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Drive To Alexandria, MN
A day that was supposed to be filled with hiking and small-town stops along the Otter Trail Scenic Byway turned into a rain-soaked journey of quiet lakes, odd encounters, and booming thunderstorms. From the peaceful headwaters of the Mississippi to a suspicious stare-down at a country church, the road south to Alexandria was anything but ordinary.
Northwest Angle to the Headwaters of the Mississippi
From the quiet sunrise over a mist-covered lake to the winding roads lined with sunflowers, the journey south from the Northwest Angle to Itasca State Park blended small-town charm with sweeping rural scenery. Stops included a visit to the northernmost post office in the lower 48, the quirky border check-in at Jim’s Corner, and photo-worthy relics of farmsteads past. At Itasca, Minnesota’s oldest state park, the 20-mile bike loop revealed a mix of towering pines, shimmering lakes, marshes alive with dragonflies, and rolling hardwood forests. The day ended at the headwaters of the Mississippi, where a modest stream slips quietly from Lake Itasca, beginning its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico.