2
L R R 27 27 71 10 10 10 10 71 27 27 117 160 159 21 102 262 281 131 148 130 27 28 222 215 214 10 2 210 64 371 48 115 49 238 371 25 25 18 371 210 18 1 371 287 210 371 210 48 20 49 77 3 25 77 70 34 3 55 30 9 26 2 32 83 34 35 27 25 43 43 43 46 46 45 47 47 47 47 48 45 49 2 2 21 21 45 2 2 25 25 45 44 23 23 22 24 9 23 51 1 1 22 Staples Long Prairie Lake MORRISON COUNTY TODD COUNTY TODD COUNTY WADENA COUNTY Pillager Baxter Canoe Campsite Perch Lake White Sand Lake Red Sand Lake Lake Placid Sylvan Lake Pillager Lake Baxter CROW WING COUNTY CASS COUNTY Power Line Barrow Sylvan Dam Crow Wing State Park MORRISON COUNTY CASS COUNTY 990 Crow Wing River Fort Ripley Crow Wing Lake Nokassippi River Nokassippi River Little Group Camp Fee Charged CROW WING COUNTY MORRISON COUNTY Lake 985 980 Camp Ripley Military Reservation Broken Bow Cr. Fletcher Creek Topeka Island Camp Ripley Junction Fletcher Creek Landing & Campsite Randall Green Prairie Fish Lake 975 970 Little Elk River Roscoe Island Belle Prairie County Park Pike Creek Campsite Pike Creek Landing Charles A. Lindbergh State Park 4th Avenue Landing Little Falls Dam Flensburg 965 Pike Creek Little Falls Fee Charged Evergreen Landing French Rapids Rice Lake Access Lum Park Brainerd Kiwanis Park Potlatch Dam Rice Lake Buffalo Platte Rice Lake Pierz Lake River Creek Portage Right • 201 yards Portage Right - 126.5 yards Island 37 Pierz Lastrup Russel Lake South Long Lake Gilbert Lake 995 Portage Left • 325 yards Pipe Island Gull River 1000 1005 First Island Fort Ripley Landing Motley Crow Wing River Old Highway 371 Crow Wing State Park Gull Lake Genola Mosquito Creek Long Prairie R. Skunk River Mink Big Cr. Seven Mile Creek LeBourget Park Landing Little Falls Dam Mississippi River Mississippi River Ereaux WMA Mud Lake WMA Poor Farm WMA Little Nokasippi River WMA Neitermeier WMA Popple Lake WMA Ray Cook WMA Stanchfield Lake WMA Wittiker WMA Dower Lake WMA Orville’s Landing Marsh’s Landing Green Oak Landing Al Vah’s Wilder Landing Culdrum WMA Telef Paulson WMA Otter Point WMA Rice-Skunk WMA Ripley Esker SNA Sebie Lake 27 71 10 10 71 27 159 21 102 2 265 265 131 121 122 139 148 130 0 277 27 28 10 2 210 64 1 1 25 18 1 287 210 0 77 70 34 3 55 30 9 26 2 32 83 33 34 35 27 25 43 43 45 46 45 47 47 47 48 45 49 2 21 45 2 2 25 25 45 44 23 23 22 24 9 23 51 1 1 22 Stap aples l pl Lo Lo Lo Lo Lo L ng ng ng ng ng n ng ng P ra ra rair ir ir irie ie ie ie e Shamineau L ake MOR MORRIS RISON ON N ON COU COU COU C NTY NTY NTY NTY TY N C T ODD ODD ODD ODD O CO CO CO CO CO CO CO C UNT UNT UNT UNT UNT UNT UNT UNT UNT UNT UNT NT UN Y N N T T T ODD COUNT UN UN Y UN O O T T W ADENA COUNTY NTY TY NTY NTY NTY T DE W W P il illa lage ger e e e r er e e e r er e e r g g r L ake Placid Sylvan y y L L ake P illager ge L ake MORRISON N N N COU COU COU CO CO NTY NTY NT NT N OUNT OUNT ON CAS CAS CAS CAS CAS CAS CAS CAS CAS AS C S A S C S C S C S C S OUN OUN OU OU OU OUN OU O TY TY CO CA Nokassippi River L ake Alexander Ra Rand nd nd nd ndal al al al all an and Fl Fl Fl F en en e sb sbu e r g Platte P ierz L ake River P ie ie ierz rz r r La La La La La La L st st st st r up up up up up u R ussel L ake South L ong L ake Gull River Mo Motl tley ey ey e o l l C r C C ow r r W ing W W River C r ow ow W W Sta Stat S Gull L ake k Gen Gen Gen Gen Genola ol ola ola ol ola o a o Mosquito C r C C eek r r L ong P rairie P P R . Skunk River Mink Big C r C C . r r Seven Mile C r C C eek r r Mud Lake WMA a MA Neiter er WMA rmeier W W W r r Stanchfield Lake WMA S S fie Lake Lake Wittiker W k WMA W Dower Lake e ke k er Lake r Lake WMA Orville’s O Landing g a Marsh’s h Landing Landing L di Landing n Landing Green Oak re G Landing La Al Vah’s Wilder La d Culdrum WMA M Telef Paulson WMA l A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE ROUTE DESCRIPTION BRAINERD to LITTLE FALLS Sand plains, a forest of mixed hardwoods, islands and undeveloped shoreline define this river section. Broad shallow areas create riffles during most of the year, which complicate navigation for all but canoes and similar small craft. Crow Wing State Park and Camp Ripley Military Reservation occupy much of the section. The river’s banks are undeveloped, even though the Twin Cities are about two hours south. Paddling is easy, the views are remarkable, and fishing is great. Researchers conducting a recreational study of the Mississippi found one gentleman who was on the river north of Little Falls almost daily during the open water season—which ended for him on the Monday after one cold Thanksgiving. Chunks of ice were floating down the river, but the angler took a day’s haul of smallmouth bass. River miles are counted upstream from the Mississippi’s confluence with the Ohio River, according to a system developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Note: (R) and (L) refer to right bank and left bank, respectively, when facing downstream. 1006.5(L) French Rapids Access 1004.1(L) Rice Lake Access Access is located on the south end of the lake at Brainerd’s Lum Park. Drinking water, shelter, picnic area, fishing pier and swimming. 