Blackw Nagel Lake A STATE WATERater Bass GUIDE TO THE Cr 1200 Prairie Little White 2 38 Oak Lake Forsythe Lake #1 Cohasset Pokegama Lake Rec. Area

Warburg River Lake U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1185 Leech Lake Indian Reservation L Trout Lake Blackwater Lake 1180 3 Little Drum 62 Portage Left • 44 yards 18 Lake Bass Brook 169 Trout W.M.A. Hale Lake 6 Lost L Jay Gould L Grand Lake Snells L Lake Jay 63 Rapids Eagle Gould Schoolcraft 1190 Little Loon L Lake Izaak WMA Rice Lake Walton Park State Park ake # Vehicle Permits Required 1175 Riverside Park Rice 64 MN Forest History Chippewa R Leaning Willow # 10 64 Interpretive Center Cr Long Lake 1195 Campsite Chisholm Point 23 Blandin Island SNA Paper Steamboat Leighton Cavanaugh Sylvan Municipal Company Access Van Patter Lake Park Dam Lake Rice Lake River Portage Right Blackberry Little Sugar 1200 yards Lake 65 Leighton Lake Bay Bk Golf Salter Course Rd 2 Pond Leighton Drumbeater 169 Vermillion Lake Lunch Lake Island Skunk Salter Pokegama Lake L Bay Dead Horse 1170 Little Lake Nesbitt Island Vermillion L Skunk

L. Vermillion Cr Nesbitt Blackberry Brook Island WMA Sucher’s Blackberry Figure Eight Kings Campsite Bridge Lake Landing 3 Spruce Lake Sugar Bk Little Siseebakwet Lake river level gauge

1165 No-ta-she-bun Sugar Lake Lake BSpringoltuck-Rice Fore ver SiseebakwetWild SNA Lake Lake ry Arm Skelly Lake er Carry-in Access Campground Drinking Water Sh Hospital Water Access Watercraft Campsite Interpretive Center Stokey River Mile Lake 72 Callahan Siseebakwet Outfitter Lake Rest Area Creek Point of Interest Rapids Irvin Lake . Pokegama Cr 2 Safe RefugeLong Lake Herb Beer’s Dock Spring Fish Hatchery 1160 Willow Lake Deer Yard WMALake Little Safe Refuge is shelter with Pokegama Lake Fishing Pier access to a telephoneHills Designated Blackberry Sugar Dam Picnic Area Public Land Golden Anniversary State Forest 72 Smith Lake North Co. Rd. 72 F ork 65 Muskeg Interstate HighwayU.S.Lake Highway State Highway County Road Smith 1155 72 01234miles W.M.A. = Wildlife Management Area

North 0 1234kilometers S.N.A. = Scientific andCreek Natural Area South Hennessey Split Swan River Deer Lake Shingle Mill Yard WMA Fork Lake Swimming Ha Bear Morrison 1150 169 nd ROUTE DESCRIPTION • VERMILLION RIVER TO PALISADESplit Hand Creek Swan Mountain Lake Ash Lake 1145

ook NOTE: (R) and (L) represent right and left banks of the 1179.2(L) Pokegama Lake Recreation Area/Dam 1134.8(R) Swan River confluence River river when facing downstream. It is a 44 yard portage Dinneraround Pokegama Dam. Pail Lake Maple L Shorty Lake The dam is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of 1134.2(R) Jacobson Wayside Rest L GENERAL DESCRIPTION of ROUTE H Engineers to enhance a variety of water uses, Located before State Highway 200 bridge. Stop 65 ITASCA CO ill such as wild rice crops above the dam, fish for supplies in town which is on the left side of ITASCA COUNTY Foley Brook County Line This river section is located about 200 river milesRiver spawning in the spring and fall, and to protect the river. The steamer “Fawn Lake” sank at this

