Voyageurs National Park: The Star of the North

Surrounded by 10,000 lakes, summertime in Minnesota often means spending time on the lake shore "up north". Fishing, swimming, boating or just enjoying time with family and friends at a lake cabin creates perfect summer memories ... and are what draws us back here every year.

After visiting some friends on the Whitefish chain of lakes, we realized that while we had often been close, we had never actually visited Minnesota's only national park that honors and preserves these important gifts of nature. It was time to get Baby Beest back into travel mode and pay a visit to our 49th national park.

 We soon discovered why Voyageurs National Park is truly the Star of the North!  

This national park was named after the French-Canadian voyageurs who first paddled through the maze of lakes to find a route from the Great Lakes deep into Northern Canada. These adventurous fellows navigated through a series of lakes that formed a "water highway". They traveled thousands of miles in their birch bark canoes in search of animal furs and other valuable goods. In later years, this interconnection of lakes between the United States and Canada became important for the logging, mining and commercial fishing industries.

Today, Voyageurs National Park is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. Because 40% of this national park is water, and it has over 500 islands, it is best to visit it by boat. Unfortunately, with our lack of talent for planning in advance, no boat rides were available the days we visited. But we were content to see the park from the shore and do some hikes in the surrounding forests. 

Whether exploring by land or by water, visitors will be in awe of the incredible lake and sky views.

After exploring the park for two days, we headed south to visit the Mesabi Iron Range. This area, once devastated by over-zealous mining, is being restored into a bikers and hikers paradise. This is where we got to try out our new "stars" of the North ... our electric Bromptons.

A few weeks ago, I convinced Doug that it was time for us to join the crowd of e-bike riders. And we're quickly getting spoiled with how easy and fun they are to ride. While the hills on the Mesabi Bike Trail would have previously dissuaded us from riding in the past, we now thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns that make this part of the trail so scenic. 

The ride from Evelyth to Virginia, Minnesota took us up hills, around curves, and past some mine pits that now blend in beautifully with the water-lined landscape. It's reassuring to see that throughout the state, Minnesota's lakes and waterways are continuing to be the "Stars of the North".

 

From here we will continue traveling to the port city of Duluth to begin a circle tour of the great lake that they call Gitche Gumee. 

Whether by bike or in the Baby Beest, it promises to be a "Superior" time!

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