1004.1 Potlatch Dam Portage right 201 yds. 1003.4 (L)Evergreen Landing 1001.2 (L)Kiwanis Park The Mississippi leaves the City of Brainerd at Kiwanis Park. The City of Baxter extends downriver on the river’s right, or western bank. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Regional Headquarters is located on either side of the river, but generally, the corridor is wooded. 998.2 (L) Buffalo Creek Before settlement, this area was an open plain where buffalo grazed, and the journals of river explorers Zebulon Pike, Lewis Cass, and Henry Schoolcraft each record the explorer’s comments on the plain’s striking appearance. 995.8 (R) Baxter Campsite 997.0- (L) Crow Wing State Park 989.5 The park has a variety of day use and overnight facilities, The historic Red River Ox Cart Trail leads the visitor through the town site of the once-prosperous Old Crow Wing, which now features picnic grounds. Interpretive exhibits and naturalists programs are provided at a shelter area. There is a boat launch one mile upstream from the confluence of the Mississippi and Crow Wing rivers; a primitive campsite 990.5 (R) Crow Wing River The Crow Wing is a 100 mile river with a gradient of 2.5 feet per mile. It is an excellent and popular canoeing stream. and carry in access downstream of the confluence, and other camping options throughout the park. A State Park Vehicle Permit is required. 982.3 (L)Fort Ripley Landing The Nokasippi River meets the Mississippi River here. This was the original location of Fort Gaines, built in 1848 to protect Winnebago Indians who were brought to Minnesota during treaty negotiations with the Dakota and Ojibwe to provide a buffer; the fort also secured passage on the Woods Trail, which ran on the east side of the river, as Highway 371 does today. There is also a shorefishing area just downstream. 979.5 (R) Pipe Island Numerous islands in the river corridor are the result of the river’s profile and human use of the area. Logs were once floated downriver, and often caught midstream on the rocks and boulders. Jams of logs eventually became islands in the shallows of this river section, There are dozens of these islands in the channel. Watch for mud, and soft-shelled turtles sunning on exposed rocks and branches. 973.5 State Highway 115 This is the southern boundary of Camp Ripley. 972.6 (R) Fletcher’s Creek Landing & Campsite River access only for the public. Campsite on the right bank just downstream of the boat access. There is a private campground on the left, or east, bank. An island bisects the Mississippi below Fletcher’s Creek confluence with the Mississippi. 970.2 (L)Belle Prairie County Park This is a day use park. The Franciscan Sisters, whose church is near by, protect a beautiful stand of virgin white pine at the park. 967.9 (R) Little Elk River This is an historic Ojibwe village site. It is also the sight of the western-most fur trade post built by the French in the 18th century. Later a grain mill was built and a townsite planned, but they never developed. 967.1 U.S. Highway 10 965.8 (R) 4th Avenue Landing 965.7 LeBourget Park/5th Ave. Landing There are accesses on both sides of the river above the dam. 965.3 (L) Little Falls Dam, Access and Pier Built in the late 19th century the dam is now owned by Minnesota Power and used to generate electricity for town and for operations of Hennepin Power, located just downstream on the west bank. There is a public access on the river’s east bank. Portage left 325 yards, just downstream from the Hwy 27 bridge. 964.4 (L) Weyerhauser-Musser and Rosenmeier Homes Overlooking the Mississippi River and Little Falls’ river parks are two gracious older homes, built by the Weyerhauser and Musser families. Just east of those two houses is the home occupied by Gordon Rosenmeier, who had a distinguished career in the Minnesota Senate. 964.0- (R) Charles A. Lindbergh State Park and 963.2 Historic Site/ Pike Creek Landing The state park is upstream of the Mississippi’s confluence with Pike Creek, and the historic site is downstream of the confluence. Campsites are located one mile up Pike Creek. There is camping, boat access, modern facilities and interpretive programs at the park. The park is named for the Minnesota Congressman who was also the father of the aviator Charles Lindbergh. The family lived in the house before Charles A. Lindbergh’s election to Congress. The family spent summers in Little Falls in later years. 963.3 (R) Pike Creek Landing Concrete trailer access. This location marks the down river boundary of this map. Refer to map 6, Little Falls to St. Cloud, for further downriver information. U.S. Highway Carry-in Access Trailer Access Outfitter Dock Campground Watercraft Campsite Shelter Picnic Area Drinking Water Dam Interpretive Center Point of Interest Fish Hatchery Hospital Designated Public Land Fishing Pier Interstate Highway State Highway Safe Refuge is shelter with access to a telephone North County Road River Mile Rapids Safe Refuge 0 0 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 kilometers miles W.M.A. = Wildlife Management Area S.N.A. = Scientific and Natural Area

