By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - June 25, 2025

Rehabilitation work on the historic Cascade River Wayside area will begin on June 25, 2025, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). The wayside, situated at the mouth of the Cascade River on Lake Superior along Highway 61, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in June 2003.

 Photo: MnDOT

The wayside, constructed between 1934 and 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and MnDOT before Cascade State Park was designated, was designed by Arthur R. Nichols. The wayside includes a trail loop up the river with a bridge crossing, which remains accessible from the street. Other features include a 535-foot stone overlook wall, parking on both sides of the highway, and steps providing access to the ledge rock shoreline on both sides of the river. The overlook wall is integrated with the bridge over the Cascade River, which was realigned during the wayside's original construction. 

The initial phase of the project begins today, June 25, 2025, and involves masonry repairs to the overlook wall. According to MnDOT, a lower retaining wall, built on the ledge rock shore in the 1980s, is currently in poor condition. Stones from the lower shore-level retaining wall will be salvaged for reuse. During this time, the overlook wall and stairs leading to the shore will be closed, but no other traffic impacts are expected this year. The work is anticipated to conclude in August 2025. 

Photo: MnDOT 

Work on additional projects is scheduled for next summer. These include drainage enhancements, paving in the lakeside parking area, the addition of a new walk along the lake overlook, construction of a new stair on the west (south) side of the river, repairs to the eastern stair, and upgrades to pedestrian crossings. Temporary daytime traffic impacts will be required for short durations. Throughout the project, parts of the parking areas may be barricaded for contractor use, while some parking will remain available. All construction will adhere to the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties.

A separate future project, currently in the design phase with construction projected to begin in 2028, will focus on an accessible overlook and pedestrian improvements. Plans include reconstructing the gravel pedestrian path on the shoulders in the north and southeast quadrants of the site. A new pedestrian crossing will be installed on the east side of the river, and a new accessible overlook for viewing Lake Superior will be added. Construction updates from MnDOT are expected to be released later this summer.