By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Itasca State Park, 20 miles north of Park Rapids and the headwaters of the Mississippi River, offers freedom from mental stress, anxiety and replaces this with serenity and a true sense of peacefulness.

At Preacher’s Grove a visitor can stand among red pine trees that create a natural and quiet area with shade and silence. Hiking along Lake Itasca is a joy with the shorelines that are not inhabited by people and cabins. A visitor feels completely surrounded by nature at Itasca Park Park, the oldest of Minnesota’s state parks established 135 years ago, in 1891.

During the summer months many visitors rent canoes and paddle on the calm waters of Lake Itasca. Others enjoy camping among the pines at this historic state park. Near the headwaters, all four seasons of the year, visitors walk along the wooden boardwalks where the Mississippi Rivers starts its long journey to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.

Fall is the perfect time to visit Itasca State Park, north of Park Rapids, and climb the 110-foot-tall ranger tower.

During the 1940s and 1950s the tower was used by park rangers to monitor forests and keep a close watch for forest fires. Later, aircraft monitored the forests on a regular basis. While at the top of the tower in Itasca State Park, visitors have a panoramic 360-degree view of the landscape.

Itasca State Park is located at 36750 Main Park Drive, north of Park Rapids on U.S. Highway 71 North. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The visitor center is open and staffed year-round. It is here where visitors to Itasca State Park can explore the nature store and exhibits, purchase a vehicle permit and obtain information to help plan your day at the park.