REGIONS: NORTHWEST WHERE THE PRAIRIE MEETS THE NORTH WOODS Home to legendary sites like the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, and the Northwest Angle, Northwest Minnesota is where tall tales and lasting memories are born. Walk across the humble headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park, or meet Minnesota’s most famous lumberjack, Paul Bunyan, in Akeley or Bemidji. Anglers who want to explore Minnesota’s largest lakes can go fishing any time of year on waters like Lake of the Woods, Leech Lake and Lake Bemidji—all prime destinations for walleye, muskie and sturgeon. Birders will love the popular, 200-mile Pine to Prairie Birding Trail, home to over 275 species of birds. This region is also where you’ll find the Northwest Angle, the northernmost point in the lower 48 states. To reach this secluded wilderness outpost, born of a centuries-old mapmaking error, you’ll have to traverse Lake of the Woods (by boat, float plane, or, in winter, by driving across the frozen lake) or drive through part of Canada. Wilderness Drive, Itasca State Park 72 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2021 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 72
