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Casinos [Back to Top]

Northern Lights Casino 6800 Y Frontage Road Walker, MN 56484 1-877-544-4879

The Palace Casino & Hotel Cass Lake, MN 1-800-228-6676

White Oak Casino Deer River, MN (218) 246-9600

National and Minnesota State Forests

Chippewa National Forest
200 Ash Avenue
Cass Lake, MN 56633
(218) 335-8600 (218) 335-8632
Walker District mailing address HCR 73, Box 15, Walker, MN 56484
Walker District phone (218) 547-1004

Hours: Year round. Headquarters: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. M-F | Free admission.

Established in 1908, the Chippewa National Forest was the first National Forest established east of the Mississippi, and originally was known as the Minnesota National Forest. The Forest offers a wide array of resources for all, as well as the opportunity to observe a working forest. Recreation developments, wildlife habitat projects and timber harvesting all are evident. Visitors interested in historic sites may wish to travel to Camp Rabideau, the only standing Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the country. Wildlife enthusiasts can scan the sky for the abundant bald eagles; others can revel in the color and sound of American Indian art and music. Open year-round, the forest has many camping areas and access to a variety of resort communities.

Itasca State Park
HC05 Box 4
Lake Itasca, MN 56460
218-266-2100 800-246-2267
Campground Reservations Fax: (218) 266-3942

Open Year-Round | Entry Fee Charged

At this Minnesota State Park, walk across the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi as it starts its winding 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. Stand under towering pines at Preacher's Grove. Visit the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann's Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by.
Lake Itasca, off State Route 71, is famous as the birthplace of the Mississippi River and for the wild rice that grows along its shores.
The 32,000-acre state park embraces several lakes with outstanding boating and fishing, and a wilderness sanctuary. A natural history museum contains excellent wildlife displays.

There are extensive foot trails in the park, the most spectacular leading to Bohall Lake. Twenty-seven varieties of orchids grow along the forest path. There is one bike trail, which dips into an ancient stand of Norway and white pines.
The paved path on the western edge of the park reaches around a 2,000-acre wilderness area past lakes, towering pine groves and an ancient bison kill site.

Most overnight visitors to the park camp out at Pine Ridge and Bear Paw Campground, Lake Itasca State Park

Leech Lake Area Parks
Chippewa National Forest / Walker Ranger District
201 Minnesota Ave. E
Walker, MN 56484
(218) 547-1044

Deep Portage
2197 Nature Center Drive N.W.
Hackensack, MN 56452
(218) 682-2325
www.deep-portage.org

Itasca State Park
www.dnr.state.mn.us/itasca

Paul Bunyan State Forest

Deep-Portage Conservation Reserve
2197 Nature Center Dr.
Hackensack, MN 564522431
(218) 682-2325

Hours: Year round. Mon.-Sat. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sun. Noon-4:30 p.m.
Rates: Call for admission fee. Free parking.

Approximately 6,300 acres of forest with self-guided nature trails through a wildflower garden, forest and bog; hiking, ski and snowmobile trails; interpretive center with displays. Programs on Saturdays. Programs offered for groups interested in outdoor and environmental activities. Summer Camps offered for youth interested in outdoor experiences and conservation. email:portage@uslink.net

Museums [Back to Top]

Cass County & Walker Museum Historical Societies
Hwy. 200 & 371 Box 505
Walker, MN 564840505
(218) 547-7251

Hours: Memorial Day thru Labor Day, Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Rates: Family $6; adults $3; children $1; includes admission to the Walker Museum of Natural History.

Cass County history, historic schoolhouse, research library, Walker museum portrays animals in their natural habitat, replica of an American Indian village, Ojibwe and Dakota bead work.

Sugar Point Battle Monument
Eight miles southwest of the village of Federal Dam
Boy Bay, east side of Leech Lake

Site of the generally overlooked last Indian battle. In October 1898, a group of 19 pillagers stood off and defeated 100 troopers sent north from Fort Snelling. It was not a stereotypical Hollywood battle. Because of its location, some of the conflict involved unusual scenes, such as exchanges of gunfire between Natives on shore and troops aboard a pair of steamers and one barge that had come all the way from Walker across Big Leech Lake.

Cass Co. Museum/Hist. Society, Pioneer School, & Wildlife/Indian Arts Museum
Box 505 201 Minnesota Ave. W.
(218) 547-7251
Walker, MN 56484

Recreation [Back to Top]

Shingobee Recreation
Area Hwy. 34, six miles southwest of Walker
Chippewa National Forest, Walker District
mailing address: HCR 73, Box 15, Walker, MN 56484
(218) 547-1004

The Shingobee Recreation Area showcases a geologically unique region south of Leech Lake, MN. Known locally as the area's "little Grand Canyon" (in the 1930's, it was home to one of Minnesota's first downhill ski areas), it is characterized by steep glacial moraine, virgin white and red pine forests, land faults, diverse plant and animal life, and a marvelous collection of hiking trails and nature areas. The Shingobee River valley is believed to have been created by the cataclysmic collapse of the giant glacier that covered and created Leech Lake (Minnesota's third largest lake) 10,000 years ago.

Paul Bunyan State Recreation Trail
Splitting the north central part of the state in a 120-mile sprint between Brainerd and Bemidji along an old railroad embankment, the first paved portion of the Paul Bunyan Trail (now Minnesota's longest paved recreation trail) opened along a 50-mile stretch between Baxter and Hackensack in 1996. It offers hiking, biking or rollerblading along its beautiful corridor. And, in the winter, extraordinary Minnesota snowmobiling.

