Itasca State Park

Itasca State Park the headwaters of the Mississippi

Early childhood memories include many trips to Itasca State Park and the inevitable scramble across the slippery rocks of the Mississippi River headwaters. I usually fell into the gently flowing stream and didn't care if I did. Even now it is hard to imagine that the mighty Mississippi River is born in this peaceful waterway that flows from Lake Itasca and ends, 2,552 miles away in the Gulf of Mexico.

Itasca is the oldest, and most famous, of our state parks. Put yourself at the scene for a few seconds:

Of course there is much more to do in the park than visit the headwaters. You can check back often for an updated calendar of events.

Our family has other personal connections to Itasca State Park. In the early 1930's my husband's father bought 80 acres of woodland that borders Itasca park. He built a small hunting shack there and sons, cousins and "shirt-tail relatives" gathered every year to hunt and bond. In recent years, my husband built a huge log cabin on the land where the family still hunts and, as well, gathers for reunions, weekend retreats and so much more. It's wonderful to be able to spend so much time in this woodland paradise with the park next door.

There are lots of lodging options in Itasca State Park:

Hundreds of camp sites including many with electrical hookups and some for RVs
Group camp that accommodates up to 50 people
Lake Ozawindib Group Center Facilities
Douglas Lodge
Itasca Suites
Mississippi Headwaters Hostel
Other cabins and facilities

Itasca State Park lodging
information and reservations

There is also a memorial in Itasca State Park to another part of my family history. My father pastored churches in several small towns in northern Minnesota. One of those churches, the Osage Baptist Church, was scheduled to be demolished. Townspeople lobbied to save it as a historical building and it was eventually moved to Itasca State Park where it now can be visited in the Pioneer Farmers Exhibit.

The Itasca area's old-growth pine forests are almost as famous as the Mississippi river headwaters. One of the things I like most to do in the park is to drive the Norway Pine (Red Pine) shaded roads.

Itasca park was established in 1891 primarily to preserve remnant stands of virgin pine and to protect the basin around the Mississippi's source. It is wonderful to still be able to walk in this old growth pine forest.

This park truly is a significant natural and cultural landmark in North America.

Help Keep Minnesota Green

From Itasca State Park to Minnesota State Parks

Return to Visit Minnesota Home Page