Exploring Minnesota

Superior National Forest in northeast Minnesota has pristine rivers and lakes. In the town of Ely, you can find the International Wolf Center a great place to begin exploring this landscape.

The International Wolf Center near Ely is an educational center promoting and supporting the survival of wolves. There are hands-on exhibits, demonstrations of wolf tracking methods, and information of all kinds on wolves, You can learn about the natural history of wolves by observing the resident wolf pack. Among the different programs here are the Wolf Photography Workshops. Overnight visits can also be arranged.

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is also in the forest and is popular with paddlers in the U.S. and Canada. It is right on the border between the two countries and is a great area for taking kayaking and backcountry canoe trips. There is also excellent fishing. The wildlife here is plentiful and includes bears, moose, and wolves.

Voyageurs National Park is a backcountry park that can be accessed by air or water. It is an excellent place for boating, canoeing, fishing, and other kinds of outdoor activities. There is a lot of wildlife to see such as bears, moose, loons, and more.

It also includes one of the best campgrounds in Minnesota along the shoreline the Wooden Frog Campground.

Ely lies deep in northern Minnesota and is surrounded by hundreds of lakes and thick forests. It offers easy access to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Ely is popular with kayakers and water explorers. Take the time to check out downtown Ely and the local art centers. The town’s main street is lined with galleries and shops selling many different items including artwork. You can find great places to dine or rest at Internet cafes and coffeehouses,

The North American Bear Center educates visitors about black bears. You’ll learn about ecology, bear behavior, and bears. At the Bear Center is a mural showing the wildlife in the area, A wall of windows overlooks the bear enclosure that includes waterfalls and a pond, Exhibits have background sounds and video footage.

The Musinger Clemens Gardens in St. Cloud is the place in the summertime where you can enjoy 80,000 annual plants. These are trees, benches, swings, fountains, and ponds, The gardens have over 1,100 rose bushes and an all-white garden with white flowers and flowering shrubs. Every other Sunday there is Music in the Garden and the annual Art Fair in the Gardens that features artists and musicians from all over the state.

Itasca State Park is the oldest state park in Minnesota and includes wild lands and lakes among them the headwaters of the Mississippi River. There are hiking trails, fire towers, and old-growth Red Pine forests. The Wilderness Drive and Bike Route is a one-way trail looping through the park. Overnight accommodations include campsites, lodges, cabins, and the year-round Mississippi Headwaters Hostel. You can get information and begin exploring at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center and the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center.

Lake Itasca is small but since it is the headwaters of the Mississippi it is one of the most important natural locations in the state. It is located in Clearwater County and includes the University of Minnesota Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories campus. Boaters love the lake and it is stocked with game fish.

Gooseberry Falls State Park is located on the north shore of Lake Superior. It is beautiful any time of the year and has a great cross-country ski trail system. There are many hiking trails for summertime. In the spring the waterfalls are at their fullest. The park is near Duluth. The Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls of the Gooseberry River plunge through a magnificent gorge. Altogether there are five waterfalls to enjoy and the amazing Civilian Conservation Corps log and stone structures.

Lake Superior is gigantic and the largest of the Great Lakes. The 256-mile Superior Hiking Trail is very popular as well as the Gitchi Gami paved biking trail. Fishing for trout, salmon, and other fish is a sport enjoyed here.

Grand Portage is home to High Falls the largest waterfall in Minnesota at 120 feet high. It is located on the tip of Minnesota’s Arrowhead. There are endless trails to enjoy that stretch through forests and along shorelines. You can enjoy them on foot or by bike and in the winter on a snowmobile. Visitors enjoy the Grant Portage Lodge and Casino with gaming tables, restaurants, and entertainment.

Pipestone National Monument is located in the southwest. It was a sacred quarrying location of Native American tribes sourcing the rock for special stone pipes. At the site, you can see red pipestone and an active quarry that represents the traditional quarrying methods of Native Americans. At the information center, cultural demonstrations take place.

Bemidji is the first city on the Mississippi River and the birthplace of Paul Bunyan and his famous ox Babe. In northern Minnesota, there are many activities for visitors. There is hiking in the Northwoods or boating on one of the local lakes. In the wintertime, ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other outdoor activities. Bemidji hosts cultural attractions from concerts to locally themed museums.