36 Hours in Park Rapids, Minnesota

Come to cross the gentle headwaters of the Mighty Mississippi, and you'll fall in love with the virgin pine forests, tranquil blue lakes and bike trails that make Itasca State Park and the Park Rapids area one of Minnesota's favorite "Up North" destinations.

By

Lisa Meyers McClintick

Updated on August 12, 2022

Mississippi headwaters Itasca State Park — Itasca State Park. Photo: Courtesy of Kvidt Creative/Explore Minnesota

Day One

Itasca 101 @ 2 p.m.

The 32,500-acre Itasca State Park sits about 220 miles north of Minneapolis. Get oriented to Minnesota's oldest state park at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center. Kids can hide in a hollowed-out tree like local wildlife or try on gear used by forest firefighters; adults can read about natural history and press buttons to learn the meaning of loon calls—from a haunting wail to hahaha tremelos that echo across lakes after dark.

Douglas Lodge interior Itasca State Park — Douglas Lodge. Courtesy of Explore Minnesota

Woodsy check-in @ 3 p.m.

Check into park lodging at the visitor center. Our pick: historic Douglas Lodge log cabins with stone fireplaces, screen porches and views of Lake Itasca. For more modern digs, opt for Four-Season Suites, which are six-plexes with air-conditioning, wifi, televisions and kitchenettes.

Hit the trail @ 3:30 p.m.

Rent a bike and take a spin on the six-mile trail that runs parallel to Lake Itasca. Stop to marvel at the several-hundred-year-old pines at Preacher's Grove, and walk down the lakeside steps to enjoy Peace Pipe Vista.

Headwaters of the Mississippi — Courtesy of Kvidt Creative/Explore Minnesota

Pose at headwaters @ 4:30 p.m.

Take photos at the historic log marker for the Mississippi River's headwaters. Hop across the line of rocks where Lake Itasca spills into a clear stream that marks the humble beginnings of a 2,552-mile journey that winds across Minnesota before surging south through the United States to the Gulf of Mexico.

Go wild @ 6 p.m.

Dine on apple-cranberry-stuffed walleye, venison steak or a homey wild-rice hot dish at Douglas Lodge. (Check with the lodge before you go to plan ahead for meals; the restaurant is open seasonally, and hours vary.)

Evening serenade @ 7 p.m.

See if there's a naturalist evening program, or use an app or map to identify star constellations mirrored on the water. Mimic a loon call and see if you can spark a conversation.

S'mores @ 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy an evening campfire and make s'mores as a late-night snack or open a bottle of local wine such as Forestedge Winery's black currant or white cranberry wines, available at 71 Bottles of Beer and Liquor (on the way back to Itasca State Park).

Get carded @ 9 p.m.

Ditch the electronics—open the windows, listen to the nighttime chorus, and play cards with your own deck or a Minnesota-themed one from the park gift shop. Our favorites: Rummy, Trash and Spite and Malice.

Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center Itasca State Park — Courtesy of Explore Minnesota

Day Two

Do the drive @ 9 a.m.

Drive the 10-mile Wildlife Drive with stops to see burial mounds in the Itasca Indian Cemetery and learn about the park's history at Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center. Grab a to-go sandwich or salad from the cafeteria for later.

Itasca State Park fire tower — Itasca fire tower. Courtesy of Kvidt Creative/Explore Minnesota

Climb a tower @ 10 a.m.

Follow the drive to hug Minnesota's largest white pine (more than 100 feet tall) and climb the 100-foot Aiton Fire Tower for a sweeping view above a maple-basswood forest. Keep an eye out for wildlife, such as trumpeter swans and cygnets on lakes, deer grazing in the woods or signs of wolves. The drive, much of it one-way, covers only a fraction of Itasca's 32,500 acres—it's one of Minnesota's largest state parks.

Go play @ noon

Let the kids swing clubs for mini-golf, race go-carts, drive bumper boats and solve escape room challenges at Evergreen Funpark 10 miles south of Itasca State Park on Highway 71.

Park Rapids Minnesota Aunt Belle's Confectionary — Aunt Belle's. Courtesy of Explore Minnesota

Shop Park Rapids @ 3 p.m.

Park in the middle of the street (really!) and stroll through downtown Park Rapids with its old-fashioned Ben Franklin store, boutiques and sidewalks decorated with some of the area's 400 lakes. Beagle and Wolf Books and Bindery touts Minnesota novels, national bestsellers and great cabin reads. The scent of fresh-stirred caramel in copper pots wafts from Aunt Belle's Confectionary while glass cases brim with fudge, turtles and toffee.

Italian night @ 5:30 p.m.

Sip a spiked basil lemonade while you wait for a tangy salad or beautifully browned crock of manicotti or lasagna at Necce's Ristorante in downtown Park Rapids for an early dinner. Try homemade spumoni made with raspberries and pistachios for a sweet finish.

Evening music

Necce's often has live music on summer weekends, but you can also sometimes catch a concert in downtown Park Rapids. Plan B? Relax and enjoy a Lake Itasca sunset.

Day Three

Start sweet @ 9 a.m.

Grab a scone, bagel and coffee or chai at Bella Caffé in downtown Park Rapids.

Heartland Trail ride @ 9:45 a.m.

Rent bikes at Northern Cycle in Park Rapids and take a 6.5-mile ride on the Heartland Trail east to Dorset. (If you're feeling more ambitious, tack on another 5.5 miles to reach Lake Belle Taine and Nevis, where you can pose by the giant tiger muskie).