REGIONS: NORTHWEST ON NORTHWEST MINNESOTA By Jerard Fagerberg The northwest corner of Minnesota feels like outlaw territory. Casinos dot the landscape, and ATV trails snake off into the backcountry along highways, ditches and county roads—the ideal destination for a raucous guys getaway. So last summer, I gathered my buddies and we burned northward for a weekend escape. We opened the throttles wide, the snorts of our ATVs battling as we toured the edges of Beltrami Island State Forest . When the trails broke into the trees, we were glancing out the sides of our goggles, hoping to spy some wildlife. But the only bear that afternoon was my hangover from the night before, and I quelled it with two-stroke engine exhaust. PLACE YOUR BETS The adventure continued toward the U.S.-Mahnomen’s Shooting Star Casino was the first Canada border, with a final stop in Warroad and post on the road. Shooting Star is little more the Seven Clans Casino . than a stucco lodge We spent the morning WE OPENED THE on the White Earth at Warroad Estates Golf Reservation, but it’s one Course, only 10 minutes THROTTLES WIDE, of the larger casinos in from the hotel, wagering the region. This no-frills THE SNORTS over putts. Lowest score card den is where you got the best chair at the can make the trip. We OF OUR ATVS blackjack table, highest strolled right by the slot two had to share beds. BATTLING AS machines to the three-Of the state’s three Seven card poker tables. Bets WE TOURED Clans Casino locations, last longer there than Warroad is the only one at the blackjack tables, THE EDGES OF that serves alcohol, so it and a big win can send was the obvious choice for you sailing the rest of BELTRAMI ISLAND our group’s final stop—and the weekend. That was shot at a jackpot. The night STATE FOREST. not our luck. Some in started coy with slots, but the group busted early. it wasn’t long before well Some hung around and busted late. In either drinks had us throwing chips together to make case, the drink carts were busy, and the night the blackjack minimums. When your trip is about ran long. to end, there’s not much else to do but go for it. After two nights at Shooting Star, we traded its We must’ve sworn a dozen times that this hand neon lights for a chance to explore the Fourtown-would be our last, only to ante up for another. Grygla ATV trails . We rolled into Grygla and Every split or double felt like it would be the one unloaded our trailer of ATVs (we brought our that switched our luck, each dealer flop a cresting own, but you can have rentals delivered from the frontier. We were chasing—we knew it and Twin Cities or Brainerd). With 170 miles of trails we loved it. on the Fourtown-Grygla system alone, it was easy to forget any lost bets. Photo Caption Seven Clans Casino in Warroad 78 | EXPLORE MINNESOTA .COM
Explore Minnesota Travel Guide 2021 Explore Minnesota Travel Guide: Page 78
