2017 Pacific Coast Trip - Lake Itasca, Minnesota - Miss. River Headwaters

Photo link:

https://goo.gl/photos/eq63T5LZT1NBxqGs5

Thursday, August 17^th – Sunday, August 20^th 

LaSalle State Recreation Area, Solway, MN

Our next adventure was in search of the Headwaters of the Mississippi River in northern Minnesota. We headed north east about a hundred miles into the Lakes area of Minnesota. We arrived at LaSalle State Recreation Area where there is a wonderful campground out in the wilderness. Just seven miles south is Lake Itasca, which is the actual source of the headwaters of the Mississippi River. 

A first glimpse of the actual river was when we were driving to the campground and we crossed over two bridges with Mississippi River signs. We stopped to have a look and realized it was a very tiny river at that point, only about 6 feet wide, but it was flowing. 

Near the LaSalle Recreation Area there is a canoe access to the river, Coffee Pot Landing. We went there the next day and found a lovely hiking/snowmobiling trail with a bridge that crossed over the small Mississippi River. It was interesting that we found two really nice lean-to cabins along the trail which could be used either by overnight hikers or snowmobilers. 

The next day we drove down to Itasca State Park and spent most of the day there exploring the area. We took the dogs with us as they were allowed to hike the trails, so we had a really nice family day outing. The state park had a very informative Visitor Center, with lots of historical information about the park and all about the vegetation and wildlife. The Mississippi Headwaters Center also displayed the history of the search for the headwaters and the team that ultimately found it. In 1832, Henry Schoolcraft was guided by Chief Ozawigdib to Lake Itasca. We walked up the trail to the actual Headwaters area. At that point water was flowing out of Lake Itasca into the small, narrow beginnings of the Mississippi River. It was really cool that you could walk across the ankle-deep water of the Mississippi River at that point. It was so hard at this point to imagine that this little creek would turn into a gigantic river. We also visited various overlooks and shorter hiking loops within the park, then we had a nice lunch in a lovely picnic area. 

On our last day there we hiked some trails within the LaSalle Recreation Area. Kurt, me and the dogs headed out on the main trail. Kody and I only hiked part of the way and headed back around the campground trail, while Kurt and Luca hiked all the six miles around La Salle Lake. Later in the afternoon Kurt took off with his kayak and went down to Coffee Pot Landing, put it in the water and was able to kayak the upper beginnings of the Mississippi River. Check that off his bucket list!

Next, we will head south to the St. Paul, MN area. There are some great mountain biking trails there and a nice campground.