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Grand Portage National Monument
Address: 211 Mile Creek Rd PO Box 426
Grand Portage, MN 55605
Phone: 218-475-2202
Fax: 218-387-2790
Grand Portage was the center of the North American fur trade 300 years ago. The monument includes a reconstructed palisade with a great hall, a kitchen complex, and a canoe warehouse. An Ojibwe Village, a voyageur encampment and the ruins of Fort Charlotte are adjacent to the site. Trade goods are displayed for hands-on examination in the Great Hall. Reenactors recreate daily life at the depot as it readied for the rendezvous between the North West company men from Montreal and the voyageurs of the Canadian wilderness. Visitors can see a fur press in action, examine trade goods, visit with the fort cook in the kitchen, and watch craftsmen building birch bark canoes.
Grand Portage National Monument is located on the Grand Portage Indian Reservation, home of the Ojibwe band. Grand Portage grounds are available for snowshoeing or cross country skiing. Note: Mosquitoes, gnats, and black flies are abundant during spring and summer, especially in the back country. Primitive camping at no charge; however, a backcountry camping permit is required. There is a $3 admission to the monument with a maximum of $6 for a family.
For more information on the National Monument, click here.
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Address: 175 E Fifth St Ste 418 Box 41
St. Paul, MN 55101-2901
Phone: 651-290-4160 or 651-777-4160
Fax: 651-290-3214
Overview. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area cuts a swath of 72 miles that includes a segment between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Between the Twin Cities the efforts of man to control the river can be seen in the form of four locks and dams that have allowed for the shipping of grain and other cargo. Established in 1988, the area was designated as homage to the cultural and economic impact of the Mississippi River, the "Father of the Waters," on this region. Although the National Park Service has yet to establish visitor facilities here, recreations can be found in abundance.What to see and do. Many faces of the river can be seen along this section of the Mississippi. At it's northernmost point within the Recreation Area, it is shallow and free-flowing with tree lined banks. By the time you reach the Twin Cities, it becomes an urban river and the impact of engineering efforts can be seen. Public parks are in abundance in the area and offer hiking trails, boating, fishing, bicycling, interpretive programs, picnic sites and other activities. The best way to tour the recreation area is by motorboat or other watercraft. Bring your own boat along or tour the river on a commercial tour boat. You can also drive along the Great River Road for a self-guided auto tour of the Mississippi River, or walk along the banks for a fascinating nature hike. Call the National Park Service for suggestions about things to visit, see, and do during your visit to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
Pipestone National Monument
Address: 36 Reservation Ave
Pipestone, MN 56164-1269
Phone: 507-825-5464
Fax: 507-825-5466
Overview. Winnewissa Falls (the name means "jealous maiden") is the focal point of this site, long precious to Native Americans because of the red stone that is quarried for sacred pipes and other carvings. The falls are surrounded by natural prairie and the remains of ancient petroglyphs, said to have been the inspiration for Longfellow's poem "The Song of Hiawatha." Pipestone's (catlinite) relatively soft texture makes it suitable for carving; Native Americans have been using it for 400 years and today hold the exclusive rights to the site. In the traditional way, the stone is still removed by hand. What to see and do. A hiking trail will lead you three-quarters of a mile through open prairie, around the quarry and past the falls; take a closer look at what remains of rock carvings that were used in ancient rites. You can also explore Fort Pipestone, which is located near the monument's entrance, or go into the town of Pipestone, located one mile away, and take a walking tour of the historic district. Pipe-making and other traditional stone crafts are demonstrated by native artisans at the Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center from April to October. During the last two weekends in July and the first weekend in August, a 200-member cast presents the "Song of Hiawatha" pageant in a natural amphitheater situated near the quarry lake. The monument also offers a picnic area and interpretive exhibits and films. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, visitor and cultural center hours are 8 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Thursday and until 8 PM Friday through Sunday. Throughout the rest of the year, both facilities are open daily until 5 PM. Leashed pets are permitted and handicapped-accessible facilities are available. The monument is north of the city of Pipestone in southwest Minnesota. Take US 75 and MN 23 and 30.
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Voyageurs National Park
Address: 3131 Hwy 53
International Falls, MN 56649-9701
Phone: 212-283-9821
Fax: 218-285-7407
Overview.0 Voyageurs National Park is named for the French Canadian canoemen who carried trade goods and furs between Montreal and the Northwest from 1673 to 1842. The scattered, forested islands of this national park are located on the international boundary waters between the U.S. and Canada; interconnected lakes and narrow inlets comprise one-third of its 218,000 acres. Water comprises 84,000 acres of the park including four large lakes, dotted with forested islands, 26 smaller lakes, and over 500 beaver ponds. The park was established to protect its outstanding lake country scenery, its geological conditions, and the historic waterway system.
The islands are characterized by pine and hardwood forests, as well as small bogs with lady's slipper and sphagnum moss. They play host to a variety of wildlife rarely seen in the lower 48 states, including bald eagles, wolf packs, ospreys, cormorants, great blue herons, black bears, loons, and beavers. Pileated woodpeckers and great gray owls are not uncommon, and occasionally mink, pine marten, and fishers are seen.
What to see and do. 0 The park offers over 24 miles of hiking trails. You can take the Cruiser Lake Trail 9.5 miles from Lost Bay on Kabetogama Lake to Anderson Bay on Rainy Lake, and visit any one of seven lakes during your trek. You'll also see beaver ponds and breathe air fragrant with lush vegetation.
In winter, snowmobiles traverse the park on 110 miles of groomed and marked trails on the large lakes, except for areas of thin ice which can be skirted on portage trails. You can also cross-country ski, snowshoe, and ice fish. The Black Bay Ski Trail, 6 miles in length, is located in the northwestern part of the park and maintained for cross-country skiing.
If you don't have a lot of time to spend, Locator Lake is ideal for a one-day visit. You can take a two-mile trail past a beaver pond and through a bog. The trail reaches higher ground on a ridge, and from there you can also take a canoe trip around the lake.
The historic Kettle Falls Hotel, located 20 miles by water from the nearest road, provides the only lodging and dining within the park itself. The park has a long and colorful history from Ojibway Indians, French-Canadian voyageurs, gold miners, bootleggers, and commercial fishermen to modern day vacationers.
Other activities include guided boat tours, guided canoe trips, nature walks, kids programs, canoe rental, swimming, and kayaking.
Backcountry campsites are accessible by watercraft on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits are required and free, and no hookups, services, or showers are provided. In winter, most sites will be accessible. Handicapped-accessible facilities are available by reservation only.
Three visitor centers offer information on what to do and see in the park. For information, call 218-283-9821. Ask for a park newspaper and other free literature about the park. The Lake States Interpretive Association has navigational charts, interpretive literature, and other items for sale by mail order. RV campsites, motels, and resort cabins are available on the edge of the park at International Falls, Kabetogama Lake, Ash River, and Crane Lake, Minnesota.
Pets:0 Leashed pets are permitted.
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