Itasca State Park
Minnesota is home to a number of scenic state parks, but the largest and most popular is Itasca State Park. The park always has something for everyone, boasting old growth forests, crystal-clear streams and lakes perfect for watersports.
Itasca State Park is a 46,000-acre state park in Minnesota that occupies the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The park offers camping, fishing and hiking. Visit the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center to learn about the natural and cultural history of the area. This outdoor interpretive center is open all year round and is recommended as the starting point of your trek to the headwaters area.
At Douglas Lodge, you may sit back and relax with a cup of coffee while watching local wildlife which includes a variety of birds, including loons, cormorants, grebes, hummingbirds, finches, and warblers. Take a drive across Wilderness Drive to appreciate big north woods pines, or go on the beautiful Bohall and Nicollet hiking trails for a walk. This makes for one of the better weekend trips you can have in Minnesota for outdoor adventures. In the winter, you can take on cross-country skiing if you’re up for braving the cold weather and snowy conditions.
- Best Time To Visit: The Fall
- Best Places To Stay: HI Mississippi Headwaters Hostel, Bert's Cabins, Half Moon Trail
- Website: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=spk00181
- Tripadvisor Rating: 5.0/5
- Location: Park Rapids, Minnesota