Mississippi River State Water Trail map 5files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/canoe_routes/mississippi5.pdfTopeka Island Camp Ripley Junction Fletcher Creek ... Tu r tle CrCCrreekk WMAWA

  • Upload
    vuanh

  • View
    218

  • Download
    3

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

L

R

R

2727

71

10

10

10

10

71

27 27

117

160

159

21

102

262265

265

281

131 131

121

122

139

148

130

277

27

28222

215

214

10

2

210

64

1

1371

48

115

49

238

371

25

25

18

371

210

18

1

371

287

210

371

210

48

20

49

77

3

257770

34

3

55 30

9

26

232

83

33

34

35

27

25

43

43

43

45

46 46

45

47

474747

48

45

49

2 2

21

21

45

2 2

25

25

45

44

23

23

22

24

9

23

51

1

1

22

Staples

Long Prairie

ShamineauLake

MO

RR

ISO

N C

OU

NTY

TOD

D C

OU

NTY

TODD COUNTYWADENA COUNTY

PillagerBaxter Canoe

Campsite

Perc

h La

ke

WhiteSandLake

Red SandLake

Lake Placid

Sylvan Lake

Pilla

ger

Lake

Baxter

CR

OW

WIN

G C

OU

NTY

CA

SS C

OU

NTY

Power Line

Barrow

Sylvan Dam

Crow WingState Park

MORRISON COUNTY

CASS COUNTY

990

Crow Wing

River

Fort Ripley

Crow Wing

Lake

Nokassippi

River

Nokassippi

RiverLittle

Group CampFee Charged

CROW WING COUNTYMORRISON COUNTY

LakeAlexander

985

980

Camp

Ripley

Military

Reservation

Broken Bow Cr.

Fletch

er

Cre

ek

Topeka Island

Camp RipleyJunction

Fletcher Creek Landing

& Campsite

Randall

Green PrairieFish Lake

975

970Little

ElkRiver

Roscoe Island

Belle Prairie County Park

Pike Creek Campsite

Pike Creek Landing

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park

4th Avenue Landing Little Falls Dam

Flensburg

965Pike

Creek

Little Falls

Fee Charged

EvergreenLanding

FrenchRapids

Rice Lake AccessLum Park

Brainerd

Kiwanis Park

Potlatch DamRice Lake

Buffalo

Platte

Rice Lake

Pierz Lake

River

Creek

Portage Right • 201 yards

Portage Right - 126.5 yards

Island 37

Pierz

Lastrup

RusselLake

South

Long L

ake

Gilbert

Lake

995

Portage Left • 325 yards

Pipe Island

Gull

Rive

r

1000

1005

First Island

Fort RipleyLanding

Motley

Fish TrapLake

Browerville

River

Prai

rie

Long

Little Elk

Beau

tyLa

ke

Crow

Wing

River

Old Highway

371

Crow WingState Park

Gull Lake

Genola

Mos

quito

Cree

k

LongPrairie

R.

