Itasca State Park

Visit the site of the Mississippi River headwaters and spend time in the great outdoors.

Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park and it has a lot to explore, making it easy to spend multiple days on a camping trip here. There are several lakes nearby that are great for fishing and boating. You can find fishing piers at both Lake Itasca and Ozawindib Lake. Other activities to do here include hiking, self-guided tours of historical sites, and birding. Keep an eye out for species such as herons, ducks, owls, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, chickadees, finches, and warblers when you're in the area. The beautiful landscape was formed primarily by glacial activity. Once the Ice Age was over, there were lots of natural lakes dotting the region. 

The surrounding forests are filled with virgin pine. Please don't leave food in your tents because this is black bear territory. Additionally, when you hike along the various trails within the state park, please be respectful and leave no trace so that the natural habitats can be preserved and maintained. A wonderful boardwalk trail you can take is located below Douglas Lodge and leads to the Old Timer's Cabin. Experience all that Itasca State Park has to offer the next time you're visiting Minnesota.