Caribou Falls State Park Wayside (Blog Hike #317)

Trail: Spur of Superior Hiking Trail to Caribou Falls

Hike Location: Caribou Falls State Park Wayside
Geographic Location: southwest of Schroeder, MN (47.46443, -91.03065)
Length: 1 mile

Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Dates Hiked: July 2010, July 2017
Overview: An out-and-back hike with a steady climb to a major river waterfall.

Wayside Information: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/waysides/index.html

Hike Route Map: http://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=431091
Photo Highlight:

Directions to the trailhead: Caribou Falls State Park Wayside is located on the north/west side of SR 61 8.5 miles south of Schroeder.  Only a small brown sign marks the parking area for the wayside, so pay attention as you drive.  Turn left to enter the gravel wayside parking area.  The trail starts at an information board at the rear of the parking area.

The hike: Established in 1947, Caribou Falls State Park Wayside is one of 8 state waysides operated by the state of Minnesota.  State parks generally provide a wide range of recreation opportunities such as camping, fishing, swimming, picnicking, and hiking.  State waysides, on the other hand, usually offer only a couple of picnic tables and maybe a short hiking trail or a scenic view.

            This wayside in particular looks like nothing more than a gravel parking area just away from the road, and the lack of signs leading to the wayside would do nothing to change that impression.  However, anyone willing to explore the single path leading out of the parking area will soon come upon a pleasant discovery: 35-foot tumbling Caribou Falls.  In fact, this is one of my favorite North Shore waterfalls because of its natural environment and rocky surroundings.  You can reach the waterfall by hiking the moderate 1 mile trail described here.

Trailhead sign

            Begin at an information board at the rear of the parking area.  The trail heads upstream through second-growth birch-aspen-pine forest with the cascading Caribou River to your left.  At 0.1 miles, you come to a view of the river where a recent landslide can be seen on the other bank.

Landslide area along Caribou River

            Soon the trail begins a steady climb as the river seems to get lower and lower to your left.  A couple of views of the river can be had through the trees, but for the most part the river can be heard more than seen.  When you get high enough, some partially obstructed views of Lake Superior can be had behind you.

Caribou River

            At 0.5 miles, the trail forks.  The trail going right links to the Superior Hiking Trail in another 0.2 miles, but our hike heads left to descend some wooden steps.  As you near the bottom of these steps, Caribou Falls comes into view.  Water in the Caribou River cascades for 35 feet into a large but shallow plunge pool.  Sheer dark grey cliffs line either side of the waterfall, making for a stark background.  When I visited this waterfall on a warm summer afternoon, a few people had congregated at the waterfall’s base to enjoy the cool water, but there were no large crowds, probably because this area has so little signage.

Caribou Falls

            The trail does not loop, so the route you came in on is the only route back to the parking area.  You could hike on to the Superior Hiking Trail, but there are no other major points of interest in the final 0.2 miles.  Thus, after you have enjoyed the water, you should retrace your steps 0.5 miles back up the stairs then downhill to the parking area to complete the hike.