By Brian Fanelli 2021-03-17 17:32:11
There are endless places to view winter wildlife in Minnesota, but my personal favorite is Bear Head Lake State Park. Secluded in the vast North Woods near Ely, it’s the perfect destination to view the eagles, wolves and moose that call northern Minnesota home. Almost as far north as you can go without hitting Canada, the park epitomizes the Up North vibe: Pristine frozen lakes in every direction, dense pine forests, rolling hills and skies so blue they look like a postcard. For the best wildlife viewing, I strap on my snowshoes and venture into the untouched winter wilderness before the sun is up. With my head on a swivel, I move quietly and slowly through the park, looking for mammal tracks in the snow. The northern forest is home to white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, wolves and many smaller mammals; if you stay silent and keep your eyes peeled, you’re practically guaranteed to glimpse a few of these majestic creatures. For an especially rustic experience, try to stay at one of the park’s five camper cabins. Named after some of the more prominent trees here (Aspen, Red Pine, White Pine, Cedar and Birch), they’re the perfect home base for a couple days of winter adventures. "PRISTINE FROZEN LAKES IN EVERY DIRECTION, DENSE PINE FORESTS, ROLLING HILLS AND SKIES SO BLUE THEY LOOK LIKE A POST CARD." MINNESOTA WILDLIFE CENTERS Looking for something a little more streamlined? You can also view wolves, bears and birds at these wildlife centers across Minnesota. » International Wolf Center, Ely » North American Bear Center, Ely » National Eagle Center, Wabasha SPOT MINNESOTA WILDLIFE Discover more places to see Minnesota wildlife and plan your trip today! ExploreMinnesota.com/Wildlife
©Explore Minnesota. View All Articles.