Skun

k

River

Mink

Big

Cr.

Seven

Mile

Creek

LeBourgetPark Landing

Little Falls Dam

Mississip

pi River

Mis

siss

ippi

Ri

ver

Staples WMA

Little Elk WMA

Ereaux WMA

Ruff-Nik WMA

Mud Lake WMA

Long Prairie River WMA

Kobliska WMA

Ruff-Nik WMA

Phillbrook WMA

Poor FarmWMA

Little Nokasippi River WMA

Turtle Creek WMA

Neitermeier WMA

Loerch WMA

Popple Lake WMA

Hartford WMA

Long Prairie River WMA

Ray CookWMA

Lawrence Lake WMA

Sheets Lake WMA

Stanchfield Lake WMA

Wittiker WMA

Dower LakeWMA

Orville’sLanding

Marsh’sLanding

Green OakLanding

Al Vah’s

Wilder Landing

Culdrum WMA

Telef Paulson WMA

Otter Point WMA

Lawrence Lake WMA

Kobliska WMA

Rice-Skunk WMA

Lake Alexander Woods SNA

Ripley Esker SNA

Lake Alexander Woods SNA

Lake Alexander Woods SNA

SebieLake

27

71

10

10

71

27

159

21

1022

265

265

131

121

122

139

148

1300

277

27

28

10

2

210

64

1

1

25

18

1

287

2100

7770

34

3

55 30

9

26

232

83

33

34

35

27

25

43

43

45

46

45

47

4747

48

45

49

2

21

45

2 2

25

25

45

44

23

23

22

24

9

23

51

1

1

22

Stapapppppleslpl

LLLoLoLoLoLoL ngngngngnnnngnnnnn ngng PPPPrararaaairirirrirrieieieieeeee

ShamineauLake

MO

RM

OR

RIS

RIS

ON

O

N

NNO

NNNC

OU

CO

UC

OUU

CN

TYN

TYN

TYN

TYTYN

CTTTTTTO

DD

OD

DO

DD

OD

DDO

CO

CO

CO

CO

COO

COO

CO

CU

NT

UN

TU

NT

UN

TU

NT

UN

TU

NT

UN

TU

NT

UN

TU

NT

NT

UUN

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYNN

TTTTTTTT

TODD COUNTUNUUNNNNNNNN YYYUNOOTTWWWWWAAADENA COUUNTYNTYTYNTYYYNTYNTYTDEWWWW

PPilillalagegerreeerereeerereergg r

Lake Placid

Sylvan yyLLake

Pilla

ger

geLa

ke

MORRISONN N N COUCOUCOUCOCCCCO NTYNTYNTNTNOUNTOUNTON

CASCASCASCASCASCASCASCASCASAASCC SA S CS CSSSSS CS CCSS OUNOUNOUOUOUOUNOUOOO TYTYYYYCOCA

Nokassippi

River

LakeAlexander

RRRaRaandndndnddddnddalalalalallllllllanand

FlFFlFlF enenee sbsbuuuue rrrrggggggg

Platte

Pierz Lake

River

PPPieieieerzrzrr

LaLaLaLaLaLaLLL ststststrupupupupppupppppu

RusselLake

South

Long L

ake

Gull

Rive

r

MoMotltleyeyeyyeo ll

Fish FF TrapTTLake

BBrrr weweweoweoo rrrvillllllleeeee

River

RRPr

airi

eriri

PPLo

ng

LittLiLiL le Elk

Bea

Beau

tyBe

aLa

ke

CrCCow

rr

WingWW

River

Crrow ow WWStaStatSSS

Gull Lakek

GenGenGenGenGenolaololaolaololao ao

Mos

quito

CrCCee

krr

LongPrairiePP

R.

