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Sunday, July 3, 2011

Minnesota State Park Crisis

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Gooseberry Falls State Park (photo by jhy

from various sources

All Minnesota State Parks are closed until the state budget crisis is resolved. This affects the North Country Trail primarily along the north shore of Lake Superior, and the Superior Hiking Trail section.

State Parks along the route include Jay Cooke (at the MN-WI border), Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, Tettegouche, Crosby-Manitou, Temperance River, Cascade River, and Judge Magney.

Shuttle operator, Harriet Quarles, reports that all gates are closed and water is turned off. Thru-hikers should be able to move through the park on the trail, but no services are available.

The NCT does pass through one other Minnesota SP on the west side of the state, which is Maplewood.

There is no way to predict how long it will take Minnesota to resolve their $5 million gap between proposals of the two political parties. Minnesota Public Radio estimates that park revenue lost on the holiday weekend could be as much as $12 million.

Most segments are on SHTA maps

See Superior Hiking Trail

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