CASS CO CASS AITKIN CO 1140 Sailordownstream Lake Finn of Lake Itasca and about 300 river miles private property on Lake Pokegama. location in 1894. AITKIN COUNTY Thiebault Lake Lake upstream of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Hill L 10 Holy 1177.9(R) Izaak Walton Park 1134.1 State Highway 200 bridge. Jacobson Paddling is easy, but Wateris interrupted Lake by two dams, one Campground controlling the level of Lake Pokegama and the other It was developed by the local akechapter of the Izaak Walton League. Its a great way to get on Previsthe 1124.8(R) Willow Wood Campsite 1135 providing hydropower to Blandin Paper Company. Both Lake must be portaged. Mississippi River above the Blandin Paper Mill, River access only. Swan Perry Jacobson This is a section of transition, from the wetlands and Lake a river stretch known locally as the “Mill Pond.” Wayside Rest River forests of the Chippewa National Forest though the town of Bible 1119.4 Powerline crossing Grand Rapids, to the lowland hardwoodLittle Hill forest River of WMAAitkin 1177.4(R) MinnesotaLake Jacobson County. The town of Grand Rapids is growing, from the It’s Wanagan Landing recreates lumbering days 1118.8 (L) Ms. Keto Campsite 200 200 Power generating facility west of town to the of 100 years ago. Hill City River access only. Watch for riffles and rocks at confluence with the Prairie River east of town. The river low flow conditions in this river section. runs south downstream of Grand Rapids, and the shorelines 1176.7(R) Sylvan Municipal Park Access and fishing pier become agricultural and the forested, as it meanders into 1114.6 (L)Two River Springs 1130 Aitkin County. 1175.9(R) Blandin Paper CompanyHill Lake Dam WMA This state-designated trout stream drains to the Vanduse River miles are counted upstream from the Mississippi’s The Mill Pond reservoir ends at the Blandin Mississippi from the east. Lake confluence with the Ohio River, according to a system Paper Company Dam. The dam must be portaged developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. right, 1200 yards. Blandin Paper Company has 1114.5 Powerline crossing provided a streamside phone for assistance. River 1195.3(L) Park, on the right bank below the Highway 169 1109.8(L) Libby Brook The Vermillion River flows northeasterly from bridge, was created when the Blandin Libby Brook is also a state-designated trout conifer swamp lands lying in the Chippewa Foundation, left bank, bought houses across the stream. Watch for riffles below Libby Brook National Forest. From there, the Mississippi river. Here, the riffles that are remnants of the confluence. Ball Bluff Hay flows southeasterly though a mixed rapids create an excellent habitat site for aquatic L hardwood-conifer forest into rugged hills, life. 1107.6(L) Lee Ferry Access Willow Wood bringing together two dominant vegetation types This public access was a ferry crossing during 1125 of the Mississippi Headwaters region. 1175.8 US Highway 169 the settlement era. Schoolcraft State Park, located above the Little Ball Bluff Vermillion, is a good place to explore the 1175.7(L) Fishing pier 1106.1(L) Libby Township Campsite Lake magnificent pines. River access only. Located deep in a lowland 1175.5(L) Steamboat Access hardwood forest, this is home to a variety of Ball 1194.0 The Mississippi Leaves the Chippewa National birds, especially songbirds and cavity dwellers Bluff Blackface Forest, the Leech Lake Indian Reservation and 1175.0(R) Riverside Park such as owls and wood ducks. 65 Lake Lake the “Wild” section of the Mississippi Headwaters Moose Willow Board’s management area. 11873.1(L)Prairie River W.1101.9(L) M. A. MooseSandy RiverWillow WMA The Prairie River meets the Mississippi and The Sandy River flows into the Mississippi from 1192.6(L) Leaning Willow Campsite doubles the water flow. The Prairie flows the east. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Power River access only if provided. southwesterly for 50 miles, draining pine lands, maintains a large campground, with many Line which tend to flood. About two miles above the facilities, about a mile up the Sandy River, which 1120 1191.3(R) State Highway 6 Access river flows through a magnificent gorge. provides access to Sandy Lake. If you are heading there from the Mississippi, you have to 1169.6(R) Sucher’s Campsite paddle against the Sandy River’s current, and 10 1188.3(R) Little Rice Lake Creek Willow cross under Minnesota State Highway 65 to Ms Keto 1187.5(L) Little Drum Lake Creek 1167.5(L) Blackberry Bridge Access reach it. A river level gauge is located on the County Springs 1186.0 Blackwater Lake Road 441 bridge. Water level greater than 4.5 1098.0(L) Scott’s Rapids Campsite vers The Mississippi enters the reservoir of the feet of above is considered high; water levels are River access only. Ri Pokegama Dam. average if the reading is between 1.8 feet to 4.5 River 1115 Two feet; and water levels are low if the reading is 1092.6(R) Wold’s Ferry Crossing Access Hay Point WMA Power 1181.8(L) Mississippi #1 Access and fishing pier less than 1.8 feet. This is a Mississippi This was once a common Mississippi River Line River shorelands are owned by Minnesota Power. Headwater River Watch Project water quality crossing. A steamboat wreck in the river is Minnesota Power’s steam generation facility is sampling site. another reminder of historic transportation. located on the left bank. Minnesota Power provides river access. This is the western edge of 1167.5(R) Herb Beer’s Access 1083.1 Hwy 232 bridge