Skun

k

River

Mink

Big

CrCC .rr

Seven

Mile

CrCC eekrr

SStaples WMAS WW AAAAAASSS AA

Litttle Elk WMAttttle Elk WMElkElktttttt ElkElkElk

Rufff-Nik WMAAAAAAAAff

Mud Lake WMAa

Long PPrairie RivP RiP ver Wv WWMAWPPPPPP vv

Koobliska Wobliska WWMAWMWooo MMMM

Ruff-Nik WMANik WWWMWMNNNNN WW

Phillbrook WMAbrookbrookbbbb kkkkkk

MA

Turtle CrCr WMACreek WWC keekeek ACr ATu WWWrCr

Neiter er WMArmeier WWWrr

Hartford WHartford WMAfHartford WMAH ooordorord MMWMWM

Long Prairie River WMRiverRiverRiver AL P i ir iri rrrrriviv

Lawrence Lake WMAe Le Lence ence a kencn e LaLaLa

SheeSh ets Lake WMAWMkke WWke We We WWWWe We WWkeke

Stanchfield Lake WMASS fifie Lake Lake

Wittiker Wk WMAW

Dower Lakeekeker Laker LakeWMA

Orville’sOLandingga

Marsh’shLandingLandingL diLandingnLanding

Green OakreGLandingLa

Al Vah’s

Wilder Lad

Culdrum WMAM

Telef Paulson WMAl

Lawrence Lake WMAcecew L

Kobliska WMM ka MAKKo kaka MM

Lakkkeee AAAAAAlleexxander WoWW oooddddddsss SSSSSSSNNNNNNNNA

Laaaakkkkkkkeeee AAAlllllexxxaaaanddeer WWWWoWW oodddddsss SSSNNNAAA

Lakkke Alexxxxxxandddder WWWWWWWoWW ods SNAAA

A S TAT E WAT E R T R A I L G U I D E T O T H E M I S S I S S I P P I R I V E R

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE

ROUTE DESCRIPTION BRAINERD to LITTLE FALLS

Sand plains, a forest of mixed hardwoods, islands and undeveloped shoreline define this river section. Broad shallow areas create riffles during most of the year, which complicate navigation for all but canoes and similar small craft. Crow Wing State Park and Camp Ripley Military Reservation occupy much of the section. The river’s banks are undeveloped, even though the Twin Cities are about two hours south. Paddling is easy, the views are remarkable, and fishing is great. Researchers conducting a recreational study of the Mississippi found one gentleman who was on the river north of Little Falls almost daily during the open water season—which ended for him on the Monday after one cold Thanksgiving. Chunks of ice were floating down the river, but the angler took a day’s haul of smallmouth bass. River miles are counted upstream from the Mississippi’s confluence with the Ohio River, according to a system developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.Note: (R) and (L) refer to right bank and left bank, respectively, when facing downstream.

1006.5(L) French Rapids Access

1004.1(L) Rice Lake Access Access is located on the south end of the lake at Brainerd’s Lum Park. Drinking water, shelter, picnic area, fishing pier and swimming.

1004.1 Potlatch Dam Portage right 201 yds.

1003.4 (L) Evergreen Landing

1001.2 (L) Kiwanis Park The Mississippi leaves the City of Brainerd at Kiwanis Park. The City of Baxter extends downriver on the river’s right, or western bank. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Regional Headquarters is located on either side of the river, but generally, the corridor is wooded.

998.2 (L) Buffalo Creek Before settlement, this area was an open plain where buffalo grazed, and the journals of river explorers Zebulon Pike, Lewis Cass, and Henry Schoolcraft each record the explorer’s comments on the plain’s striking appearance.

995.8 (R) Baxter Campsite

997.0- (L) Crow Wing State Park989.5 The park has a variety of day use and overnight facilities, The historic Red River Ox Cart Trail leads the visitor through the town site of the once-prosperous Old Crow Wing, which now features picnic grounds. Interpretive exhibits and naturalists programs are provided at a shelter area. There is a boat launch one mile upstream from the confluence of the Mississippi and Crow Wing rivers; a primitive campsite 990.5 (R) Crow Wing River The Crow Wing is a 100 mile river with a gradient of 2.5 feet per mile. It is an excellent and popular canoeing stream.

and carry in access downstream of the confluence, and other camping options throughout the park. A State Park Vehicle Permit is required.

982.3 (L) Fort Ripley Landing The Nokasippi River meets the Mississippi River here. This was the original location of Fort Gaines, built in 1848 to protect Winnebago Indians who were brought to Minnesota during treaty negotiations with the Dakota and Ojibwe to provide a buffer; the fort also secured passage on the Woods Trail, which ran on the east side of the river, as Highway 371 does today. There is also a shorefishing area just downstream.

