After several years of closure and construction, the new High Falls pedestrian bridge at Tettegouche State Park opens to the public on Monday, Nov. 24.
The bridge, which spans the Baptism River upstream of the 63-foot High Falls, was completely replaced during the $1.07 million construction project. The new bridge is made of fiberglass polymer and is elevated five feet above the original, helping make it more resilient to high flooding.
Built in 1988, the previous bridge closed to the public in 2022 after severe flood damage. A subsequent severe flood in 2024 caused the bridge to fully detach on one side.
“The High Falls Bridge has always been a high-traffic, popular spot in the park, so we’re thrilled to have a safe new bridge that visitors can enjoy,” said Katie Foshay, park supervisor at Tettegouche State Park.
In addition to the High Falls bridge, the following areas of the park — closed during the summer 2025 bridge construction — have reopened:
- High Falls trailhead parking lot
- Group camp
- Nature play area
- Multiple hiking trails on the west side of the Baptism River leading to the bridge
The new bridge also means Superior Hiking Trail thru-hikers can take the trail across the Baptism River, rather than requiring a detour.
About Tettegouche State Park
Established in 1979, Tettegouche State Park is located 5 miles north of Silver Bay on Minnesota’s iconic North Shore. The more than 9,000-acre park contains a unique combination of natural features: rugged, semi-mountainous terrain, Lake Superior shoreline and rocky cliffs, inland lakes, cascading rivers and waterfalls and an undisturbed northern hardwood forest. To learn more, visit the DNR’s Tettegouche webpage.