Itasca State Park 001

We spent the last week undertaking several outdoor adventures with our granddaughter. We stayed on Leech Lake visiting friends while taking in the local attractions. One of the highlights was Itasca State Park.

ItascaStatePark001

Itasca State Park 002

Addie loved the huge pines located in Preachers Grove.

ItascaStatePark002

Itasca State Park 003

One of the prettiest parts of "Preachers Groove".

ItascaStatePark003

Itasca State Park 004

We hiked to the source of the Mississippi River and walked across the mouth.

ItascaStatePark004

Itasca State Park 005

A short hike along a boardwalk from the main lodge is the “Old Timer’s Cabin”. The Civilian Conservation Corps built the cabin in the 1930s and the logs are huge. Addie could just reach across the end of one of the logs. Four logs make up each wall.

ItascaStatePark005

Itasca State Park 005

Along the trail to “Old Timer’s Cabin” are several yellow lady’s-slippers that were in full bloom.

ItascaStatePark006

Aurora Borealis

We saw northern lights over Leech Lake the first night.

NorthernLights

Leech Lake Sunrise 001

The air was pretty hazy the next morning creating a beautiful sunrise.

Sunrise001

Leech Lake Sunrise 002

Every morning there were beautiful sunrises over Leech Lake.

Sunrise002

Fishing

Addie managed to find time for some fishing. She caught two northern, a walleye and this rock bass. She had fun catching them but didn’t want to touch them after the first northern flopped around in the boat while showing its teeth.

Fishing