Itasca State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, and contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The park spans 32,690 acres of northern Minnesota, and is located about 21 miles north of Park Rapids, Minnesota and 25 miles from Bagley, Minnesota. The park is part of Minnesota's Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains Ecological Subsection and is contained within Clearwater, Hubbard, and Becker counties.

Itasca State Park was established by the Minnesota Legislature on April 20, 1891, making it the first of Minnesota's state parks and second oldest in the United States, behind Niagara Falls State Park. Henry Schoolcraft determined Lake Itasca as the river's source in 1832. It was named as a National Natural Landmark in 1965, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. About 500,000 people visit Itasca State Park annually. This is a fee area.

To the historic Ojibwe Indians, the river was known as "Gichiziibi - The Great River." The name "Mississippi" has its origins from with the Algonquian Indian language family. The Mississippi ("Misizibi") refers to a river spread over a large area.

Below: A very long map showing the route of the Mississippi River

2013 Photo

2015 photo

Lake Itasca, the official source of the Mississippi River and a scenic area of northern Minnesota, has remained relatively unchanged from its natural state. Most of the area has a heavy growth of timber that includes virgin red pine, which is also Minnesota's state tree. Some of the red pine in Itasca are over 200 years old.

Below: In 2013 and again in 2015, Karen Duquette walked across The Mississippi River where it begins its 2,552-mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico here. At the outflow from Lake Itasca, millions of visitors have walked across the headwaters, wading in the footsteps of American history. 2013 & 2015 photos

Below: Karen Duquette crossing the beginning of the Mississippi River in 2013 and again in 2015

Below: Karen Duquette walked in the Mississippi River where it starts its flow towards the Gulf of Mexico (2015)

Below: Karen Duquette took photos as she walked in the Mississippi River.

Below; Lee Duquette walked the trail from the headwaters to the first walk bridge that crosses the Mississippi River. He did not want to go in the water. He photographed Karen Duquette from the bridge. (2015)

Below; Eventually Karen Duquette managed to talk Lee Duquette into joining her Mississippi River walk.

Below: The two RV Gypsies walked the Mississippi River all the way back to the headwaters.

Below: Back to where the river begins

Below: The view beyond the lake

Below: One last walk under the bridge and then Lee Duquette was ready to leave.

Leaving Itasca State Park, the two RV Gypsies drove their car on several bridges over the Mississippi River, so Karen took one last photo to show how narrow and small the mighty Mississippi River is in this area.

This site is designed to giver visitors a choice of where to go next, so below are FOUR choices plus the main navigational buttons. Always scroll to the bottom of every page for other options.

Note: The Aiton Heights Fire Tower is also IN Itasca State Park. Karen Duquette climbed that tower in 2013. If you are interested in the Aiton Heights Fire Tower, click here, BUT be sure to return to this page via the proper link at the bottom of that page. It IS worth the visit.

Note: There is also an amazing winding journey of the Lower Mississippi River reproduced in a 1/2 mile concrete sculpture in TN. This is a 2014 visit, so be sure to return here afterwards.

Please return to the 2015 Minnesota menu for Duluth and the Segway tour.

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