The Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway Overview

Published on Sep 24, 2003

Celebrate northern hospitality, hometown pride, and the treasures of our natural heritage. Minnesota, midway between America's east and west coasts, is the home to 12,000 lakes. It is filled with beautiful country and all the pleasures of the four seasons. The Edge of the Wilderness is the rustic slice of this great state, with more than 1,000 lakes and the mighty Mississippi River nearby, all in landscapes of remarkable natural beauty. There are still more trees than people here -- offering a classic Northwoods seclusion

The Edge begins in Grand Rapids with meadows and lakes, then winds through mixed hardwoods and stands of conifer and aspen in the Chippewa National Forest. Rounding bends and cresting hills, you will find breathtaking views that, during the fall, are ablaze with the brilliant red of sugar maples, the glowing gold of aspen and birch, and the deep bronze of oak.

The Edge offers some of Minnesota's most popular sporting and resorting opportunities. Take a fresh look! Whether you are a newcomer, a long-time resort visitor, or a local resident, The Edge of the Wilderness offers a unique environment of clear lakes, vast shorelines, and hills blanketed in hardwood forests and northern pines. Recreation seekers will find hiking, camping, fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling within the byway corridor. You will find that here, you are really living on the Edge.

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