Soo Line Trail–Northern Route, Minnesota
The Soo Line Bridge is the landmark of the
tiny hamlet of Palisade, Minn. The Soo Line
Railroad once made its crossing over the
Mississippi River there, and today, the corridor
is home to the Soo Line North Trail, which trav-
els 148 miles through forest and bog between
Moose Lake in the south and Cass Lake in
the north. The trail, which is popular with all-
terrain­vehicles in the summer and snowmobiles
in the winter, runs through three National
Forests and offers countless opportunities for
wildlife sightings.
The current configuration of the trestle was
completed in 1964, but the structure’s history
dates back to 1910, when the Minneapolis Steel
and Machinery Co. first erected the main truss.
The characteristic crisscross pattern joining the
beams hints at its age; it is an architectural ele-
ment that is common in bridges built near the
turn of the 20th century.
Steamboats once navigated the Mississippi
River under the Soo Line Bridge, which necessi-
tated bridge fenders on the piers that still remain
today and add to the structure’s iconic image.
High Bridge Trail, Virginia
Nestled in the heart of
Virginia is the 32-mile High
Bridge Trail, a trail steeped in
history. One of its most prominent moments
took place during the April 1865 Battle of
High Bridge at the tail end of the Civil War.
While neither the North nor the South came
away a definitive victor, the trestle was a clear
loser, with sections burned to the ground and
much of the structure damaged. Five months
later, the trestle was restored and used by
the Norfolk Southern Railway for decades
to transport both goods and people. Today,
thousands of individuals visit High Bridge
Trail State Park, and ride or walk over the
2,400-
foot-long converted trestle.
“
Visitors come from all over to see High
Bridge and learn about its history,” says
Kristy Vaught, spokesperson for High Bridge
Trail State Park, adding that while the his-
toric element is certainly a draw for many,
the scenery is what truly captivates visitors.
“
The view from the bridge is quite stunning,”
Vaught says.
virginia state parks (2)
peter ladd
22
rails
to
trails
u
winter.15