August 4-6, 2021

ITASCA STATE PARK

36750 Main Park Drive, Park Rapids, MN 56470

“Itasca State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The park spans 32,690 acres of northern Minnesota, and is located about 21 miles north of Park Rapids, Minnesota and 25 miles from Bagley, Minnesota.” Wikipedia

Growing up in Iowa my family used to camp and fish on the Mississippi River in the northeastern part of the state. I have always been fascinated by its majestic beauty. When deciding what I wanted to see on my visit to the state of Minnesota I knew I wanted to see the Mississippi headwaters on Lake Itasca.

The visit almost didn’t happen as I was having difficulty finding a place to camp in the area. I finally found a camping spot right in the state park for two nights. This campsite provided me a new experience as the only ammenity that was available was 50 amp electricity. I survived!

I set out early in the morning (but not too early) to find the headwaters. When I arrived there were about five or six cars in the parking lot. As I walked the trail towards the headwaters I could feel my anticipation grow, a short foot bridge offered me my first view of the river. Next to the bridge were steps leading down into the river, allowing interested visitors to wade across the Mighty Mississippi. I continued down the path, turned the corner, and there it was, the starting point of the river that ends some 2552 miles south when it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. To my amazement I had the headwaters all to myself and I took advantage of the situation by snapping up pictures, but I did sit for a second and soak up the almost spiritual ambiance I felt in the area.

I finished my morning by running some errands. Around 1 pm I again set out to explore the park. When I drove by the parking lot at the headwaters was almost filled to capacity. I felt so lucky that I had stopped in the morning.

There is much more to Itasca State Park than the headwaters. I drove the Wilderness Road, which for the most part was a narrow, one-way, winding road through some dense forested area. I stopped two or three times to take in the natural beauty of the area. I had been told there was a possibility of seeing deer and on rare occasions a black bear, but I experienced more problems dodging the bicyclists than wildlife.

On my last day in the park I took a Lake Itasca boat tour. The 1 hour and 45 minute tour of the lake was well worth the time and money. It was a beautiful morning, and the lake was calm. As we made our way from our port on the south end of the lake to the headwaters at the north end of the lake, a tour guide explained the history of the area and directed our attention to many points of interest. On the way back we did see some bald eagles, ospreys, and loons. My biggest take away besides just the beautiful scenery, was I learned that wild rice grows in the northern Minnesota lakes. I honestly did not know where wild rice comes from.

I really wished I could have spent a few more days in Itasca State Park.