Sightseeing
Quirky FunPaul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox
FreePose with the 18-foot concrete lumberjack and his blue ox on the shore of Lake Bemidji, then step into the visitor center.
Photo: Mark Evans from Orange City, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
Sport & OutdoorIconicOutdoor AdventureFamily Favorite
Itasca State Park
Itasca State Park is an outdoor activity in Park Rapids, MN. Cost: under $25.
36750 Main Park Dr · Park Rapids, MN
Why you should go…
Itasca State Park, established in 1891 as Minnesota's first state park, holds the headwaters of the Mississippi River at the north end of Lake Itasca. Start at the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center, then take a short walk to the spot where the river begins and wade or cross on the log bridge. Beyond that you can climb the Aiton Heights Fire Tower, follow the Wilderness Drive scenic road, walk among old-growth pines, and eat at Douglas Lodge, built in 1905.
- #state park
- #mississippi headwaters
- #hiking
- #camping
- #old growth forest
What's around here?
The closest stops to Itasca State Park, ordered by straight-line distance.
22 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing