Superior and Amnicon Falls

On Sunday we headed up Highway 53 from Trego to Superior. After much prior research we decided to stay at the Northland Camping and RV Park just northeast of the intersection of 53 with Highway 13.  Our intent is to explore the Duluth/Superior area but we found few campgrounds in the area.  This one was located just at the south edge of town and should provide us easy access to the area.

 Most sites are pull throughs and are level. Our cost for full hookups for a week is $186. Nightly camping is $31 (we saved $5 per night by opting for the weekly rate). The campground is about 2 miles south of Superior and is on a gravelled multi-use trail (ATV/snowmobile/bicycle/hike/etc). The trail is on an old rail bed.

On Monday we took a 4 mile trip south to Amnicon Falls State Park. It was a spectacular day with clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s. The park is named for the Amnicon (derived from the Ojibway word for "where fish spawn") River which falls 180 feet in less than 2 miles within the park. The river flows into Lake Superior from its origins to the south in Douglas County. Inside the park the river splits into 3 streams and descends over 3 waterfalls.

Once the last glaciers melted forming Lake Superior, Mastodons were hunted here by native peoples over 9000 years ago. Old Copper Culture Native Americans walked this area from 5000 BC to 500 AD. Woodland Native Americans followed. When the Europeans explored the area, the Ojibway made their homes here. Civilization "Up North" has gone downhill ever since.

For you budding rock hounds, the park has a very interesting geology. A short walk through the park reveals a billion years of geologic activity. About a half billion years ago a great earthquake struck here resulting in what is known as the much studied Douglas Fault. Basalt from ancient lava flows is evident as well as Lake Superior sandstone. Millions of years ago great oceans covered Wisconsin including this area. Now we have billboards and tourist traps.

Also of interest in the park is the Horton Bridge.

 The covered bridge is 55 feet long and spans the Amnicon at the Lower Falls. It is an historically significant bow-string bridge which uses arched beams secured with hooks and clips rather than the traditional rivets and bolts. Only 5 other such Horton bridges (named after the designer, Charles Horton) exit. The bridge was moved from a local road to the park in 1930 and a roof was added in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The bridge was once lit and used for dances. Today the bridge is still popular for weddings.

The park includes a 36 unit primitive campground. A few of the sites can handle large RVs. Electricity is not available at any site.

There will be a written test to follow!