Superior Hiking Trail - Wild Valley Road to Jay Cooke SP Visitor Center

Description

The first half mile or so is a road walk until you reach the south border of the park. Trail is relatively rugged where it routes through the southern part of Jay Cooke State Park. The hiking becomes easier once the SHT starts following established state park trails. Some spectacular views of the St. Louis River.

Trail Connections

Superior Hiking Trail - MN/WI Border to Wild Valley Road Trailhead
Superior Hiking Trail - Jay Cooke State Park Visitor Center to the Grand Portage Trailhead
Jay Cooke State Park
Willard Munger State Trail - Accessible via spur trail from the west end of the Jay Cooke State Park Visitor Center parking lot.

Trail Access/Parking

Wild Valley Road. The trailhead parking lot is about 1,800 feet up Wild Valley Road (aka Mountain Goat Road) from Minnesota Highway 23. Wild Valley Road is hilly and has a gravel surface.

Jay Cooke State Park Visitor Center parking lot.

Restrooms/Water Available

Jay Cooke State Park (near the Visitor Center). Also possible to filter water from Silver Creek and the St. Louis River (difficult).

Campsites in this Section: Three

It is possible to reserve campsites in the state park in advance. There is a fee. These three sites are all fairly close to the Superior Hiking Trail.
High Landing Campsite
Ash Ridge Campsite
Lost Lake Campsite

Scenic Overlook Spur Trails in this Section

Spur Trail to Jay Cooke State Park Overlook - View toward the north from ridgeline in the southern part of the park.
High Landing in Jay Cooke State Park. This is a 0.1 mile out and back hike to a spectacular view of a bend in the St. Louis River.

Realtime Section Video (hiked south to north)

This video shows the section of the Superior Hiking Trail from the Wild Valley Road Trailhead to the Jay Cooke State Park Visitor Center.

This Section - Mile by Mile

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Mile 0.0 (section) (1.9 SHT): Wild Valley Road Trailhead

Trail mileage sign in the parking lot on Wild Valley Road.

Mile 0.1 (section) (2.0 SHT): Wild Valley Road View

View down Wild Valley Road. Minnesota Highway 23 visible in the distance.

Mile 1.4 (section) (3.3 SHT): View along SHT in south part of Jay Cooke State Park

Typical stretch of trail. This is in November.

Mile 2.0 (section) (3.9 SHT): Unnamed creek crossing.

Trail crosses this tiny creek in the south end of Jay Cooke State Park.

Mile 2.5 (section) (4.4 SHT): Spur Trail to Overlook of Jay Cooke State Park.

Start of the spur trail that leads to an overlook of Jay Cooke State Park.

Mile 2.7 (section) (4.6 SHT): Intersection with Bear Chase Trails at Point 41.

Point 41 trail intersection. SHT meets up with the Bear Chase Trails here, which are some fairly remote trails in Jay Cooke State Park.

Mile 3.6 (section) (5.5 SHT): Silver Creek crossing.

The little bridge that crosses the creek.

Mile 3.6 (section) (5.5 SHT): Silver Creek.

A look at Silver Creek from the bridge.

Mile 4.4 (section) (6.3 SHT): View of St. Louis River from the Silver Creek Trail in Jay Cooke State Park.

Several views of the river can be had along the Silver Creek Trail.

Mile 5.8 (section) (7.7 SHT): Swing Bridge over the St. Louis River in Jay Cooke State Park.
The historic Swing Bridge. Signature feature of Jay Cooke State Park.

Mile 5.8 (section) (7.7 SHT): Another view of the Swing Bridge.
Another look at the bridge. This is from just downhill of the visitor center.

Continue hiking next section of the SHT: Jay Cooke State Park Visitor Center to the Grand Portage TH