Gooseberry Falls State Park in Minnesota

Geology as an abstract and theoretical science may be exciting to some people, but most of us enjoy geology in its physical expressions in nature. Gooseberry Falls, located in Gooseberry Falls State Park, approximately 13 miles northeast of Two Harbors, Minnesota, is one such physical expression of geology.

Gooseberry Falls and the surrounding park, are located on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Gooseberry Falls State Park, according to a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website, is "the gateway to the North Shore."

Over the years, my wife and I have become deeply interested in the geology of the areas we visit. Our big trip to the Pacific Northwest in 2008 impressed us with the widespread influence of volcanism on the formation of the landscape of the western United States, exemplified in Yellowstone National Park.

An investigation of Gooseberry Falls revealed the same basic geological cause. A different Minnesota DNR website discusses the geology of the park. Geologists believe that Lake Superior is located in an area that millions of years ago, was a zone where the earth's crust split allowing large flows of lava to invade the area, forming a hard volcanic bedrock. The lava flows also shaped the landscape where the present Upper, Middle, and Lower Gooseberry Falls are located. The main volcanic residue is basalt, which can be found in different forms-the hard volcanic rock in Gooseberry Falls State Park, and a columnar form found at Devils Tower in Wyoming. For a little more information on basalt and waterfalls, see my Associated Content article on Palisade Falls near Bozeman, Montana.

Geology aside, Gooseberry Falls State Park is a beautiful place to visit, even on the foggy, rainy day that my wife and I visited the area with some friends. Because of the fog, we could barely see Lake Superior, even though we were a matter of yards from it. Fortunately, the fog lifted and the rain stopped about the time we got to the park.
Although we didn't have the time to explore the park fully, it is historic as well as beautiful. Native Americans, including the Cree, the Dakotah, and the Ojibwe, inhabited the area at different times. The Gooseberry River itself was named either for a French explorer-Sieur des Groseilliers-or after an Indian name, Shab-on-im-I-kan-I-sibi. Both names mean "gooseberries." The logging industry also played a role in the development (or destruction) of the area, including the disappearance of the pine tree. The Minnesota DNR websites are a good source of this history.

In 1933, in an effort to preserve the area for the benefit of all people, not just the wealthy ones, a park, to be officially named Gooseberry Falls State Park in 1937, was created. This was during the time of the Great Depression, and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) became involved in the construction of stone and log buildings in the park. CCC work ended in 1941, but the results of their work can still be seen in the park. The park website notes that over 80 CCC buildings, structures, and objects can be seen in Gooseberry Falls State Park. The website contains pictures of some of the structures.

Gooseberry Falls State Park is not just for sightseeing. The park's website gives an impressive listing of camping and lodging facilities, programs, hiking trails, etc., for both summer and winter months. You can go to the park like we did-to view the falls-or go for a full day or several days to really explore and enjoy the park and its activities. And while you're in the Two Harbors area, stop at Betty's Pies for a great meal and even greater pie!

Sources:

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/gooseberry_falls/index.html
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/gooseberry_falls/narrative.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1107228/visit_palisades_falls_near_bozeman.html?cat=16