979.5 (R) Pipe Island Numerous islands in the river corridor are the result of the river’s profile and human use of the area. Logs were once floated downriver, and often caught midstream on the rocks and boulders. Jams of logs eventually became islands in the shallows of this river section, There are dozens of these islands in the channel. Watch for mud, and soft-shelled turtles sunning on exposed rocks and branches.

973.5 State Highway 115 This is the southern boundary of Camp Ripley.

972.6 (R) Fletcher’s Creek Landing & Campsite River access only for the public. Campsite on the right bank just downstream of the boat access. There is a private campground on the left, or east, bank. An island bisects the Mississippi below Fletcher’s Creek confluence with the Mississippi.

970.2 (L) Belle Prairie County Park This is a day use park. The Franciscan Sisters, whose church is near by, protect a beautiful stand of virgin white pine at the park.

967.9 (R) Little Elk River This is an historic Ojibwe village site. It is also the sight of the western-most fur trade post built by the French in the 18th century. Later a grain mill was built and a townsite planned, but they never developed.

967.1 U.S. Highway 10

965.8 (R) 4th Avenue Landing

965.7 LeBourget Park/5th Ave. Landing There are accesses on both sides of the river above the dam.

965.3 (L) Little Falls Dam, Access and Pier Built in the late 19th century the dam is now owned by Minnesota Power and used to generate electricity for town and for operations of Hennepin Power, located just downstream on the west bank. There is a public access on the river’s east bank. Portage left 325 yards, just downstream from the Hwy 27 bridge.

964.4 (L) Weyerhauser-Musser and Rosenmeier Homes Overlooking the Mississippi River and Little Falls’ river parks are two gracious older homes, built by the Weyerhauser and Musser families. Just east of those two houses is the home occupied by Gordon Rosenmeier, who had a distinguished career in the Minnesota Senate.

964.0- (R) Charles A. Lindbergh State Park and 963.2 Historic Site/ Pike Creek Landing The state park is upstream of the Mississippi’s confluence with Pike Creek, and the historic site is downstream of the confluence. Campsites are located one mile up Pike Creek. There is camping, boat access, modern facilities and interpretive programs at the park. The park is named for the Minnesota Congressman who was also the father of the aviator Charles Lindbergh. The family lived in the house before Charles A. Lindbergh’s election to Congress. The family spent summers in Little Falls in later years.

963.3 (R) Pike Creek Landing Concrete trailer access.

This location marks the down river boundary of this map. Refer to map 6, Little Falls to St. Cloud, for further downriver information.

U.S. Highway

Carry-in Access

Trailer Access

Outfitter

Dock

Campground

Watercraft Campsite

Shelter

Picnic Area

Drinking Water

Dam

Interpretive Center

Point of Interest

Fish Hatchery

Hospital

Designated Public Land

Fishing Pier

Interstate Highway State Highway

Safe Refuge is shelter with access to a telephone

North

County Road

River Mile

Rapids

Safe Refuge

0

0 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 kilometers

miles W.M.A. = Wildlife Management AreaS.N.A. = Scientific and Natural Area

HEADWATERS RIVER TRAIL

The Mississippi River makes a question mark shape on the land as it travels from Lake Itasca to St. Cloud. You are invited to follow the Headwaters River Trail down the first 420 miles of the Mississippi River. At Lake Itasca, the Headwaters trickle over a stone ledge, where you can wade across the mighty river. Tributaries add momentum for the 2,348 mile trek to the Gulf of Mexico; groundwater contributes two-thirds of the Mississippi River’s initial flow. From the Headwaters, the river flows through nine lakes. Glacial hills, called moraines, and glacial depressions, now lakes and wetlands, create scenic views. Wetlands, marshes, and oxbows act as natural filtration systems, preserving waterquality. Rapids and riffles dot the entire river. Fishing is great!

River elevation drops 500 feet from Itasca to St. Cloud. Hydropower and water control dams require portages. A braided river pattern joins the Mesabi and Cuyuna Iron Ranges — 100 miles apart by road and 200 miles by river. The Cuyuna Range is the most rugged area of the Headwaters. Near Brainerd, development and agriculture increase with a more defined channel; natural characteristics are preserved. The Mississippi Headwaters Board is an eight-county joint powers board organized to protect the natural, cultural, scenic, scientific and recreational values identified in the Mississippi Headwaters Guide Book. The Headwaters is an extraordinary place for wildlife and rare plants. Citizens protect the Mississippi River at its Headwaters to help provide safe drinking water to millions of people downstream in St. Cloud and the Twin Cities, and in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.Choose a wilderness experience or visit parks with a variety of facilities. Either way you will see a unique place and meet the people who live here. The Mississippi River is a fun place to visit.

