Lookout Mountain / SHT / Hiking Club Trail
0.50 mi	Stay left	Branch - stay left
0.74 mi	Left of stairs	Take the trail to the left of the stairs towards Lookout Mountain
0.87 mi	Stay left	Branch - stay left (map)
1.02 mi	Go right	Leave the first loop and go right - head down towards a bridge
1.11 mi	Go straight	Intersection - go straight and start climbing
1.19 mi	Stay straight	Branch - stay right to go straight
1.44 mi	Side trail	Side trail - go right, then return and continue along this trail
1.49 mi	Viewpoint	View from the side trail overlook - return to the trail
1.76 mi	Stay right	Branch - stay right (map)
1.81 mi	Shelter	Picnic table,Shelter, Toilet
1.86 mi	Head left	Branch - head left along the Hiking Club Trail
2.23 mi	Bench	Bench
2.36 mi	Head left	Branch - head left (sign)
2.52 mi	Tee left	Tee - go left
2.56 mi	Stay left	Branch - stay left
2.76 mi	Go straight	Intersection - go straight (map)
2.81 mi	Go right	At the end of the second loop - go right to return to the first loop
2.89 mi	Tee - go right	Tee - go right to continue counterclockwise along the first loop
3.14 mi	Stay left	Branch - stay left
3.33 mi	Stay right	Branch - stay right, cross the bridge and return along path to the parking lot
3.56 mi	End of trail	End of trail