Parks around Superior

At the western end of Lake Superior, Duluth-Superior Harbor offers a close view of commercial shipping, lighthouses, a park, and a lakewalk. The Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center exhibits the Corps' role in harbor and connecting channel development. All aspects of shipping are displayed with ship artifacts, scale models, and a full size pilot house replica. School and community group prog...

This byway follows the majestic shoreline of Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake. Experience some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The drive provides access to eight state parks, and the Superior National Forest and offers unlimited opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in all seasons.

The 16,697-acre Lake Superior Reserve is a combination of four distinct land areas and portions of connecting waterways in Douglas County, in the northwest corner of Wisconsin where the St. Louis River flows into Lake Superior. Each area possesses its own combination of habitats. The Reserve includes uplands and submerged lands; riparian and riverine habitat; riverine islands; emergent freshwater ...

The Rainbow Lake Wilderness now contains a total of 6,583 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Wisconsin. In 1975 the Rainbow Lake Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of ...

The Porcupine Lake Wilderness now contains a total of 4,292 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Wisconsin. In 1984 the Porcupine Lake Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age...

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge is part of a large wetland complex on Lake Superior, near Ashland, Wisconsin. These coastal wetlands are a significant part of the wildlife habitat and aquatic resources of the south shore of Lake Superior. The refuge was established in 1999, and it is still being created. Its purpose is to protect, restore, and manage coastal wetland and spring-f...

The 18,064-acre Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1935 and is located in the scenic forest and bog area of northern Minnesota. Visitors can enjoy a range of habitats, including lake, river, bog and hardwood forest. The Refuge's history centers around the 4,500-acre Rice Lake which, for thousands of years, has supplied an abundant wild rice crop. Each fall, the bountiful...

The Headwaters Lakes Project is located in Minnesota?s lake country. Campfires and sunsets and the peacefulness of the water make each day a special event. The dams were originally constructed of native materials (earthen embankments filled with puddled clay, and timber control structures) in the early 1880s, except Gull Lake, which was constructed in 1912, using concrete. Sandy Lake Dam had the n...

Explore the Mississippi from the headwaters of Lake Itasca through unique landscapes of northern forests, central lakes, rolling farmland, metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul, and scenic bluff country. Relive history aboard a nostalgic steamboat. Fish the shores of Minnesota's many waters. Savor the culture of the Twin Cities and robust river towns.

Along windswept beaches and cliffs, visitors experience where water meets land and sky, culture meets culture, and past meets present. The 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland host a unique blend of cultural and natural resources. Lighthouses shine over Lake Superior and the new wilderness areas. Visitors can hike, paddle, sail, or cruise to experience these Jewels of Lake Superior.

Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1915 and is known as the smallest refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge is comprised of two small islands (0.57 acres total) over a mile from shore on Lake Mille Lacs in north-central Minnesota. The islands are boulder and gravel outcrops important for colonial nesting birds, including common terns, ring-billed and herring...

The St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers offer 255 miles of clean water gliding or rushing past a lush green landscape, with glimpses of human presence. Choose to canoe and camp amid the Northwoods, or boat and fish surrounded by wooded bluffs and historic towns. This river corridor provides bountiful scenic views and a haven for wildlife near a major metropolitan area. Plan a visit!

America's Outdoors is a public information center that provides recreation information on national, state, and local outdoor areas; environmental education materials; and a professional staff to assist with citizen-based conservation projects. The Center also has automated General Land Office Records documenting the transfer of lands from U.S. ownership to private landowners. These services are pr...

The Superior National Forest offers a wide variety  of recreational opportunities from RV camping to hiking in secluded woodlands, from canoeing to hunting.  All are chances to get outside, explore, and enjoy your national forest.Among your opportunities are:Hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, snowmobile and ATV riding, or observing nature along 2000 miles o...

Avenue of Pines Byway cuts right through the heart of Chippewa National Forest and borders the large Lake Winnibigoshish, revered by Minnesota anglers for walleye, northern pike and most other game fish. Other fine fishing waters include Cut Foot Sioux Lake, Squaw Lake, and many smaller lakes. Nine forest service campgrounds, as well as countless resorts and private campgrounds, provide a wealth ...

You will find something unique about a vacation in Minnesota's lake country. The six unique lakes, Gull Lake, the Whitefish Chain (Cross Lake), Big Sandy Lake, Pokegama Lake, Leech Lake, and Lake Winnibigoshish, are roughly bounded by a triangle from Brainerd to Bemidji to Grand Rapids in central Minnesota. Campfires and sunsets and the peacefulness of the water make each day a special event. Fro...

Travel this spectacular, winding byway by many pristine lakes, forests, swamps, rolling hills, and other unique features. Outdoor recreation, interpretive sites, and other exciting opportunities await the traveler. During fall, the northwoods is adorned with the brilliant colors of red sugar maples, bronze oak trees and glowing gold aspen and birch.

Lying along the eastern edge of the tallgrass prairie in west-central Wisconsin, the St. Croix Wetland Management District encompasses a fascinating diversity of habitats. Within the eight-county district, one can travel north through the high river bluffs of Pepin County, to the prairie potholes of St. Croix County, and then to the pine barrens of Burnett County. The distr...

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in the east central region of the state, approximately 50 miles northwest of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and 30 miles southeast of St. Cloud. The refuge protects 30,665 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The primary mission of the refuge is to represent a diverse biological community characteristic of the transit...

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness now contains a total of 810,088 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Minnesota. In 1964 the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportuniti...

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992 to preserve a large, natural wetland complex. The 1,825-acre refuge is located in central Minnesota and serves as an important stop for many species of migrating birds. It harbors one of the largest nesting populations of greater sandhill cranes in Minnesota. Habitats include native tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and wetlands with de...