Nature Walk, 0.4 m, may be extended along lake shore

9 ft elevation gain

Hiked 7/17/25

Flickr Album

The mighty Mississippi River traces its source back 2,552 miles to Lake Itasca near Park Rapids, MN. This quick nature walk will take you to the humble beginnings where you’ll see the first ‘rapids’ and bridge crossing. Also learn the history of Mary Gibbs, a veritable badass conservationist in her day.

A signpost beside where the Mississippi first flows out from Lake Itasca. Reads 'Here 1475 ft above the ocean the mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.’

A small statue done by a local artist, Jeff Savage, for the park in 2005. In Anishinabe (ojibwe) culture, women are the caretakers of the water, which is meant to be symbolized in this statue.

A small flattened log bridge is the first crossing on the Mississippi River.

  • rhythmisaprancer@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    2 days ago

    I have to ask, after seeing all your photos from the general Glacier/Watertown Lakes area and Eastern MT, I thought maybe you lived there, but now Minnesota! Is this part of work? I’m a trails person, but not as mobile as you. Envious ❤️ thanks for sharing all these photos of places and critters.

    • everydayhiker@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      21 hours ago

      So, I’ve been out in Oregon for about 15 years as a fisheries scientist, but due to burn out and where we are now I realized I couldn’t do it anymore. Last job with fish and wildlife had me traveling all around the state for work so I built out a van over a couple years before quitting and spending all my time out hiking and seeing as many landscapes as I can while this is still an option. The 2020 Oregon wildfires gave me a really bad case of FOMO for just all the hikes, so that’s what I’m doing haha.

      Right now I’m driving way too many miles, but I agreed to meet my dad for a fly fishing thing in NY at the end of the month, so there’s about to be a ton of movement in location as I cross of the last few states on my 48 (currently in Maine).

      …Also, the glacier/waterton area is probably my favorite part of the continent. I couldn’t do winters there, but I love that area and the hikes there are the perfect mix of challenge but manageable with stellar views.