Celebrate northern hospitality, hometown pride, and the treasures of our natural heritage. Minnesota, midway between America's East and West Coast, 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 one mighty river, the Mississippi, 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 conifers and aspens 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.
Skiing the Edge of the Wilderness
Aquatic Adventures along the Edge of the Wilderness
History of Logging on the Edge of the Wilderness Scenic Byway