Up, down and around bends describes the loop section we rode on the Paul Bunyan and Heartland bike trails one morning, in northern Minnesota. The trail is scenic, hilly, and paved.
There were many wild flowers along the way through the forest, and along Leech Lake at times. I enjoyed riding my new e-bike. After completing the loop we collected a reward ribbon from the Chamber of Commerce, which is close to the trailhead. They give ribbons to anyone who completed the 23 mile loop. We are fortunate to have these trails here in Minnesota.
On another day we took a break from biking and went to Itasca State Park. When we learned we were so close to this well-known Minnesota state park we had to go. Of course we walked across the mighty Mississippi.
I walked over the slippery rocks to the other side but the headwaters are shallow, about 18″ deep so you can roll up your pant legs and wade through the waters too. I did both.
The rock dam indicates the end of Lake Itasca and the beginning of the mighty river. It is about 2 feet across. They say the river’s channel appears much as it did when Henry Rowe Schoolcraft discovered the source in 1832.
They were selling “award” ribbons for walking across the Mississippi River at the gift shop in the park, but we opted not to buy one. This was not my first time walking across the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi, but it’s always fun.