Mesabi Iron Range, and tailings piles are evident. B The intersection of two geological landscapes 1159.0(L) Blackberry Campsite 1083.0(R) Berglund Park Libby rook results in diverse plants and animals. Rare River access only. Palisade is a small town, located high on the orchids and ferns, as well as bald eagles, can be Mississippi’s right bank. Bergland Park offers a 1110 found here. Just prior to entering Jay Gould Lake 1158.0(L) County Road 72 Access169 public access, fishing, picnicking and camping. Savanna the Mississippi River exits on the left. Portage 1149.0(R) Split Hand Creek confluence This location marks the down river boundary of this map. Lee 1181.7(L) City of Cohasset Refer to map 4, Palisade to Brainerd, for further down river Ferry State Stop for supplies, food and lodging. An 1146.6(L) Swimming Bear Campsite information. Willowsippi WMA Park outcropping of bedrock on the right bank is the River access only. 18 Libby western boundary of the Mesabi Iron Range. It is Township the only bedrock visible in the Mississippi’s 1142.1(R) County Line Access 1105 corridor above Little Falls. Local citizens persuaded the State of Minnesota to designate 1137.2(R) Jacobson Campground this area the Bass Brook State Wildlife Just above the Swan River confluence, Aitkin Management Area, protecting cultural sites County maintains a popular campground and 10 dating to Dakota occupations more than 3,000 access point. The county also maintains a years ago, a heron rookery and large wetland. It wayside rest on the right bank, below the Sandy Lake Rec. Area is a popular spot for observing bird migration. campsite but just above the bridge. The town of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacobson is building a recreation center on the L left bank, above the bridge. 1100

Sandy River Scott’s Rapids Big Sandy Lake

1095 Wold reek

C W. M. A.

Waukenabo Wold’s Ferry State Forest Crossing

Elk Roberts-Wickstrom Esquagamah W. M. A. Lake 1090 Waukenabo Sandy Lake Island Lake White Lake Resevoir WMA 65 Round Lake e Sandy River ak Lake L Hor 1085 seshoe Palisade Rat Lake 3 232 Lake

Little Willow illow Minnewawa W ake River WMA Berglund County Park L 169 Flowage Round Grayling Marsh Lake 1080 Resevoir WMA

Grayling Marsh WMA

© 2014 State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources Vermillion River to Pailsade A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER M3 of 9ISSISSIPPI - STATE WATER A TRAIL Guide RIVER “These falls...have...the sensation one feels only in mountains, this in a region where there are none. One’s imagination, dulled by a monotonous and tiring navigation over so many slow winding rivers is enlivened by the sight of impetuous torrent.” Joseph Nicollet, 1836

Minnesota State Parks and mndnr.gov/watertrails HEADWATERS RIVER TRAIL PLANNING A SAFE RIVER TRIP • Register your watercraft. All watercraft more than 9 provide shelter for wood ducks, mergansers, owls, good way to hear the songbirds of the deep forests of

BELTRAMI feet in length, including nonmotorized canoes and raccoons and even black bears. this section. ITASCA Ri ver Turtle River Turtl e kayaks, must be registered in Minnesota or your state The large continuous forested area, adjacent river Campsites are most numerous just below Grand Lake Lake ver A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe Bemidji Andrusi Ri CLEAR- Bemidji a Cass Lake rie i of residence. Rapids, and are several miles apart in Aitkin County. ra WATER Lake P and wetlands, and cutover areas offering new growth, Winnibigoshish journey, you should be prepared. You should be Cass Lake attract ruffed grouse, white-tailed deer and timber Excellent park facilities are available at Schoolcraft Ball Club Deer River acquainted with your route. Choose a distance that is ver i R Cohasset f wolves. State Park, in Grand Rapid’s parks, Aitkin County’s Leech ver Ri Lake Grand Rapids comfortable for you. Water levels can speed you or slow Lake Itasca oolcra h Lake George

Sw Sc t Vermillion These forests also attract a variety of birds, parks and Big Sandy Lake Campground. Pokegama an River Lake you: get information about water levels from the

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ver HUBBARD Walker including water birds and song birds. Some birds, such Remer Splithan regional DNR office, or check the river level gauges d River Will Jacobson as the wood thrush require a wetland located entirely River ow HEADWATERS CASS listed in the route description section of this map. Protect the water and shorelands and leave nothing behind you within a forest for food, shelter and water. Other forest RESOURCES birds require separation and isolation from the edge of a CROW WING Big Sandy except footprints. Remember that much of the Palisade Lake forest, where predator species, such as crows, can be Cr

w o Cross Lake shorelands are privately owned. Here’s a checklist you U.S.D.A FOREST Pine Ri

