Schoolcraft State Park

Named for a man who lead a northern Minnesota expedition to find the source of the Mississippi River, Schoolcraft State Park has miles of killer river access. Great for kayaking or fishing, Schoolcraft himself once camped in the marshy backwaters here, where water grasses abound on the banks of the Vermillion and Mississippi Rivers.

Trails lead hikers through virgin pine forest, including a 300-year-old white pine that only survived the logging craze ‘cause it was too curvy (we don’t mind, pine!) At this gateway to the Chippewa National Forest, you can also go to the Deer River Wild Rice Festival to pick up some Minnesota-grown grains, or have a camping break at the local bowling alley, Rasley’s Blueberry Bowl (we hear their pizza is worth ditching your s’mores & dogs for a night).