As my wife and I continue to knock-off visiting all Minnesota State Parks (hopefully in our lifetime), we decided to take on our next set in northwest Minnesota.
It’s one we’ve put off for awhile. My unfamiliarity with the region and its location (almost six hours from the Twin Cities), put these state parks towards the bottom on our list to check-off.
I took a week off from work, scoured the AirBnb’s in the area, and planned our adventure. Right before we were to leave, we finally came upon an interesting vacation house rental located just south of Warroad (which sits at the top of Minnesota, nearby Lake of the Woods and the Canadian border, just southwest of the Northwest Angle).
“This place looks interesting – what do you think?” I said to my wife, displaying my proud find.
“A grain bin? On a farm?” she replied somewhat skeptical.
“Yes! It looks awesome.” I responded, trying to energize her spirits and willingness to go along with it.
Soon enough, we had checked out the abundant features in this converted grain-bin-to-rental-house, and we booked our travel. The owner gladly accepted our nearly last-minute request to stay and we were on our way the following day.
Traveling north to Warroad from the Twin Cities
As I’m accustomed to do on our annual state park trip, I rented a vehicle for our voyage north. Our bouncy, mini-SUV wasn’t going to cut it.
We took off on Monday afternoon, venturing north on Highway 10. A pretty drive that ventures through forested areas and lakes, eventually winding through Motley (and a quick stop at Dairy Queen), and then onto Bemidji for another bite to eat. We stayed in the land of Paul Bunyan two years ago, taking in several area parks including Bemidji State Park and the headwaters of the Mississippi, Itasca State Park.
With our trip half over, we continued on past the great Red Lake’s and through Baudette. And, then headed northwest to our final destination.
All in all, it is a scenic drive that offers plenty of pit stops along the way. Big Bog State Recreation Area is a must stop on your way north out of Bemidji, as it offers a hour-long boardwalk tour over a great bog, through interesting vegetation, trees and views.
We eventually arrived at our Airbnb Monday evening. Affectionately named, “Etta’s Bin” (after the owner’s grandmother), this newly constructed (2022) bin-converted-rental-home on a crop farm, sits just a half-mile or so from highway 11 (MOMS highway), about 5 minutes south of Warroad.
Northwest Minnesota state parks
During our five-day stay, here are some of the state parks that we took in:
Old Mill State Park
This quaint little park offers many amenities including camping, hiking, swimming area, picnic tables, swinging bridge and history. The park gets its name from an old flour mill that sits on the park. During summer hours, the mill is often in operation by staff. Not too far away is Thief River Falls, a city of about 8,700.
Hayes Lake State Park
We ended our first day at Hayes Lake State Park in the Beltrami Island State Forest. Beautiful and scenic views captivated us on the hiking trail that meandered through thick conifers. It was surely a highlight of the state parks in the region.
Lake Bronson State Park
The furthest northwest state park in Minnesota is Lake Bronson. We visited after they had drained much of the lake but it was still a pretty park with many amenities. Our hike took us around the lake to different scenic outlooks. There is a dam on site, as well as a Bible Camp that shares parts of the park.
Franz Jevne State Park
Situated along the banks of the Rainy River (and the border of Minnesota / Canada), is a lovely state park named after a lawyer from International Falls named Franz Jevne. This park is great for camping and hiking through towering jack pine and birch trees. The terrain is rather rolling. One of our favorites from the trip. Just to the west of Franz Jevne is Zippel Bay State Park, which sits along Lake of the Woods.
Visiting Warroad and the Northwest Angle
Since we were within an hour and a half of the northernmost part of Minnesota (and the United States for that matter), we were advised by our host to take in the Northwest Angle. But, first we visited The Shed, a 90+ classic car exhibit in Warroad that Bob Marvin (member of the Marvin Windows family) founded. He began the collection with the purchase of a ’65 Riviera to celebrate his one-year sobriety. Be sure to take in this exhibit and talk with the volunteers who work there. If the light is green, it’s open!
After a tour of the classic cars, we headed into Canada and then back into Minnesota to visit the Northwest Angle. This is a unique opportunity to visit the most northern part of Minnesota. Visitors need to take a boat tour to arrive here or make their way through Canada. Part of the trip is through gravel roads, with limited chances to fill the tank, so be prepared!
We made our way to Young’s Bay Resort, which has a landmark you can take a picture of designating it the “northernmost” point in the contiguous United States. We also grabbed a bite at Jerry’s Restaurant before heading to the town of Angle Inlet and back home.
Interestingly, visitors need to check-in via telephone at “Jim’s Corner” to let the border know you’re entering Minnesota and then upon your return, check in to let the Canadian border know you’re headed back.
There isn’t a whole lot to offer in the area, but if you’re into fishing and boating, it may be right up your alley.
Northwest Minnesota doesn’t get a lot of attention because it’s so far from the major metropolitan areas of Duluth, and the Twin Cities – but after our visit, I was glad we visited. Warroad is a thriving community where (quite literally) everyone “knows your name.” With Marvin Windows, the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods, state parks and the Beltrami Forest, you’ll enjoy your time in this area of the North Star state!
Aaron Shepherd is the publisher of Minnesota Good Age.