Originally published May 25, 2007, on DuluthBudgeteer.com.
Although Duluth has one of the most extensive park systems in the region, its closest state park is actually in another state.
Pattison State Park -- which is roughly 10 minutes south of Superior on Highway 35 (and, yes, .2 miles closer to the center of Duluth than Jay Cooke State Park) -- may be your new best friend this summer as gas prices rise to all-time highs.
Not only is it easier on your wallet than the North Shore's offerings, its centerpiece is a waterfall more than twice the size of the falls at Gooseberry. More than that, the 165-foot Big Manitou Falls is the largest in Wisconsin and reportedly the fourth-highest east of the Rockies.
But the adventures don't stop at the gorge. Along the park's nine miles of hiking trails, you will find another waterfall (though less than one-fifth the size of the "big" one), a 300-foot sand beach on Interfalls Lake and the traditional state park accommodations of campsites, picnic areas and a "tollbooth" where one pays to play. (Non-resident costs for Wisconsin State Park permits are $35 for the year, $10 for a day or $5 for an hour.)
ADVERTISEMENT
"Discover Duluth" is an ongoing photo essay series by Matthew R. Perrine that highlights points of interest in and around the region.
