Looks like the swing bridge is gone at Jay Cooke State Park

[MuleShack]

Just saw this picture on another forum.

those planning on camping there this summer wont get across the river this way.

[Kettle]

Unreal!!!

Kettle

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Bummer! We are going in August and were looking forward to the bridge based on recommendations from others. Never been there before.

[Scott M]

Oh my god...never thought I'd see the day. I fell in love with state parks after visiting Jay Cooke as a kid and walking over the Root Beer colored St. Louis frothing white in the rocks far, far below.

[upnorth]

I am pretty sure that is not the original swinging bridge. I remember a different one from when I was a kid. I am also pretty sure it will be rebuilt.

There is a lot of damage to the area. I am not sure you can access much of Jay Cooke right now. There is at least one stretch of hwy 210 completely washed out, not to mention the wash out by the Thompson Dam bridge.

[Jim Almquist]

I was talking to the CO that was taking pictures for Home Land security this afternoon. The shots you see of the bridge washed out were taken by him and he thinks the Hwy 210 bridge is going to have to be rebuilt. All you see running around is dump trucks and belly dumpers along with the guys from the railroad. They have to rebuild the rail lines were it washed out the sides of the tracks.

[Stick in Mud]

Yeah, I believe the original bridge was also washed out by a flood. Not sure how this flood compares to that one, though.

Pretty amazing to think about that much water, though. I was up on the North Shore for all the rain, and those rivers were NUTS. Absolutely beautiful, but also difficult knowing how destructive that water can be.

For point of comparison, you couldn't tell there was a sink hole up at Devil's Kettle in Magney SP. River went right over it. Incredible.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

We have reservations for the end of August. I wonder if they will be open by then.

[MuleShack]

We have reservations for the end of August. I wonder if they will be open by then.

There is a write up in the outdoor news that said something about july 9th opening. It sounded like the campgrounds would be open by then. If you get that paper check it out.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I wish the HSOforum would give more info other than "park closed due to flooding".

I see their schedule of events are running starting July 13th, so that is a good sign.

[upnorth]

Well their are major washouts on on the HWY going into the Park if that helps. Check out the Duluth News Tribune there are pics that may still be available.

[woodsmanmn]

From the 7/3 edition of the Duluth NewsTribune -

Jay Cooke State Park probably will be closed for the remainder of the summer in the wake of flood-related washouts along Minnesota Highway 210, said Gary Hoeft, park manager.

“We’re fully expecting to not be open for the summer,” Hoeft said.

[Jim Almquist]

In the Duluth News Tribune they reported that all reservation are cancelled through October 31. 2012. The biggest problem is getting the roads rebuilt. There is some major damage in a couple of different part of Hwy 210.

[MuleShack]

From some of the pictures they posted on their FB page and seeing photos on other media pages, that canyon where 210 used to be is going to take a lot of ground to fill. And that is only one area, seen another picture where the st louis carved a huge gouge out of the side of the same road farther down.

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

Yep, got the email from the DNR a couple days ago saying they were canceling our reservation for Aug. 26th. We are now searching our other options for two camper cabins. Might need to change our date to get anything

[itchmesir]

There's always Wisconsin.. tons of camping up there in the Hayward area.. would imagine you could find something to accommodate

[Whoaru99]

I was talking to the CO that was taking pictures for Home Land security this afternoon. The shots you see of the bridge washed out were taken by him and he thinks the Hwy 210 bridge is going to have to be rebuilt. All you see running around is dump trucks and belly dumpers along with the guys from the railroad. They have to rebuild the rail lines were it washed out the sides of the tracks.

I wonder why "they" need pictures of a washed out bridge in a state park?

[highlife4me]

The Department of Home Land Security deals with natural disasters also.