Minnesota Itasca State Park
No end of things to do in this scenic area, including seeing where the Mississippi River begins as just a stream
Established in 1891, Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park. Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Walk across the mighty Mississippi as it starts its winding journey 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Stand under towering pines at Preacher's Grove. Visit the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann's Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by. Camp under the stars, or stay the night at the historic Douglas Lodge or cabins. Explore Wilderness Drive past the 2,000-acre Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Minnesota's seven National Natural Landmarks.
Walk across the mighty Mississippi as it starts its winding journey 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.
Stand under towering pines at Preacher's Grove. Visit the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann's Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by. Camp under the stars, or stay the night at the historic Douglas Lodge or cabins. Explore Wilderness Drive past the 2,000-acre Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Minnesota's seven National Natural Landmarks. Bring or rent bicycles and tour up to 17 miles of paved trail which including a mile long wooden bridge over a lowland and opportunities to visit the famous headwaters of the Mississippi and other park landmark. Refreshment breaks or meals at the Douglas lodge or new Mary Gibb Headwaters Restaurant and gift shop add to the enjoyment of the park.
Itasca Sport Rental facility offers bicycles, boat/motor, pontoons, canoes/kayaks for in park recreational enjoyment.
Naturalist programs are available at Itasca State Park year-round.
Wildlife
The diversity of vegetation in Itasca State Park supports many wildlife species. Birding is excellent and visitors are encouraged to help spot and record the bird life they see in the park. Some birds you can expect to see include loons, grebes, cormorants, herons, ducks, owls, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, kinglets, vireos, tanagers, finches, and warblers. Trails in the park are shared with deer, chipmunks, and squirrels. Beaver, porcupine, black bears, and wolves also reside in the park.
History
Some 8,000 years ago, Indian hunters pursued wild animals for food in the Itasca State Park region. These early people ambushed bison, deer, and moose at watering sites and killed them with stone-tipped spears. The Bison Kill site along Wilderness Drive in the park gives visitors more history about this period. A few thousand years later, a group of people of the Woodland Period arrived at Lake Itasca. They lived in larger, more permanent settlements and made a variety of stone, wood, and bone tools. Burial mounds from this era can be seen today at the Itasca Indian Cemetery. In 1832, Anishinabe guide Ozawindib, led explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to the source of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca. It was on this journey that Schoolcraft, with the help of an educated missionary companion, created the name Itasca from the Latin words for "truth" and "head" by linking adjoining syllables: verITAS CAput, meaning "true head." 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. Brower saw this region being quickly transformed by logging, and was determined to protect some of the pine forests for future generations. It was Brower's tireless efforts to save the remaining pine forest surrounding Lake Itasca that led the state legislature to establish Itasca as a Minnesota State Park on April 20, 1891, by a margin of only one vote. Through his conservation work and the continuing efforts of others throughout the decades, the splendor of Itasca had been maintained.
Geology
The landscape region in which the park is located was formed at the leading edge of repeating glacial advances. This northern pine moraine forms ranges of hills containing coarse, gravelly materials and boulders pock-marked with countless lakes, ponds and bogs. This terrain is sometimes referred to as "knob and kettle." The knobs are mounds of debris deposited directly by the ice near the glacier's edge or by melt-water streams flowing on or under the glacier surface. The kettles are depressions, usually filled with water, formed by stagnant ice masses buried or partially buried under glacial debris. The retreat of the ice left many lakes of varying size.
Landscape
At Itasca State Park, the mighty Mississippi River begins its 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Established in 1891 to preserve remnant stands of virgin pine and to protect the basin around the Mississippi's source, this park has become a famous natural and cultural landmark in North America.
Recreation
Paul Bunyan & Babe the Blue Ox
Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox Babe stand along the shore of Lake Bemidji near the Tourist Information Center. Built in 1937, Eastman Kodak recognized Paul & Babe as
the second most photographed icon in the nation.
Paul Bunyan Animal Land
Lions, tigers, bears, camels, leopards, kangaroos, cougars, bobcats, three species of deer, elk, llamas, donkeys,lemurs, monkeys, raccoons, fox, reptiles, exoctic birds, amazing bugs and various small mammals are just a few of the animals who make their home at Animal Land.
See them all at Paul Bunyan's Animal Land, Minnesota's largest wildlife park/petting zoo. Animal Land is home to nearly 100 animals representing every continent on earth
Indoor learning center, gift shop, picnic areas, playground and RV parking.
