The Great River Road offers the best of Minnesota. The route encompasses the banks of the Mississippi River, 10,000 lakes, beautiful bluff lands, and a variety of outdoor recreation and wildlife. Brilliant wildflowers, evergreen forests, colored autumn leaves, rainbows, snowflakes, migrating birds, and waving fields of grain make this byway a photographer's paradise.
Recreational spots have taken over the land of the lumberjack, where Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, used to roam freely. State parks and lakeside resorts are all part of the fun that visitors will find on the Great River Road today.
And then there is the river itself. Minnesota is where the mighty Mississippi begins. Its meanderings make up a trail of cultural, historical, natural, recreational, and scenic sites. Whether camping in the forested areas of the north or relaxing in a Minneapolis hotel, you will find accommodations in the perfect setting.
The Great River Road is an adventure along myriad quaint towns and urban cities. The Twin Cities metropolitan area offers the hustle and bustle of a city that is rich in history, culture, and recreational opportunities. Deep wilderness surrounds the river towns of Minnesota and offers relaxation and privacy.
Cultural Qualities of the Great River Road
The Great River Road in Minnesota takes you along the southeast end of the state, providing a look at the culture that began and continued on the banks of the Mississippi. This is where you find the Great River and the source of the development of civilization in Minnesota.
It began with the American Indian nations of the Sioux and Chippewa, who lived in the area for many years before they began to interact with the Europeans in fur trade. When wildlife grew scarce, new settlers began an industry of logging, which forced native nations out of the area so that logging could proceed.
Although many people initially came to the area for jobs in the logging industry, tourism was blossoming as people traveled to see the beautiful Minnesota forests. In the 1930s, people began to restore the once-great forests of giant red and white pines. An appreciation of nature is still part of the byway culture today.
Great River Road Information
Length: 575 miles
Time to allow: Two days or longer
States it runs through: Minnesota, Iowa
Cities it runs through: Red Wing, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Grand Rapids
Considerations: Several portions of the northern part of the Great River Road have a gravel surface. The speed limit on the byway varies, but generally it is 55 mph in the country and 30 mph through towns. During winter, you may find some icy patches in the rural parts of the roadway. |
Cultures of the past have left traces of the past. Native American languages can still be found in names like Lake Winnibigoshish and Ah-Gwah-Ching (Leech Lake), while the heritage of the European settlers resounds in the names of communities all along the road. You will also find more recent pieces of American culture in Lindbergh State Park and the Lindbergh home, a memorial and a glimpse at the boyhood of the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh.
The Great River Road communities in Minnesota offer many festivals that celebrate the legends, products, immigrant culture, and art found along the byway. For example, as you travel from Itasca to Bemidji, you can experience the Annual Ozawindib Walk, the Annual International Snowsnake Games, and the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Reunion and Show.
You can also enjoy the Annual Winter Bird Count, Art in the Park in July, and the People's Art Festival in November. Finally, you can visit the Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues that were erected in 1937 for a winter carnival.
In the Minneapolis to St. Paul area of the byway, you can experience 1840s food, dining, and preparation. Special events include Children's Day, Historic Mendota Days, the Mill City Blues Festival, the Capital City Celebration, and a New Year's Eve party.
Also, visit the Taste of Minnesota, the Minneapolis Aquatennial, the St. Paul Winter Carnival, and La Fete de Saint Jean-Baptiste. From Red Wing to Winona, stop and visit the Red Wing Shoe Museum. Some of the events that occur along this part of the byway include a Music Festival, a powwow, River City Days, and an Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous.
Historical Qualities of the Great River Road
When Henry Rowe Schoolcraft identified the true source of the Mississippi as the crystal-clear waters that flow from Lake Itasca, the final boundaries of the Louisiana Purchase were set. The Mississippi River, however, was important to Native Americans centuries before the Europeans arrived. In fact, the name Mississippi was an Algonquin name that, when applied to rivers, meant Great River (hence the name Great River Road).
During the 1820s and 1830s, Fort Snelling and Grand Portage (on Lake Superior) were the focal points of Euro-American activity in the region. Strategically located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, Fort Snelling served as the first U.S. military outpost in the area.
The Great River Road traces the river through the Chippewa National Forest, created by Congress in 1902. Although originally only small areas of pines were preserved, now more than 600,000 acres of land are managed by the National Forest Service. In this forest is historic Sugar Point on Leech Lake, another of the Mississippi River reservoirs.
You can also visit Battleground State Forest, the site of the last recorded American Indian battle with the U.S. government, and Federal Dam, one of six dams constructed in the area between 1884 and 1912 to stabilize water levels on the Mississippi downstream. The legacies of the great pine forests along the Mississippi live in the majestic trees that remain.
In Bemidji, the most recognizable landmark is the 1937 colossal statues of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, located on the shore of LakeBemidji. The legend of the giant lumberjack illustrates the importance of the lumber industry for many northern Minnesota towns.
