Temperance River State Park

Temperance River State Park
Minnesota State Park
One of the park's waterfalls
Country  United States
State  Minnesota
County Cook
Location Tofte Township
 - elevation 663 ft (202 m) [1]
 - coordinates 47°33′15″N 90°52′20″W / 47.55417°N 90.87222°W / 47.55417; -90.87222Coordinates: 47°33′15″N 90°52′20″W / 47.55417°N 90.87222°W / 47.55417; -90.87222
Area 5,059 acres (2,047 ha)
Founded 1957
Management Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Location of Temperance River State Park in Minnesota

Temperance River State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, located between the communities of Schroeder and Tofte on Highway 61 on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It has campsites, picnic areas, and hiking trails on both sides of the Temperance River.

History

Original stone staircase created by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Looking from the bluff on the Superior Hiking Trail to Cross River.

The Temperance River area was first permanently inhabited by Europeans in the 1830s. Settlers had to decide what to name various geographical features. When the geographical surveyors came through the area in 1864, they noticed that one particular river ran into water which was so deep that no sand bar formed at the mouth. Because there was no "bar" that river was named "Temperance."[2]

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built several overlooks at certain places along the riverside. In 1957, the state organized 539 acres (2.18 km2) of land into Temperance River State Park.

Attractions

Temperance River has two campgrounds, one on each side of the river. Both campgrounds are closer to Lake superior than most state park campgrounds near the lake. Besides the "bar-less" mouth of the river, Temperance River has three waterfalls which can be reached by footpath. The park is also one of four Minnesota state parks to allow rock climbing, along with nearby Tettegouche State Park.

The Superior Hiking Trail passes through the park, following the river gorge before climbing to the top of Carlton Peak, nearly 1,000 feet (300 m) above Lake Superior.

References

  1. ↑ "Temperance River State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. 1991-05-01. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  2. ↑ "A Sense Of Place - The Legacy of Names - Minnesota Conservation Volunteer: Minnesota DNR". Minnesota DNR. Retrieved 2007-04-29.
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