Win ver McGregor found. A location within a forest interior, away from the g SERVICE - CHIPPEWA

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Aitkin forest edge, reduces the chance that a cowbird will lay NATIONAL FOREST Crosby Deerwood SUPERVISOR’S OFFICE Riverton it’s egg in a songbird’s nest. AITKIN Gull LakePillager Trip Planning Route 3 Box 244, Cass Brainerd Lumbering and steamboat traffic on the Mississippi Lake, MN 56633 • (218) r ve Ri The Mississippi River makes a question mark shape built Grand Rapids more than 100 years ago. The 335-8600 Nokasippi Fort Ripley on the land as it travels from Lake Itasca to St. Cloud. • Travel with a companion or group. Plan your trip lumbering theme is evident in town today, from the Randall L ittle LEECH LAKE TRIBAL E MORRISON with a map before you depart and advise someone of lk Minnesota Historical Society’s Forest History Center site R You are invited to follow the Headwaters River Trail iv er COUNCIL Little Falls down the first 420 miles of the Mississippi River. At your plans including planned departure and arrival on the Mississippi, to the buildings of Blandin Paper an DIVISION OF RESOURCES MANAGEMENT w Rive S r Lake Itasca, the Headwaters trickle over a stone ledge, times. ABOUT THIS RIVER SECTION Company, also located on the river. Route 3 Box 100, Cass Lake, MN 56633 Royalton where you can wade across the mighty river. Tributaries • Most people paddle two to three river miles per Vermillion River to Palisade The river was the major transportation route for add momentum for the 2,348 mile trek to the Gulf of hour. Europeans and Americans in the 18th and 19th centuries. MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES From the plains and large lakes of the Chippewa REGION 2 HEADQUARTERS Sartell Mexico; groundwater contributes two-thirds of the • Lake Bemidji, Cass Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish It was also important to the Ojibwe people, who had an St. Cloud National Forest and Leech Lake Indian Reservation, the 1201 East Highway 2, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 • (218) 327-4455 Mississippi River’s initial flow. From the Headwaters, can be dangerous; stay within swimming distance of Mississippi River flows into a landscape dominated by important town site on Big Sandy Lake. Big Sandy the river flows through nine lakes. Glacial hills, called shore. If you are uncomfortable with large open hills created when ancient glaciers ground to a halt, Lake, which drains to the Mississippi, is an endpoint of U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS - POKEGAMA DAM “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources water, plan to use a vehicle to portage around the 3810 Highway 2 West, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 • (218) 326-6128 is an Equal Opportunity Employer” moraines, and glacial depressions, now lakes and dumping piles of debris. Today, the city of Grand Rapids the Savanna Portage, an overland route used to connect lakes. wetlands, create scenic views. Wetlands, marshes, and lies at the center of hills created 10,000 years ago. South the Mississippi to the St. Louis River System. It was a U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS - BIG SANDY LAKE DAM oxbows act as natural filtration systems, preserving • Bring a first aid kit that includes waterproof route used by Native Americans and Europeans to travel HCR 4 Box 362, McGregor, MN 55760 • (218) 426-3482 This information is available in alternative of Grand Rapids, the river enters an ancient glacial lake water quality. Rapids and riffles dot the entire river. matches. bed where it twists back and forth through the soft soil. from Lake Superior to the Mississippi, although diarists format upon request. GRAND RAPIDS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Fishing is great! • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as The Mississippi is flat and slow moving in this river remember it as a mucky, bug-ridden and altogether overhanging and dead trees in the river. 1 Third Street NW, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 section, dominated by pine forests and the town of miserable trip. Those who slogged this way included (218) 326-6619 • 1-800-GRAND MN Online water trail information and River elevation drops 500 feet from Itasca to St. • You must pack out all Grand Rapids. The town was named for the rapids that Henry Schoolcraft, on his expeditions of 1820 and 1832, maps can be found at Cloud. Hydropower and water control dams require trash. were once a dominant feature of the landscape. Two and Scottish trader William Aitken, who built his first GRAND RAPIDS AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU portages. A braided river pattern joins the Mesabi and • Leave only footprints; trading post at the confluence of the Mississippi and 1 Third Street NW, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 mndnr.gov/watertrails dams, located about three river miles apart, capture the (218) 326-9607 • 1-800-355-9740 Cuyuna Iron Ranges — 100 miles apart by road and 200 take only photographs! river’s fall and demonstrate the former size of the rapids. Sandy Lake Rivers. miles by river. The Cuyuna Range is the most rugged The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers first flooded the falls About 18 steamboats covered the route from 1870 to MN HISTORICAL SOCIETY - FOREST HISTORY CENTER Minnesota State Parks and Mississippi Headwaters area of the Headwaters. Near Brainerd, development and Rest Areas and 1920. You may see piers from the steamboat days at 2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 • (218) 326-4482

