Jay Cooke State Park Campground
Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
Reviewed May. 25, 2017

An Unexpected Treat

Located just a short drive from Duluth, MN, this state park has something to offer anyone: hiking, camping, cycling, and gnarly whitewater kayaking. The campground is nestled tightly into the woods, a little crowded, but the sites feel spacious and nearly private.  The campsites offer the usual amenities, picnic table, campfire ring, but they really excel in their full-scale recycling program and self-service bike tune up stations.  

The bathrooms and showers were very clean -- I even found a park ranger cleaning and working on the toilet at 10 pm!  After a week-long paddle in Voyageurs National Park, we pulled into this campground late in the evening simply in search of a hot shower and place to stay for the night...and found a whole lot more when we awoke in the morning!

The visitors center, just a short walk away, offers interpretive programs, miles of hiking trails, and a swinging bridge over the beautiful St. Louis River gorge. 

Reservations are required year round, and the website is easy to use https://reservations1.usedirect.com/MinnesotaWebHome/. Campground was amazingly busy in early May, so I would recommend reservations for the high season.

Site80
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017
  • Review photo of Jay Cooke State Park Campground by Shari  G., May 25, 2017