Want a really cool and unique experience? Paddle the Mississippi River from its source at Lake Itasca. On this trip, you will experience the Mississippi as a crystal clear northern river, lined with tall pines and wide open camp sites. If you get up early you may see the ghost of Henry Schoolcraft who made his way up this lovely stream to discover Lake Itasca in 1832. This trips is a great vacation for families with teens, as well as a creative field trip option for schools. The fishing is excellent, the river is prisitine, and the campsites uncrowded.
Sample Itinerary
Please note: While the itinerary presented is an accurate depiction of what your trip will be like, it is only an example. Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors--not pre-packaged tours that happen on a schedule.
DAY 1: Your trip will begin with a natural and cultural history lesson at the Itasca State Park visitor's center. You will then get a chance to fully experience the true Mississippi headwaters on Lake Itasca. As a group you will travel to Coffee Pot Landing just downstream of Itasca State Park. Here you will review personal gear, repack into Duluth packs, and participate in a canoe orientation. That evening, you will get a chance to get to know your new friends with an expectations talk around the campfire.
DAY 2: After breakfast, load the gear into the canoes and get ready for an adventure. The first day on the river is the most difficult day with tricky navigation through wild rice paddies and shallow marsh. After stopping for short snack breaks and a healthy lunch, the day will end in a spruce forest about 8 miles down river.
DAY 3: Be sure to rise early on this day in order to navigate through 14 miles of river. This section of the river can be very winding but with practice from the day before, it should be a breeze. Spot the occasional beaver dam and watch for loons and herons. Enjoy the company of your new friends as you conclude the day with story telling around a bonfire.
DAY 4: Enjoy a big breakfast in the morning and share stories from the day before. Pack the canoes up one last time and head to Iron Bridge Landing. As you paddle throughout the day in this winding and weedy section of the Mississippi, think about how much the river changes from the headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico. Your trip officially ends in the early afternoon. Those using WI's van transportation can expect to return to Minneapolis in the evening.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: The river banks are generally low, and rice paddies and weeds are frequent. The river can become shallow and muddy in spots. There are no portages along this route. The Mississippi River Headwaters offers a combination of a gentle and winding river.
TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 17-foot Old Town Tripper canoes, which hold two to three paddlers, plus all necessary gear. An average days' travel consists of 3-6 hours of paddling, depending upon the weather. Travel distances vary from 5-15 miles per day. To protect the environment, WI uses Leave No Trace camping techniques.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer months range from 45 F to 95 F. Precipitation can vary so you should expect one or two days of rain.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka Timberline tent. Typically, there are 3 people per 4-person tent (although other arrangements can be made). We recommend that you bring your own personal sleeping bag and "camprest" foam core inflatable mattress (a limited number of sleeping bags and mattresses are available as loaners for individuals who need them). Bathroom facilities consist of an outhouse or a foldable commode chair set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 10 to 30 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities. this is a great field trip for creative teachers.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip for this great family vacation or creative school field trip option.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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The Mississippi River begins it's 2,350 mile voyage to the Gulf of Mexico in Northern Minnesota. The source of the Mississippi River is Lake Itasca, 1,475 ft above sea level in Itasca State Park located in Clearwater County, Minnesota. The name "Itasca" is a combination of the last four letters of the Latin word for truth (veritas) and the first two letters of the Latin word for head (caput). Henry Schoolcraft made up the name in July 1832 when he was the first person of European decent to visit Lake Itasca in search of the beginning of the Mississippi River. Established in 1891, Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park.
Mississippi Headwaters supports more than 350 species of mammals and birds including nearly all the the endangered, rare, and threatened species listed in Minnesota. Among the headwaters, there are about a dozen different vegetative communities, representing nearly every type found in Minnesota.
For some interesting and entertaining reading we suggest you click on the links below.
For more information, visit these links:
Telling River Stories: People and Places Along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River Facts
Information on Itasca State Park and Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center
Read about Henry Schoolcraft, the man who went to the source of the Mississippi in 1832.
Check out the Explore Minnesota website for other things to do in the area.
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