A new, sturdier bridge at a scenic river spot has opened to the public at a popular Minnesota North Shore state park.
The High Falls pedestrian bridge over the Baptism River opened Monday at Tettegouche State Park near Silver Bay, which gets more than 600,000 visitors annually.
Construction began on the new bridge last summer. The bridge is upriver of the 63-foot High Falls.
The new span, which cost more than $1 million, is made of fiberglass polymer and is elevated 5 feet higher the original — both features that should make it more resilient to flooding, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The original bridge, built in 1988, was regularly hammered by flooding through the years, and it closed in 2022. It was further damaged by water in June 2024.
The new bridge’s unveiling also reopens the High Falls trailhead parking lot and trails to the west of the river that lead to the bridge. A group camp and nature play area also have reopened. Also, Superior Hiking Trail users no longer have a lengthy detour.