PLANNING A SAFE RIVER TRIP

A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe journey, you should be prepared. You should be acquainted with your route. Choose a distance that is comfortable for you. Water levels can speed you or slow you: get information about water levels from the regional DNR office, or check the river level gauges listed in the route description section of this map. Protect the water and shorelands and leave nothing behind you except footprints. Remember that much of the shorelands are privately owned.

Trip Planning• Travel with a companion or group. Plan your trip with a map before you depart and advise someone of your plans including planned departure and arrival times.• Most people paddle two to three river miles per hour.• Lake Bemidji, Cass Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish can be dangerous; stay within swimming distance of shore. If you are uncomfortable with large open water, plan to use a vehicle to portage around the lakes. • Bring a first aid kit that includes waterproof matches.

• Be cautious of river obstructions, such as overhanging and dead trees in the river.

• You must pack out all trash.• Leave only footprints; take only photographs!

Rest Areas and Camping Sites• Public rest areas are available along the route to rest, picnic and explore.

t

• Camp only in designated campsites, which are available on a first come-first served basis.• Bring drinking water. It is only available at a limited number of rest areas. Drinking river water is no recommended, but if you do it must be treated.• Respect private property. Stop only at designated sites; much of the shoreland is private property.• Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or bury human waste away from the river.

Boating Information• Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device.

• Bring an extra paddle.• Not all portions of this water trail are suitable for motor use.• Register your watercraft. All watercraft more than 9 feet in length, including nonmotorized canoes and kayaks, must be registered in Minnesota or your state of residence.

ABOUT THIS RIVER SECTIONBrainerd to Little Falls

The Mississippi River completes its circuit around the high lands of northern Minnesota as it approaches Brainerd from the northeast. The river flows out of the forest and wetlands of northern Minnesota and into a narrow valley, bounded by broad sandplains. The main channel is quite broad, but broken up by islands. The Crow Wing River flows southeasterly to the Mississippi from a system of lakes lying east of the Mississippi headwaters at Lake Itasca. Minnesota’s eastern forests and western prairies intersect at the confluence of these two rivers. The Nokasippi River drains the lowlands of Crow Wing County from just east of Mille Lacs Lake. Below the confluence with the Nokasippi River, the Mississippi flows through a flat valley formed by glacial outwash material that is now bounded by hills on either side. The shoreline is vegetated, and the lands just beyond are cultivated for farming. The water table is very shallow, making the sandplain area quite productive. Local farmers draw water from the Mississippi for irrigation and a gravel operation also taps this resource. The Mississippi’s channel is underlain by rocky bars that create riffles and make navigation difficult for even the smallest boat’s motor. These riffles create small standing waves in the channel. The system of riffles begins at Pipe Island, about three river miles below the Nokasippi, and continues down river to the State Highway 115 bridge, the southern boundary of Camp Ripley. Good water quality supports an excellent game fish population including muskie, walleye, smallmouth bass and northern pike. The original prairies bordering the Mississippi were three to five miles long and one mile wide. These sand plains were covered in prairie plants, which adapted to open and dry areas. The prairie vole and the upland sandpiper live here. Watch for deer, raccoon, bear, muskrat, beaver, turtles, waterfowl, hawks and eagles along the shore. A prominent glacial feature of this section is the Ripley esker, lying just east of the Mississippi. This sinuous ridge was created by the deposit of sediments where a stream once ran under a glacier. The ridge’s west slope is mostly open and dominated by a remnant oak savanna and dry prairie. In contrast, the east slope supports a diverse deciduous woods, including maple and basswood. The actual esker is about three miles long. A section of the esker is owned by the Nature Conservancy and is protected as a Minnesota Scientific and Natural Area.

