This Minnesota Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

Minnesota is one of the most scenic states in the United States due to its vast number of lakes. Its nickname is the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but that title is selling it short as it actually has more than 14,400 freshwater lakes within its borders. One of the best ways to see these lakes, along with other natural wonders in Minnesota, is by going on a road trip on one of the state's scenic byways.

One such byway is the Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway. This Minnesota road trip will take you 47 miles from Grand Rapids in the south to Effie, Minnesota, on Minnesota's State Highway 38. Within this byway, you can see 36 lakes alongside a national forest. These forests aren't just beautiful places to go hiking; you might also see a rare bald eagle, as the Chippewa National Forest in particular has the largest population of these national birds in the U.S. On this road trip, you can also stop to visit Discovery Sites, which offer information about Minnesota's history.

This Minnesota Scenic Byway is the road trip of a lifetime, where you can walk the yellow brick road, explore an abandoned millionaire's getaway, walk up a mountain on the Continental Divide, and more. Read on for an itinerary to follow while on this road trip.

Go to the Judy Garland Museum

Before you set out from Grand Rapids on the scenic byway, you can take a detour on a different kind of road, a yellow brick road. The Judy Garland Museum honors the life of the famed actress who played Dorothy in the film The Wizard of Oz.

The museum features several fun artifacts from The Wizard of Oz, including a carriage used in the film, one of Dorothy's dresses, and numerous personal items owned by Judy Garland. Also on site at the museum is her restored Birthplace Home, initially built in the 1920s.

Intriguingly enough, the red shoes worn by Judy Garland are not featured at the museum, as they were stolen back in 2005 and have yet to be returned!

Go Hiking by an Old Mine

Once you start driving on the byway, your first stop to explore is an old mine: the Lind Greenway Mine. Owned by the Wester Mining Co., it was the only one in operation west of Grand Rapids, yet it operated only for a short time, from 1956 to 1961. Today, the area has largely been reclaimed by nature, except for a few remnants of mining equipment and a Discovery Site sign that explains the history. While you're out near the Lind Greenway Mine, you can also go exploring off the beaten track onto Lower Prairie Lake, which connects with two massive Minnesota trails: the North Country National Trail and the Mesabi Trail.

Visit a Mogul's Private Estate in the Woods

Once you cross the border into the Chippewa National Forest, visitors will encounter many intriguing sites, particularly along its trails. One such trail will take you to a private estate owned by David Joyce, a wealthy logging mogul from Chicago. He constructed a 4,500-acre resort here from 1917 to 1935, complete with a golf course, telephone line, and even an airplane hangar. The family kept it until 1972, although it has now become a part of the Chippewa National Forest. It is about a 4.4-mile hike up to the Joyce Estate within the forest. Once you arrive, you can explore a few of the old buildings that are left or take in views from Trout Lake, where the estate rests.

Go Poking Around a CCC Camp and POW Site

As you continue north into the Chippewa National Forest, you'll discover other abandoned places, such as the Day Lake Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt invested $3 billion to create the CCC as a means to beautify the nation and provide employment to the many unemployed young men reeling from the economic impact of the Great Depression. This camp, which is located at the Suomi Hills Recreation Area, was special for several reasons. First, it was the only camp to host African American men, and it later became a POW camp for captured German soldiers during WWII, who would be sent to work at saw mills in the area.

By exploring this area, you can find a variety of old camping buildings and foundations, such as the Camp Mess Hall, a chimney, a stone stairway, and other remains of the past.

Go Skiing on the Continental Divide

The Laurentian Divide is also called the Northern Divide, as it cuts across Canada, dipping only slightly into North Dakota and Minnesota. It serves to separate the Hudson Bay watershed from the other waters that flow south to the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. While you are on the Edge of the Wilderness, you can see the line yourself at the Laurentian Divide Recreation Area.

This area is perfect for mountain activities, thanks to its proximity to Lookout Mountain. There are 15 miles of trails around the Laurentian Divide and Lookout Mountain, including multiple scenic overlooks, a half-mile fitness trail, and skiing trails during the winter. If you happen to have a snowmobile with you, you can also try it out at the Laurentian Snowmobile Trail.

Check Out the Discovery Center

Interestingly enough, the Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center is more than halfway within the byway, 28.7 miles north of Grand Rapids. Nestled in Marcell, Minnesota, this is a great place to learn all about the byway through exhibits, a gift shop, and more; however, it is only open seasonally. In the summertime, they even offer naturalistic programs where visitors can learn even more about the wildlife and plant life in the area. Due to its location within the Chippewa National Forest, there are also several outdoor activities to try, ranging from an interpretive trail to a fishing and wildlife-watching pier.

Enjoy a Scenic Park

Before you end your trip in the tiny community of Effie, you'll want to stop by a fun, scenic park fittingly named the Scenic State Park. This small park offers the full Edge of the Wilderness Experience, thanks to its location next to Coon and Sandwick Lakes. At the lakes, you can take a boat out or go fishing at the fishing pier. Alternatively, you can go swimming at one of the nearby beaches, take a hike on two trails, including one that offers stunning views of the lakes, or visit a historic lodge built by the CCC in the 1930s.

Conclusion

The Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway is a nature lover's paradise. By driving this route, you'll be surrounded by gorgeous lakes on all sides, along with many places to pull off to go for a hike, fish, or experience intriguing historical sites. Of course, this list is just a small number of the places you can see on the byway, and by doing your own exploring, you're sure to discover a few hidden treasures of your own! This scenic byway offers you a chance to take it easy and bask in the beauty of Minnesota's underrated nature.