Jay Cooke State Park

Jay Cooke State Park is a Minnesota state park managed by State Park and Recreation, about 1.4 miles from the small community of Brownell. Several cross-country ski trails start within a mile of the park's center, so it serves as a practical base for winter outings as well as warmer-season visits. Typical averages from the weather station in Cloquet, about 8.6 miles away, show a long, cold winter. January highs average 18°F with lows near 2°F, and December and February stay in the low to mid 20s for highs. That steady cold lines up with the ski trails close by. Spring warms quickly: April highs reach about 50°F, May about 64°F. Summer is mild, with July averaging highs of 79°F and lows around 54°F. September cools to highs near 67°F, and by November highs drop to about 35°F. Precipitation is spread fairly evenly through the year. The wettest stretch is June, with about 13 wet days, followed by May, July and October at around 12 each. The C.C.C. Trail and the Superior Hiking Trail both lie about 0.1 mile away, and the Silver Creek Trail and East Ridge Trail are roughly 0.6 mile out. Climbers can reach Ely's Peak and Trailside Boulders, each about 5 miles from the park.