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P I Camping Sites Grand Rapids dam was built 18 years later. S P.O. Box 3000, Walker, MN 56484 AITKIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE S I S S I 218-547-7263 characteristics are preserved. wrecks lie below the river’s surface near the confluence 1601 Minnesota Drive M E 316 1st Avenue NW, Aiktin, MN 56431 H From Blackberry to it’s confluence with Splithand T Brainerd, MN 56401 OF mhbriverwatch.dst.mn.us with the Sandy River and near the town of Palisade. (218) 927-3003 • 1-800-526-8342 218-828-2619 • Public rest areas are Creek, hills border the Mississippi River on both shores. The Mississippi Headwaters Board is an The system of hills west of the Mississippi were called Private land ownership dominates along the eight-county joint powers board organized to protect the available along the route Mississippi throughout this river section, so the traveler SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEMS to rest, picnic and Piquadinaw, or “it is hilly,” by the Ojibwe. The high This Publication was produced by the Mississippi Headwaters board in natural, cultural, scenic, scientific and recreational is advised to stop only at designated campsites. is dependent on a healthy and cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Financial explore. point near Hill Lake (about 20 miles south of Grand attractive natural environment. Sustainable outdoor support was provided by the folowing organizations. values identified in the Mississippi Headwaters Guide Rapids) was named “Poquodenaw Mountain” by Water quality is clean enough for bodily contact and Book. The Headwaters is an extraordinary place for • Camp only in designated to support and excellent sport fishery. Thirty to forty recreation enables people to enjoy the outdoors without Minnesota Power campsites, which are lumberman and was so designated on the first map of the REI/National Rivers Coalition wildlife and rare plants. Citizens protect the Mississippi species of fish live in the river, including northern pike, negative impacts on the environment. Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board available on a first county. The name has been shortened to Quadna. Itasca Trails Task Force River at its Headwaters to help provide safe drinking Below the confluence with Splithand Creek, glacial walleye and smallmouth bass. The river’s oxbows are McKnight Foundation water to millions of people downstream in St. Cloud and come-first served basis. used by fish for spawning. Paddling up an oxbow is a Communities working together can improve water National Forest Foundation • Bring drinking water. It melt water flattened the landscape. The Mississippi lies resources by promoting environmentally sensitive the Twin Cities, and in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, on the remnant of two large glacial lakes, Glacial Lake Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi and is only available at a land-use practices along rivers and throughout limited number of rest Upham and Glacial Lake Aitkin, which were created as watersheds. Natural shoreline buffers improve water Louisiana. Choose a wilderness experience or visit parks areas. Drinking river an arm of the glacier melted back in the direction it with a variety of facilities. Either way you will see a quality by filtering out pollutants and sediments. DNR Information Center water is not originally moved from - the northeast. The river Healthy and diverse The DNR’s Information Center is available to provide free unique place and meet the people who live here. The recommended, but if you meanders back and forth through the silt the glacier left publications of facilities and services as well as answers questions Mississippi River is a fun place to visit. native shoreline plant pertaining to DNR recreational opportunities in Minnesota. do it must be treated. behind. Today, it is 60 miles by road from Grand Rapids communities are • Respect private property. Stop only at designated to Aitkin, but the water route is 120 miles between the attractive and provide The DNR Information Center two towns. 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 sites; much of the shoreland is private property. important habitat for 651-296-6157 Metro Area • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet facilities or bury The Mississippi connects the mixed birds and wildlife. 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free human waste away from the river. hardwood-conifer forests of red, white and jack pines, quaking aspen, big-toothed aspen, paper birches, and mndnr.gov Boating Information oaks, found on high ground, with pine and hardwood forests found on low lying areas. You can make a difference by joining the DNR The hardwood floodplain forest, composed of silver Adopt-a-River Program. Be a clean up volunteer • Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal for a portion of your favorite recreation area. Call maple, black and green ash, slippery elm and basswood, the DNR Information Center for a brochure, or flotation device. are the dominant trees of this forest. These trees tolerate visit mndnr.gov/adoptariver. • Bring an extra paddle. springtime flooding, and are adapted to the forest’s • Not all portions of this water trail are suitable for mucky soils which are naturally low in nutrients and Photos: Peter Card II motor use. oxygen. Dead and snag trees standing in this forest © 2014 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources