Take a spin down Rushing Rapids Scenic Byway to explore the rugged landscape of the lower St. Louis River. On this nine-mile stretch between Carlton and Duluth, root-beer brown rapids rumble and swoosh toward Lake Superior passing through triangular rocks that thrust up from the riverbed.
Start with a stop at Thomson Reservoir, a hidden gem east of Carlton on the north side of Highway 210. Whitewater rafting trips finish their upriver adventures here. Flat-water paddlers enjoy the reservoir's calmer waters, tour around the islands and enjoying fishing. The biggest show is below the Thomson dam, where kayakers and canoeists paddle in a canyon setting through spectacular whitewater. Trails and overlooks offer quick peeks at the action or full-day hikes.
The river's rapids have been legendary since the days of Voyageurs when they had to portage seven miles inland to calmer waters before paddling toward the Mississippi. You can hike parts of the original portage among the 50 miles of easy-to-difficult trails threading through 8,818-acre Jay Cooke State Park. Cooke had the vision to harness the rapids more than a century ago. What became Minnesota's largest hydro-electric dam still generates enough electricity for a city of 100,000 people.
Take a walk across the state park's iconic swinging bridge, and you can feel it rumbling below. It sways and jiggles as hikers and skiers head across to trails. Bikers can choose challenging park terrain or the paved Willard Munger State Trail, which follows a ridge north of the river from Carlton into Duluth.
Late May and September rank as favorite times to visit the byway. Spring hikers seek swaths of large white trilliums and a hillside of yellow lady's slippers. Autumn visitors head to the colorful spectacle at Oldenburg Point, a short walk from the park's picnic area. Shades of orange, gold and dark green paint the rolling 1,200-foot hills that flank the valley. Below it all rumbles the St. Louis River. Steady. Powerful. Beautifully wild.
[Sources: Kris Hiller, Jay Cooke State Park naturalist, 218-384-4610, Randy Carlson, 218-726-6177, rcarlso6@d.umn.edu, National Kayak Center]