High Falls pedestrian bridge at Tettegouche State Park opens

After several years of closure and construction, the new High Falls pedestrian bridge at Tettegouche State Park opened to the public on Monday, Nov. 24.

The bridge, which spans the Baptism River upstream of the 63-foot High Falls, was replaced during the $1.07 million construction project. The new bridge is made of fiberglass polymer and is elevated five feet above the original, helping make it more resilient to high flooding.

Built in 1988, the previous bridge closed to the public in 2022 after severe flood damage. A subsequent severe flood in 2024 caused the bridge to fully detach on one side.

“The High Falls Bridge has always been a high-traffic, popular spot in the park, so we’re thrilled to have a safe new bridge that visitors can enjoy,” said Katie Foshay, park supervisor at Tettegouche State Park.

In addition to the High Falls bridge, the following areas of the park — closed during the summer 2025 bridge construction — have reopened:

• High Falls trailhead parking lot
• Group camp
• Nature play area
• Multiple hiking trails on the west side of the Baptism River leading to the bridge

The new bridge also means Superior Hiking Trail thru-hikers can take the trail across the Baptism River, rather than requiring a detour.