Due to its closeness to the river, St. Paul became a transportation hub for opening up the upper Midwest. It also became Minnesota's state capital, and Minneapolis became the nation's main flour-milling district.
St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis and the locks and dams provide testimony to people's success at harnessing the power of the river to create a thriving urban center. Flour, beer, textiles, and lumber were produced and successfully transported to the nation and the world through the lock-and-dam system that begins here.
In the early 1900s through the 1930s, the Cuyuna Iron Range produced more than 100 million tons of ore that was used to build the U.S. military machines of the great world wars. In Crosby, travelers visit the Croft Mine Historical Park; this mine operated between 1916 and 1934 and produced the richest ore found on the Cuyuna Range, with a composition of 55 percent iron.
Portsmouth Lake in Crosby, once the largest open pit mine on the Cuyuna Range, is now one of the deepest lakes in Minnesota at 480 feet. Camp Ripley, a Minnesota National Guard facility, tells two stories: the history of Minnesota soldiers from the Civil War to the present and the development of the weapons of war.
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Use this map of the Great River Road to guide you to some of Minnesota's most
beautiful sights and most significant historical locations.
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In Little Falls, the Great River Road follows Lindbergh Drive to the boyhood home of Charles Lindbergh, pilot of the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. The evolution of the United States can be traced along the Great River Road on the Ox Cart Trail, still visible though Schoolcraft and Crow Wing State Parks.
Across the river from the Great River Road, Elk River's most noted resident, Oliver H. Kelley, founded the Patrons of Husbandry (popularly known as the Grange), a group that evolved into the Democratic Farmer Laborer, or DFL, party.
Today, the Oliver H. Kelley Farm is a 189-acre living-history farm operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. This historic site explores the life and lifestyle of the Kelleys, who lived here in the late 1800s. Byway travelers also learn through excellent interpretation about the historic importance of the Great River Road and the river as transportation routes and vital links among Mississippi River communities.
Natural Qualities of the Great River Road
One of the most naturally diverse sections of the Great River Road can be found in Minnesota. Travelers are beckoned to the Great River Road to enjoy a multitude of lakes, native wildlife, and rugged river bluffs.
If you seek outdoor beauty, you will find what remains of the once-abundant pine forests that have been drawing travelers to Minnesota for more than 100 years. Visitors never tire of seeing the lakes along the Great River Road in Minnesota, and there are plenty to see. Nearly every town has its own lake along the road, and when the lakes end, the vastness of the Mississippi River is just beginning. Natural wildlife abounds in the marshes and prairies along the road. Visitors will pass a major roosting site for bald eagles and wildlife habitats for deer, waterfowl, turkeys, and pheasants.
Between the many lakes, streams and rivers flow, urging travelers on. The landscape along the route is the handiwork of a crowd of glaciers that meandered through the area, leaving pockets and creases for rivers and lakes. Large hills were smoothed into the rolling landforms that visitors can see along the road. The great Mississippi River bluffs are present on the byway, evidence of a notable geological past. This past combined with a present of hardwood forests, lakes, and wildlife creates a beautiful natural setting that will tempt you to leave your car throughout your journey on the Great River Road.
Recreational Qualities of the Great River Road
From the headwaters to the Iowa border, Minnesota's portion of the Great River Road allows visitors to partake in a vast variety of recreational opportunities along its route. No matter what the itinerary or expectation, there is something to suit every taste on the Great River Road. And the fun and adventure continues throughout all four of Minnesota's very distinct seasons.
The water itself creates a large amount of the recreational draw to the Great River Road. A taste of the recreational possibilities that are available on the water include swimming, sunning, fishing, boating, jet skiing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and waterskiing -- just to name a few.
Strung along the edge of the river are plenty of things to do as well -- particularly for outdoor enthusiasts. One of six state parks may be the perfect stop after a drive on the byway. At parks like Itasca State Park, visitors can enjoy hiking or biking the trails, picnicking, or even bird-watching. The northern part of the byway provides a haven for hunters and anglers. The wilderness in this area is home to a great deal of wildlife.
Winter weather is no excuse to stay indoors in Minnesota. Several places along the byway offer miles of cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Visitors also find places for downhill skiing.
But if moving through the snow doesn't sound appealing, perhaps drilling through the ice does. Ice fishing is a popular pastime for visitors to the Great River Road; ice-fishing resorts, services, and house rentals can be found from one end of the Great River Road to the other. And large catches from the icy waters of Minnesota's many lakes are not uncommon and are a well-known secret among residents of the state.
Find more useful information related to Minnesota's Great River Road:
- Minnesota Scenic Drives: The Great River Road is just one of the scenic byways in Minnesota. Check out the others.
- Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Winona: Find out what there is to do in these cities along the Great River Road.
- Scenic Drives: Are you interested in scenic drives beyond Minnesota? Here are more than 100 scenic drives throughout the United States.
- How to Drive Economically: Fuel economy is a major concern when you're on a driving trip. Learn how to get better gas mileage.
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