OutdoorMN News - Caribou Falls State Wayside on the North Shore to be temporarily closed for improvements

[Rick]

The Caribou Falls State Wayside on Minnesota State Highway 61 north of Little Marais, Minn. will be temporarily closed for six to eight weeks beginning mid-August while improvements are made to the site. The project will include the addition of 25 parking spaces, installation of a vault toilet, and upgrading the trail to the Caribou River to improve accessibility.

The Caribou Falls State Wayside is one of five state waysides along the North Shore that are managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). These waysides are generally parcels of land too small to be full-fledged state parks, but with cultural or natural resources that exceed most highway waysides and rest areas.

“This wayside is well-used by visitors to see the Caribou Falls, access the Superior Hiking Trail, fish for trout in the Caribou River, or take a break from driving to take in the view of Lake Superior,” said district supervisor, Christa Maxwell. “Upgrading the parking and trail accessibility will improve safety at the site and better serve the public’s needs.”

During the construction, visitors are encouraged to use the Ray Berglund State Wayside located 16 miles north on State Highway 61 as an alternate rest location. The Caribou Falls State Wayside will be signed during the closure and people are asked to avoid the construction area.

The project is funded by the Federal Transportation Alternative Program with matching dollars from the Legacy Parks & Trails Fund which was created after voters approved the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November 2008. The Parks and Trails Fund receives 14.25 percent of the sales tax revenue and may only be spent to support parks and trail of regional or statewide significance.

Questions about the Caribou Falls State Wayside project can be directed to Christa Maxwell at the DNR’s Two Harbors area parks and trails office at 218-834-1429.

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