The park is in a rocky and rugged location where the Cascade River descends to meet Lake Superior.

Cascade River State Park is also connected to the Superior Hiking Trail.

One of the projects was a huge 535 feet (163 m) overlook wall, built from locally quarried gabbro.

[2] The roadside development plans were drawn by Arthur R. Nichols and Harold E. Olson.

The development work was supervised and inspected not just by National Park Service employees, but also by members of the Minnesota Highway Department, staff of the Minneapolis Park Board, Civilian Conservation Corps individuals, members of the Minnesota Legislature, and some Canadian officials.