The Paul Bunyan Trail makes for either an easy day's outing or a challenging weekend long trek, depending on your inclination, physical condition and type of equipment. Because of its railroad heritage, the trail's pathway is relatively flat and safely straight.

Every eight to ten miles along the way, expect to find a great northwoods community, offering up food, lodging, camping and intriguing shopping and, of course, juices, treats and the like.

The trail is closely paralleled by and regularly accessible to Hwy. 371, with its own very wide, paved shoulders. Many marathon bikers choose to cross back and forth at will between the two.

A favorite location is the unpaved portion (bring proper equipment if biking) north of Walker, along Leech Lake and the southern shore of Kabekona Bay to the hamlet of Benedict. There are spectacular views of lakeshores, river crossings and even a large blue heron rookery.

Trails [Back to Top]

Heartland Trail
Near Walker, the Heartland Trail is northern Minnesota's oldest paved trail and its most recently resurfaced. The 27-mile long Walker-to-Park Rapids segment reopened in the fall of 1997 with a fine, new blacktopped surface, making it again one of state's premier recreational trails all year long...including winters, when it attracts snowmobilers with its phenomenal rides.

The segment southwest of Walker is praised not only for its beautiful and rugged lakes and forest scenery, its frequent wildlife, and native flowers, but also for its accessibility to a maze of exceptional, interconnecting system of trails and recreation areas. Foremost among these is the Chippewa National Forest's Shingobee Recreation Area about six miles south of Walker, and just across Hwy. 34 from the Heartland Trail.

Between the Recreation Area and the City of Walker, the Heartland offers a beautiful chain lakes, available for canoeing, and often accessible for a lakeside respite or picnic. The Heartland's (paved) trailhead is located just west of downtown Walker. Bike rentals are available about two blocks north of the trailhead on Co. Rd. 12.

The Heartland extends some 21 unpaved miles above Walker, splitting off from a highly scenic and also unpaved, portion of the Paul Bunyan Trail, before crossing the historic railroad trestle at very beautiful Kabekona Narrows on Leech Lake (about 4 miles above the city). The trail continues due north, skirting Leech Lake's Steamboat Bay, and crossing the beautiful bottomlands of the Steamboat River, before passing Steamboat Lake.

North Country National Scenic Trail
Fortunately for Leech Lake Area visitors, the Cass County portion of the North Country National Scenic Trail is complete. The entire trail, when finished, will be a magnificent 3,200 mile long walking trail connecting the Lewis & Clark Trail in western North Dakota with the Appalachian Trail in upstate New York. It will be the longest continuous foot path in the United States. Here, though, it is ready to be enjoyed.

It enters Cass County from the west, traversing the Chippewa National Forest along its southern, and most scenic, boundary and intersecting Minnesota's Heartland Recreational Trail. It next passes through the National Forest's beautiful and unusual Shingobee Recreation Area, before meeting Minnesota's Paul Bunyan Recreation Trail on the other side. From there it wanders east across the county, along beautiful, pristine, wilderness lakes and wetlands, and through glorious, hundred year-old stands of white and red pine forest.

Lake Country Scenic Byway
Highway 34 southwest from Walker through Park Rapids and on to Detroit Lakes was recently added to the list of Minnesota Scenic Byways. The drive takes in the north woods lake country along the way, and a spur about midway leads to Itasca State Park

Other trails to note...

• Soo Line Trail
  Connected with the Paul Bunyan Trail, and also built along an abandoned rail corridor.
  
  
• Mi-Ge-Zi Trail
  Four miles of paved trails for non-motorized hiking and biking along the east edge of Cass Lake and Pike Bay.
  
  
• Country Road 50 Walking Trail
  Eight miles of walking along the Shingobee River Valley.
  
  
• Cedar Bog Trail
  Hike or bike through natural cedar bogs. Twelve miles of nature at its finest. Public access is through Moondance Campground, south shore of Leech Lake.
  
  
• Lake Erin Interpretive Trail
  A five-mile trail surrounding the lake after which it is named.
  
  
• Oak Point Trail
  At the north end of Leech Lake's Steamboat Bay, 12 miles of walking trails.
  
  
• Stony Point Recreation Area Trail
  Nine miles of looped forest road for biking and hiking in the Chippewa National Forest.
  
  
• County Road 50 Walking Trail
  
  
• Heartland Trail
  
  
• Lake Erin Interpretive Trail
  
  
• Mi-Ge-Zi Trail
  
  
• North Country National Scenic Trail
  
  
• Oak Point Trail
  
  
• Paul Bunyan State Recreational Trail
  
  
• Shingobee Trail
  
  
• Stony Point Recreation Area Trail

Parks and Theaters [Back to Top]

Pine River Riding Stable
530 County IE (218) 587-5807
Pine River, MN 56474

Woodtick Theatre
Main Street
Akeley, MN 56433

Wedgewood Golf Course & Driving Range
PO Box 1606
Walker, MN 56484
(218) 547-2666

Wineries [Back to Top]

Forestedge Winery
35295 State Hwy 64 (218) 224-3535
Laporte, MN 56461
www.forestedgewinery.com 

For even more fun ideas for your next Leech Lake vacation, click here.

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