Click here to add your listing to Go-Minnesota.com, Complete the form below to email this page to a friend or family member's email. Click here to view all the guides avialable for Minnesota. Itasca State Park is home to more than 100 lakes and also located near the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Henry Schoolcraft, the first white explorer to recognize Lake Itasca as the head of the Mississippi, named the lake on his 1832 voyage of exploration guided by Anishinabe (Ojibway) people. Itasca Sports is your source for outdoor fun in Itasca State Park! Lake Itasca harbors the headwaters of the Mississippi River. There are 160 sites with electric hookups (up to 60 feet). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Itasca is a kid-friendly vacation that lends itself to quality family outdoor adventures. If you have special dietary restrictions be sure to list them on your registration. Crossing the Mississippi Headwaters at Itasca State Park is a Bemidji-area tradition for many / Democratic Travelers Narrated boat excursions explore Lake Itasca , sharing natural history lessons and pointing out wildlife such as bald eagles that soar above the water. Maples, firs, pines, aspen, and birch dominate the forest within the park. These "stepping stones' (visited by many, many people each year) are actually part of a modification of the first 2000 feet of the Mississippi River by the CCC in the 1930's. Searchable listings of Itasca State Park RV parks and campgrounds. With its variety of nature to explore, no wonder it is a famous North American natural and cultural landmark. Dec 7, 2018 - Explore Stephen Hodgin's board "Itasca State Park" on Pinterest. Return to Main Site. Companies offering kayaking tours of all kinds in Itasca State Park, Minnesota are listed below. An array of birdlife also inhabits the park, including common loons, bald eagles, wood warblers, hawks, and woodpeckers. Climb the 100-foot fire tower, take a refreshing swim, and attend a MN DNR Ranger-led interpretive program. Visitors can walk across the Mississippi River on stones as the stream leaves Lake Itasca. Enjoy games and fun throughout the day, and wind down in the evening with s’mores around the campfire and night hikes under the stars. See more ideas about park rapids, park, rapids. Full information on Itasca State Park Tourist Attractions, Scenic Drives and other easy vacation activities…. If you have a group of people interested, we can set up a customized adventure just for you! In those areas, glaciers gouged out the massive basins that gave form to the Great Lakes, and left records of its melting in the high bluffs along the Mississippi. Jan 5, 2018 - Our family cabin, 8 mi. Itasca State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. Recreation Nearby (within 10 miles) Fishing. There are also 11 backpack sites, 11 … Canoe outings are typically 1-3 hours long. Wilderness Inquiry 808 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, Phone: (612) 676-9400 Fax: (612) 676-9401 Email: info@wildernessinquiry.org. Hiking. Searchable listings of Itasca State Park RV parks and campgrounds. You can send yourself an email as well. Stand under towering pines and visit landmarks of centuries gone by throughout the park. Introduce your family to the joy of outdoor adventure at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota’s Itasca State Park. Companies offering kayaking tours of all kinds in Itasca State Park, Minnesota are listed … In the evening, we’ll prepare our dinner together over stoves and campfires and then finish with s’mores. Many of these lakes and chains slowly dried up over the years, leaving swampy areas scattered throughout the park. All Rights Reserved and. Spend the morning relaxing and enjoying your favorite camp activities. In the late 1800s, Jacob V. Brower, historian, anthropologist and land surveyor, came to the park region to settle the dispute of the actual location of the Mississippi Headwaters. After breakfast, drive to the outlet of Lake Itasca and step across the headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi. Sea to Shining Sea. … Learn how to set up camp, go over safety issues, and begin to explore the park. Itasca State Park today includes over 100 lakes in addition to Lake Itasca. Itasca State Park is a beautiful park and worth a look whether you are visiting for an afternoon or an overnight stay. The park spans 32690acre of northern Minnesota, and is located about 21mi north of Park Rapids, Minnesota and 25mi from Bagley, Minnesota. Begin your tour at a gently flowing stream strewn with small boulders. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however, most people pitch in where they can. Located near the town of Bemidji in northern Minnesota, Itasca State Park (dnr.state.mn.us) is home to 32,000-acre Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River. If you don't own your own equipment, there are still plenty of low-cost ways to get out on the water and see the beauty of Minnesota state parks from beyond the shoreline! (Note: Some groups may camp at nearby Camp Courage North.) Itasca State Park weather report, historic temperatures and climate info,…. Fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and horseback riding can all be found in Itasca. Wildlife includes beaver, woodchucks, snowshoe hares, squirrels (red, gray, and fox), chipmunks, pocket gopher, raccoon, black bear, coyote, red and gray fox, porcupine, bobcat, deer, wolves, and moose. We're happy to answer any questions you have! Several different habitats mingle within this section of the boreal forest, including bogs, grasslands, hardwood stands, coniferous forest, and a mixed forest. Itasca also has many mounds or ‘knobs,’ deposits of silt left by melting glaciers or by streams flowing under the glacier while it was still active. Vacation rentals available for short and long term stay on Vrbo. Below are the Free Visitor Guides for Minnesota Area. If possible, bring your bike to ride the 17-mile paved bike path in the park and for quick trips around the Station. If you are new to outdoor activities, you do not need to spend a lot of money. MEALS: Enjoy preparing meals together using fresh, healthy ingredients for bountiful dishes. We'd love to have your business listed on our site. The Itasca is a tandem performance touring canoe that's built to carry expedition gear through wind and waves. Please contact us or request a trip quote below if you are interested in a group trip to this destination. Your trip officially ends around lunchtime. Take one last paddle, hike, or swim. WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer range from 40° F to 95° F. Rainfall can vary and you should expect the possibility of rain. After dinner get to know your trip mates and make s'mores around the campfire. Copyright © 1997 - 2020 The Go Travel Sites. Searchable listings of Itasca State Park hotels, motels, resorts, bed & breakfast, and more. Introduce your family to the joy of outdoor adventure at the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota’s Itasca State Park. The lakes and rivers of Itasca State Park formed from ice masses left behind after the glaciers retreated, buried under glacial debris. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds, and abilities, including people with disabilities. A day permit or This long, seaworthy hull tracks superbly, carries loads and glides far. ACCOMMODATIONS: At night you will sleep in a comfortable 4 person tent with 3-4 people (other arrangements can be made). Unlike northeastern Minnesota, which lay covered in ice until about 10,000 years ago, Itasca lay under the Wadena Lobe in the last ice age. Those using WI's van transportation can expect to return to Minneapolis in the evening. Because of its many campsites and undeveloped shores, the river is one of the state’s best “wilderness” routes for family canoeists. Click on any listing for detailed information. Climb the 100-foot fire tower, take a refreshing swim, and attend a MN DNR Ranger-led interpretive program. The campsite has a hand pump for water, toilets, and a screened shelter building. The campground with 223 campsites for tents, trailers and RVs. Rent a bike, boat, pontoon, kayak; go fishing and explore over 100 lakes, or walk across the Mississippi River. Visit our Whitewater Rafting coverage for river information. NE of Park Rapids, MN. Through his conservation work and the continuing efforts of others throughout the decades, the splendor of Itasca has been maintained. Looks as if it will be worth it!” ‐Park Visitor from the United Kingdom, 2009 Park Permits A Minnesota State Parks permit is required for each vehicle. WI leads trips to Itasca State Park but currently has no dates scheduled for this itinerary. Itasca State Park offers a wide range of day activity options that are perfect for family vacations. This destination will give you lasting memories. After lunch, pack up for the trip home. Your email and your recipient's email will NOT be shared with anyone. Welcome to Terry Larson's Northern Adventures • Full and half-day fishing trips on the chain of lakes stretching from the source of the Mississippi River in Itasca State Park to the 25 square miles of Cass Lake on the shores of the Chippewa National Forest. The Bison Kill Site along Wilderness Drive in the park gives visitors more history about this period. Activities: Camping, swimming, lake fishing, boating (speed limit restrictions), canoeing, hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, excursion boat tours, nature programs. The park contains groves of towering old pines like Preachers Grove, a 2,000-acre Wilderness Sanctuary (designated as a National Natural Landmark), and Native American burial mounds at the Itasca Indian Cemetery. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Clear waters are rarely interrupted by rapids and although the river is seldom more than three feet deep, it is nearly always deep enough for canoeing. Go-Minnesota.com, part of The Go Travel Sites family, is among the largest websites covering travel and vacationing in Minnesota. We walked along the tree-lined boardwalk in the hot sun and found the outlet of Lake Itasca, where men, women and chil-dren were drawn to the river’s edge. Lake Itasca also has a guided boat tour for a fee. EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: Wilderness Inquiry will provide all group equipment. America's stunning national parks usually get top billing, but they're far from the … YOUR GROUP: The group size ranges from 15 to 28 participants, plus 3 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: An average day’s activities consist of hiking, canoeing and exploring the immediate area. Wilderness Inquiry can usually arrange for you to borrow most items. Like the rest of northern Minnesota, Itasca’s present landscape resulted from burial under and gouging by glacial ice for thousands of years. See our full. The Mississippi River State Water Trail begins its 2,552-mile journey in Itasca State Park. Many waded in the lake’s outflow, while others tried to walk across the Carefully groomed greens shape the face of top North American golfing destination, Brainerd, though this central Minnnesota city is also close to a handful of historic sites and sparkling lakes. A moraine is a mound of sand, gravel and other debris left behind as a glacier melts and recedes. The land itself is a glacial moraine left during the last ice age. As the climate changed and temperatures increased, the ice melted, leaving behind a watery chain of lakes, streams, and shallow basins. With the large number of lakes in the park, there is also opportunites for canoeing, boating, fishing, and swimming. ... Our 2 night camping cost $86...only California has charged me more at a state park. The lake is popular for fishing year round. Revel in the unspoiled wilderness that contains pine trees more than 200 years old. You will need to provide your personal gear as outlined in the packing list. To request a listing, please fill out the form below and press "Submit.". Brower’s tireless efforts to save the remaining pine forest surrounding Lake Itasca led the state legislature to establish Itasca as Minnesota’s first state park on April 20, 1891, by a margin of only one vote. Portages in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness became unpassable. Use our easy Lodging Search to find exactly the type of accommodation you are looking for at the right price. There is nothing like being out in one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes with a paddle in your hand. Itasca’s topography remains more subtle than that found to the east or south. In the evening, attend an entertaining State Park interpretive program on the early explorers. Minnesota DNR - Official Itasca State Park Page, Bemidji Visitors and Convention Bureau Homepage, Mississippi Headwaters Board - About the River, Learn about the benefits of taking your children camping. You will pass white and red pine, oaks, maples, birch and aspen that support diverse wildlife. They are fast and stable boats, designed specifically for big water, and have enough space for young children to sit comfortably with an adult. Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Explore a natural national landmark and Minnesota's oldest state park. Special Features: Established in 1891, Itasca is the oldest state park in Minnesota. High quality Itasca State Park gifts and merchandise. Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest state park, covers 32,000 acres around the headwaters of the 2,552-mile-long Mississippi River. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Kayaking/Canoeing. Lake Itasca We arrived at Lake Itasca State Park, in northern Minnesota, early Satur-day afternoon, June 9. Enjoy mature forests of old growth pine and birch surrounding clear, pristine lakes. After lunch, learn about canoeing and go for a paddle on Elk Lake. Looking for a family-friendly vacation? Canoe Creek State Park The beautiful, 961-acre Canoe Creek St ate Park features a 155-acre lake, wetlands, old fields, and mature forests, which provide critical habitat for migrating birds and other wildlife. Explore destinations near Itasca State Park. Established in 1891, Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park. Continue to Mobile Site See more ideas about itasca state park, itasca, state parks. Opportunities to explore extend well beyond the Station limits. Plan a Trip Minnesota Park Rapids Itasca/Bear Paw More Campgrounds Nearby. Its first 50 miles are narrow, sometimes just five to 10 feet wide, and have few signs of development. Swimming, fishing, canoeing, biking and hiking within Itasca State Park are excellent. Hikers enjoy the trails that wind through the many habitats. The ABC’s of Touring Itasca State Park (by Auto, Boot, Bike, Boat or Canoe) “Big detour to get here. Spend some time at extensive visitor center of Minnesota's oldest state park. 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