Wheelchair and stroller accessible.
Birthday parties, group rates, traveling educational programs and more.
Located on Hwy 2 East between Bemidji and Cass Lake
Open: Memorial Day through Labor Day
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. daily
Contact: 218-759-1533
Putt-N-Go Amusement Park
3115 Hwy 71 N
It’s a bonanza of fun in one place with a giant waterslide (smooth riding fiberglass flume, heated pool water, curves, drops & tunnel), go-carts, miniature golf, bumper boats, batting cages, showers, changing rooms and special attractions for children. Open 7 days a week Mid-May to September. 11 AM - 10 PM
Contact: 218-751-7333 lmills@paulbunyan.net
Bemidji Bowl
16 lanes of air-conditioned bowling, videos, pool. Indoor Golf Simulator, Large Screen TV, Cocktail Lounge. Open 7 days a week, call for times.
2317 Bemidji Avenue N
Contact: 218-751-2153
Miniature Golf
Adventure Miniature Golf 218-751-2153
2317 Bemidji Avenue N
Putt -n- Go Amusement Park 218-751-7333
1915 Hannah Ave NW
Paul Bunyan Amusement Park
300 Bemidji Ave
Paintball
Smokin Gun - 218-759-7011
50936 279th Ave
Bemidji MN 56601
Devotion Paintball - 218-333-3630
M-F 12:00 - 6:00 pm SAT 10:00 - 4:00 p.m.
1706 Paul Bunyan Dr SW
Bemidji MN 56601
natechop@paulbunyan.net
HORSEBACK RIDING
Stein's Winding River Farm
14185 Teddy Rd NW
Shevlin MN 56676
218-732-2629
Victory Riding School
Solway MN 56678
218-759-9139
Rising Star Ranch
Hwy 71 E of Itasca State Park
218-732-1749 or 888-900-1749
Eagle Forest Acres
Trails & camping cabins - bring your own horse.
Blackduck MN
218-647-8978
Accommodations
AmericInn Motel & Suites
59 Air-conditioned motel rooms with queen or king-sized beds, some handicap accessible.
All non-smoking
Motel features 26 suites with microwave and refrigerator. 9 motel suites include in-room whirlpool. Facilities offer spacious lobby with fireplace. Near Paul Bunyan Mall.
Best Western Bemidji Inn
60 Air-conditioned hotel/motel rooms, two handicap accessible. All Non-Smoking. Hotel rooms with 2 double beds, hotel rooms with 1 double bed, rooms with 1 king bed and lounge chair w/ottoman.
Motel features 2 executive suites, one with microwave and refrigerator, the other a suite with a kitchenette.
Near Airport
Birchmont House
6 Bedrooms - up to 16 people.
Open year around.
West Shore Of Lake Bemidji.
Comfort Inn
61 Air-conditioned motel/hotel rooms with queen or king-sized beds, some handicap accessible rooms. All non-smoking.
Motel features 18 suites with microwave and refrigerator. Some motel suites include whirlpool spa. Hair dryers and PC hook-ups in all rooms. Outdoor sundeck patio.
Near Bemidji Airport.
Hampton Inn & Suites 2004 Property of Year Minnesota
100 Rooms
5 Whirlpool Suites
All Non-Smoking
South Shore of Lake Bemidji.
TOP
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Conference Center
70 Air-conditioned newly remodeled hotel rooms with king and queen-sized beds. 6 Jacuzzi Rooms feature a king-sized bed and in-room whirlpool. Handicap accessible rooms available.
All non-smoking.
The hotel facility has a spacious, yet cozy, lobby featuring a beautiful fireplace. It offers an
indoor pool area with hot tub, sauna and
fitness center.
Next to Paul Bunyan Mall.
Ruttger's Birchmont Lodge
28 Lakefront Cottages with 1, 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms. Lakefront motel rooms, suites, whirlpool suite.
Super 8
100 Air-conditioned motel rooms. All non-smoking rooms, water beds and handicap accessible motel rooms available.
Motel features two suites with microwave and refrigerator, one with a Fireplace and Jacuzzi.
Near Paul Bunyan Mall.
Taber's Historic Log Cabins
21 1, 2 & 3 bedroom Cabins Open May-October
Villa Calma Bed & Breakfast
Enjoy quiet ambiance of Old World Tuscany in one of 4 suites.
Built in 1910, located 200 feet from West Shore of Lake Bemidji on historic Lake Boulevard. Minutes from downtown or Bemidji State University
