Hiking Tour of Northwest MN

We were fully planning to have another quiet weekend in May until our great friends Connor and Crystal invited us up to their cabin for Memorial Day weekend! Not thinking twice about it we found ourselves in for another quick adventure. Since we both had free time before and after the cabin weekend, we decided along the way to take a hiking tour of northwest Minnesota!

Lake Maria State Park

Early Friday morning we cruised up Interstate 94 to make it near Monticello where our first stop happened. Here, located slightly off the highway, is Lake Maria State Park. It was well worth our time as around 9:30 AM we had the park to ourselves! Yes, there is a Lake Maria on the premises, but we actually made our way by Maria Lake via the Maria Lake and Bjorkland Loop Trail. This turned out to be a very peaceful 5.5-mile hike passing untouched smaller lakes through a thick green forest with fairly large trees. There is also a nice picnic/viewing area on the edge of Maria Lake when you get to that point.

1st stop- Lake Maria!

Hiking by peaceful lakes!

Enjoying the beauty with no one else around us!

The view of Maria Lake!

1st stop- Lake Maria!

Hiking by peaceful lakes!

Enjoying the beauty with no one else around us!

The view of Maria Lake!

Itasca State Park

Gearing up for a roughly 2.5 hour drive to Itasca State Park after Lake Maria did not sound like extreme fun to us, so we took a small break in Paynesville to visit with our awesome friends Kyle, Bri, and Graham! After lunch we made it just past Park Rapids to the oldest State Park in Minnesota. From the north entrance we got to check out where the Mississippi River starts all to ourselves again using the 0.5-mile Mississippi Headwaters Loop Trail! And wow was it beautiful and awe-inspiring that this mighty river begins so small. From the Mary Gibbs Center we took a left to wind through the interior of the park for 10 miles on Wilderness Drive to eventually come upon the east entrance to the park. Here, just behind the Douglas Lodge, we started the Dr. Roberts Trail, a nice 2-mile loop hike that brings you past swamp marigolds, the east arm of Lake Itasca, and Lyendecker Lake.

The start of the Mississippi River!

Amazing that it begins as just a small stream…

Of course Adam had to touch it.

Strolling along the Headwaters Loop Trail!

Continuing to enjoy Itasca State Park!

The east arm of Lake Itasca.

Lyendecker Lake

Gazing upon the gold we found!

The start of the Mississippi River!

Amazing that it begins as just a small stream…

Of course Adam had to touch it.

Strolling along the Headwaters Loop Trail!

Continuing to enjoy Itasca State Park!

The east arm of Lake Itasca.

Lyendecker Lake

Gazing upon the gold we found!

Maplewood State Park

Finally heading down near Pelican Rapids before arriving at Connor’s cabin we squeaked in one last hike. We hit Maplewood State Park where, once again, we were literally the only people breathing in the free air. Driving roughly two miles into the east park area we parked at the Main Loop Campground to start the Bass Lake Loop Trail. This 3-mile trek winds around a very underwhelming Bass Lake, but the last mile or so brings you along the west edge of Beers Lake, a much more impressive body of water. It also helped that it was called Beers!

Maplewood State Park!

Enjoying the trail to ourselves!

The cleanest Beers Lake we’ve ever seen!

Maplewood State Park!

Enjoying the trail to ourselves!

The cleanest Beers Lake we’ve ever seen!

East Lost Lake

After snagging a late dinner and ice cream at Dairyland in Fergus Falls, we murdered 50 million bugs on the way to our destination at dusk. Connor and Crystal were at the cabin already, along with Connor’s sister and Connor’s parents. They are on East Lost Lake, which is a beautiful lake just off of the much larger Otter Tail Lake. We enjoyed a rainy kayaking and a pontoon sunset ride as it was still a little chilly to submerge ourselves in the water. We played yard game Olympics and had some fantastic food and bonfires as well. Oh, and we cut my beard…

Megan was all in for Dairyland

East Lost Lake!

Taking in another beautiful sunset.

Kayaking with our friends!

The beard is already missed.

Megan was all in for Dairyland

East Lost Lake!

Taking in another beautiful sunset.

Kayaking with our friends!

The beard is already missed.

Broken Down Dam Park

When cabin time came to a close it was bittersweet, but we knew there would be more fun had in the future! We began our journey back home with a brief visit to Broken Down Dam Park in Fergus Falls. This park was formed literally after the Otter Tail River flooded, obliterating the small dam, and toppling the cement blocks into the river. Investigations determined the dam was built on an unknown natural spring which undermined the integrity of the dam. Now people have graffitied the “boulders” quite colorfully to make it a unique experience for all. There is a loop trail around the park maybe 0.5 miles long that follows the rushing river upstream.

Broken Down Dam Park!

With it’s main attraction- the graffitied dam boulders!

Broken Down Dam Park!

With it’s main attraction- the graffitied dam boulders!

Inspiration Peak State Wayside Park

Thirty more minutes in the direction of home sits Inspiration Peak State Wayside Park. We thought we would check it out since it was close by and only a 0.5-mile loop trail. The peak reaches 1,750 ft which makes it the tallest point in Northwest Minnesota. But it was a little disappointing… It would probably be much better to come here in the fall so you could take in the colors and perhaps see more than two lakes. It is just a drive-by, stretch your legs out kind of place.

A view from Inspiration Peak!

Lake Carlos State Park

The last scheduled stop was near Alexandria at Lake Carlos State Park, another 30 or so minutes back toward the Twin Cities. This park was definitely the busiest for all our visits throughout the long weekend. There is a pretty large sand beach on the north side of the lake that people were taking advantage of, as well as some nice forest trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and snowmobilers (when winter arrives). We went on the main 2.8-mile trail, which AllTrails calls “Lake Carlos State Park” Trail, but technically it is the Hidden Lake and Red Oak Loop Trail. There are a few other paths deeper into the woods, but we liked being on the edge of Lake Carlos for a bit. 

Our last stop- Lake Carlos State Park!

A glimpse of Lake Carlos from the trail!

Our last stop- Lake Carlos State Park!

A glimpse of Lake Carlos from the trail!

That wraps up our trip in this region of Minnesota! There are a lot more places to visit, but we found a great mix of hikes, lakes, rivers, forests, cabins, and fun with friends there! Special thanks again to Connor, Crystal, and his family for hosting us and giving us an excuse to escape!

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