Jay Cooke State Park

If anyone ever tries to tell you that Minnesota is somehow considered "flyover country," I would say that you are morally required to inform them about the existence of Jay Cooke State Park.

Not only is it massive and criss-crossed with 50 miles of hiking trails, but it's also home to geological expeditions and the famous "Swinging Bridge" that date back to the 1800s. All of that is just icing on top of the cake that is the landscape, which can only be described as...well, look at the photos and see for yourself.

"Flyover country" is a lie. Minnesota rules.

A wide and elevated panorama of a massive river flowing down rapids through autumn-colored trees under a cloudy sky. Hazy hills can be seen in the distance. A rock formation in a still portion of a wide river. Trees are in the background. A river flows over a section of rapids. Rocks jut up in the middle, and orange trees form a barrier on the right side. In the background, more trees line the riverbank as the water curves. A large, brightly-colored tree with orange leaves stands in the midst of a lush, green forest. Seen through a gap in the brush, a river flows swiftly past rock formations. A river cuts through thick, autumn forest. Wide shot from above, with trees in the foreground. Hazy layers of hills, covered in trees, extend into the distance. In the middle of them, flowing right to left, a wide river. Through the trees, past a wooden fence, a massive river cuts through the dense Minnesotan north woods. Hundreds of rocks scatter in the rapids. Green and blue tones highlight the water of the river and the angled, sharp edges of the rock formations. On the right, tall conifers stretch into the cloudy sky. Dozens of small waterfalls crest over black rocks in the middle of a Minnesotan landscape.

A lot of these photos are available as prints on my Etsy page if you're interested in displaying these (and supporting your local Minnesota-obsessed photographer). You can order yours here.