Heading North? State Parks are open

State parks along the shore began opening Thursday for the first time since the July 1 shutdown. Gooseberry Falls State Park opened its gates Thursday afternoon with camping resumed by evening. Campsites and picnic areas needed to be mowed first.

Tettegouche, Temperance River and George H. Crosby Manitou allowed in campers Thursday and amenities such as running water were ready by evening. Tettegouche had 10 to 15 rustic site campers by early afternoon.

Cascade River State Park is partially open as of Friday morning, with some amenities in the process of being restored. Same with Judge Magney.

Despite the shutdown, parks like Gooseberry, Cascade and Grand Portage continued to receive visitor traffic and the clean-up in some cases has been extensive. Travis Novitsky at Grand Portage said they spent Thursday cleaning up trash and windfalls, but they are fully open today.