US Secretary of the Interior designates the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail!
The St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA) is excited to announce that U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt designated The St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail (SLRE National Water Trail) on Thursday, October 22.
The SLRE National Water Trail provides a unique opportunity to explore one of the world’s largest freshwater estuaries. A major tributary to Lake Superior, the trail covers 16.5 miles of the St. Louis River shoreline and over 12,000 acres and sports 11 distinct routes (loops) that cover 73 miles. The designation is part of a broader national announcement that establishes 30 new national recreation trails in 25 states, adding more than 1,275 miles to the National Trails System.
SLRE National Water Trail Trail was designed under the direction of the City of Duluth and 50 MN and WI partners, including the City of Superior. The SLRA began management of the SLRE National Water Trail in 2016 and convenes an Advisory Council to implement the steps of the SLRE National Water Trail Master Plan.
“We are grateful for this National Designation, and we, along with our partners are celebrating this milestone that will help people rebuild their relationship to this amazing treasure,” said Kris Eilers, SLRA Executive Director. “What is most exciting to me about the SLRE National Water Trail is that it is a direct result of decades of work that has been done to clean up the River. It has been a unifying project to collaborate on and I know it will make our River communities an even greater place to live and work, ” Eilers said.
The SLRE National Water Trail is strategically designed to help people connect through different experiences. As the water trail master plan is implemented with partners there will be rustic campsites and improved boat landings added, and people of all backgrounds and abilities will be able to explore the wild places within an urban landscape.
The SLRA would like to thank US Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt, the National Park Service, the City of Duluth, City of Superior, The Advisory Council and all of the partners and supporters who have worked so hard to make this national designation a reality.
Full Color navigational maps are available outside the office at 394 Lake Ave S, Suite 208 Duluth, MN or PDF versions found online at www.stlouisriver.org/national-water-trail-map.
The National Recreation Trails Program is jointly administered by the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, in conjunction with a number of federal and nonprofit partners.
The St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA) is a membership organization committed to supporting the resiliency of the St. Louis River. As river stewards, we are the voice of the River, working together to protect, restore and enhance the St. Louis River. We envision a clean and healthy River with a thriving ecology, economy and community. For more information about the SLRA and the Water Trail Master Plan please visit www.stlouisriver.org/national-water-trail.
