Journey to the Northwest Angle
A quirk of history and a cartographer’s mistake led me to the Northwest Angle—the furthest point north in the contiguous United States. Reaching it meant crossing the border twice, mailing a card from the northernmost post office in the lower 48, and stopping at Jim’s Corner to check in with U.S. Border Control. Quiet bays, endless trees, and a haze hanging in the air gave the whole place a muted, dreamlike quality—like stepping into the forgotten margins of the map.
Visit Angle Inlet
Reaching Angle Inlet—the only spot in the contiguous U.S. you have to enter through Canada to visit—meant a long day of driving, a Canadian border inspection, and a dirt-road finale. I stayed at Prothero’s Post Resort on the shores of Lake of the Woods, where a sudden storm gave way to golden evening light. Between helping drenched fishermen dock their boat and swapping political views with another guest, I experienced the quirky charm and rugged beauty of this remote outpost at the far edge of the map.