Minnesota boasts more than 70 state parks that provide an array of outdoor recreational opportunities. With more than 10,000 lakes and 6,000 rivers and streams, its no coincidence that canoeing is among the most popular pursuits. Experiences are diverse in range of difficulty and ease of access, but scenic views and wildlife are a common thread throughout the state park system.
William O'Brien
Located less than a one hour drive from the Twin Cities metropolitan area, William O'Brian state park is a premier canoeing destination on the St. Croix River. Designated as a National Scenic Riverway, the river flows through a wide scenic valley that also serves as a migratory route for a wide variety of birds. The banks are lined with boulder-strewn bluffs and lush forests providing habitat for an abundance of wildlife. Canoes are available for rent from the park office, as well as local concessionaires, and shuttles provide transportation to and from your upstream launching point or downstream take-out point.
Myre/Big Island
Just north of the Iowa border, Myre/Big Island state park offers an expansive paddling experience. At over 2,500 acres, Albert Lea Lake is one of the largest bodies of water in southern Minnesota. Formed by retreating glaciers, the shallow lake basin is a popular stop for migratory waterfowl. More than 20 miles of shoreline can be explored by canoes available from the park office. Quiet coves and inlets provide a feeling of solitude only minutes from the intersection I-90 and I-35. Deer can frequently be seen in along the shoreline of Little Island and ambitious paddlers can trek the open waters of Albert Lea Lake en route to the connected Fountain Lake in the nearby town of Albert Lea.
Tettegouche
Options at Tettegouche state park along Minnesota's North Shore include plying the rocky shores of Lake Superior or hiking rugged terrain into secluded inland lakes to paddle seldom-visited waters. Canoeing the cold, deep waters of Lake Superior is best done close to shore where towering iconic cliffs such as Palisade Head and Shovel Point can also provide a challenging rock climbing session up their 200-foot vertical faces. Reaching Mic Mac Lake requires a rigorous hike past scenic overlooks to reach an abandoned logging camp where rental canoes are placed for paddlers to explore its remote waters. Canoes can be rented at the main park office.
Itasca
Visit Itasca state park near Park Rapids in north central Minnesota and your canoeing options are literally endless. Home to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, you can launch your canoe where the river starts as a trickle before flowing into Lake Itasca and starting its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico. More than 100 lakes are also contained within the 32,000 acre park and many can be accessed by portaging along the park's numerous trails. Many canoeists have started here and paddled the entire length of the 2,500-mile river.
Bear Head Lake
Sitting on the fringe of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Bear Head Lake state park can provide a wilderness experience without actually entering the designated wilderness. The 674-acre Bear Head Lake offers numerous bays, inlets and coves to explore as well as secluded islands. Paddle more than a mile across the main body of the lake and take the portage trail to secluded Holter Lake to truly get a taste of the challenges of northwoods wilderness travel.
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