Camp Ripley Military Reservation is located on the river’s west bank. It extends 18 river miles downstream from the confluence with the Crow Wing River. The land is owned by the State of Minnesota and managed by the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs. The Camp covers 53,000 acres and serves as a training facility for National Guard and MNDNR units. Camp Ripley supports numerous environmental programs, and special uses of its lands, such as deer hunting for disabled veterans. Timberwolves have made a comeback here. The Camp is known today for its winter training programs, and hosts troops from around the world. Troops have been stationed here since the early 19th century. Downstream of Camp Ripley, the Mississippi’s channel is broken by the Thousand Islands, created about 100 years ago when logs jammed the shallow river. The largest log jam in the world formed north of Little Falls in 1893-4. It started at the Northern Pacific railroad bridge and extended up the Mississippi some 6-1/2 miles long, 1/2 mile wide and 30 to 60 feet deep. There were about 4-1/2 billion board feet of lumber in the jam. It took 150 men, five teams of horses, and one steam engine about six months to break it up. Some logs remained in place, gathering sediment and eventually becoming the islands that break the river’s path today. Just upstream of Little Falls, Belle Prairie Park offers day use. A Catholic mission was established here in the 19th century, led by Father Pierz, who traveled extensively throughout the lands held by Ojibwe people. A stand of virgin white pine is tended by the Franciscan Sisters who operate a convent and boarding school east of the river. A replica of the original log cabin convent

can be seen next to the Belle Prairie church. Belle Prairie Park contains a remnant of the Red River Ox Cart Trail, which linked fur trading posts in the Red River Valley with St. Paul, before the Civil War. The confluence of the Mississippi and the Little Elk River, just north of Little Falls, is the site of Fort Duquesne, a colonial outpostbuilt by the Marins, an

influential family who controlled the French interest west of Green Bay in the early 1750s. The area was also home to Ojibway leader Hole-In-The-Day, the site of a church mission and an early town site.

HEADWATERS RESOURCES

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES1601 Minnesota Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401(218) 833-8715

CROW WING STATE PARK7100 State Park Rd. SW, Brainerd, MN 56401(218) 825-3075

BRAINERD LAKES AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE6th & Washington Sts. PO Box 356, Brainerd, MN 56401-0356(218) 829-2838 • 1(800) 450-2838

LITTLE FALLS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE200 1st St. NW, Little Falls, MN 56345-1365(320) 632-5155

SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy and attractive natural environment. Sustainable outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the outdoors without negative impacts on the environment. Communities working together can improve water resources by promoting environmentally sensitive land-use practices along rivers and throughout watersheds. Natural shoreline buffers improve water quality by filtering out pollutants and sediments. Healthy and diverse native shoreline plant communities are attractive and provide important habitat for birds and wildlife.

BELTRAMI

HUBBARD

CLEAR-WATER

ITASCA

AITKIN

CASS

CROW WING

M O R R I S O N

Bemidji

Lake Bemidji

Cass Lake

Lake Itasca

Lake Andrusia

Cass LakeBall Club

Lake Winnibigoshish

Deer River

PokegamaLake

Cohasset

Jacobson

Palisade

Brainerd

Aitkin

Fort Ripley

Riverton

Little Falls

Scho

olcr

aft

Rive

r

TurtleRiver

Leech

Willow River

Prair

ie R

iver

Swan R

iver

Lake River

Vermillion River

Lake George

Walker

Randall

Sartell

St. Cloud

Royalton

Remer

Cross Lake

Crosby

Pillager

Deerwood

McGregor

Turtle River

Pine River

Nokasippi Rive

r

Gull Lake

Little Elk

Swan River

River

Crow

Wing

River

Grand Rapids

Big SandyLake

Splithand River

A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER“The Mississippi here traverses the immense plains which extend to the Missouri, and which present to the eye a spectacle at once interesting and fatiguing. Scarcely the slightest variation in the surface occurs, and they are entirely destitute of timber. In this debatable land, the game is very abundant; buffaloes, elks and deer range unharmed and unconscious of harm.” Lewis Cass, 1820

1601 Minnesota DriveBrainerd, MN 56401218-828-2619

Photos: Peter Card II© 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota State Parks and Trails Regional Unit

PROTEC

TING THE FIRST 400 MILES

OF THE MISSISS

IPPI

RIVER

This Publication was produced by the Mississippi Headwaters board in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Financial support was provided by the folowing organizations.

Minnesota PowerREI/National Rivers Coalition

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation BoardItasca Trails Task ForceMcKnight Foundation

National Forest Foundation

Mississippi Headwaters BoardP.O. Box 3000, Walker, MN 56484218-547-7263mhbriverwatch.dst.mn.us

“The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is an Equal Opportunity Employer”

This information is available in alternativeformat upon request.

Online water trail information and maps can be found at mndnr.gov/watertrails

Mississippi RiverBrainerd to Little Falls - Map 5 of 9

STATE WATER TRAIL MAP

The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions

pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota.

DNR Information Center

500 Lafayette Road

St. Paul, MN 55155-4040651-296-6157 Metro Area1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free

mndnr.gov