Lake Itasca, Minnesota, USA

Also known as:  Elk Lake, Omashkoozo-zaaga'igan

The headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River originate at 1,162-acre Lake Itasca. Wild and impressive, this beautiful lake is surrounded entirely by Itasca State Park. What isn’t well known, however, is that Lake Itasca isn’t a natural body of water. The original beginnings of the major river were a series of small ponds within a large swamp. The site of the lake was first visited in 1804…
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    • All About Lake Itasca, MN

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Minnesota - Northwest Minnesota -

    The headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River originate at 1,162-acre Lake Itasca. Wild and impressive, this beautiful lake is surrounded entirely by Itasca State Park. What isn’t well known, however, is that Lake Itasca isn’t a natural body of water. The original beginnings of the major river were a series of small ponds within a large swamp. The site of the lake was first visited in 1804 by a fur trader named William Morrison. Local Ojibway told him the name was Omashkoozo-zaaga’igan, meaning Elk Lake. Elk Lake it was until noted explorer Henry Schoolcraft arrived a few years later to declare the lake the actual headwaters of the Mississippi. He renamed it with a combination of the Latin words ‘veritas’ for ‘truth’ and ‘caput’ for ‘head’-Itasca. Somehow, most later visitors assumed this to be a name garnered from the local natives. Whatever-the name stuck!

    It wasn’t until later in the 19th century that a group of loggers decided that the Mississippi headwaters deserved a more impressive lake and dammed the outlet with logs. This caused the water to back up and inundated some of the surrounding swampland. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps took on the chore of improving the lake even more. They drained much of the surrounding swamp, bulldozed the outlet channel into a regular watercourse, and installed a low-head concrete dam to further regulate the lake levels. To improve the dam area for recreation and to make it all appear untouched by human hands, they added a course of rocks atop the submerged concrete weir allowing for visitors to wade across the dam. To this day, visitors enjoy the stepping stones to cross the man-made rapids at the head of the Mississippi.

    Because the lake was originally wet marshland, the shoreline in many areas is poorly defined. Wetlands merge with the water in many areas. The surrounding lands are heavily wooded, and the protected status allows for all sorts of native birds and animals to enjoy Lake Itasca’s bounty. Lake Itasca State Park is considered one of the top five state parks in the United States, according to Outside Magazine. There are certainly plenty of natural outdoor activities to be enjoyed in the 50-square-mile park. A boat ramp along the north arm of the lake provides year-round access. Shaped like an inverted ‘Y’, the lake gives plenty of room for boating and fishing along its three arms. One large island is named after explorer Schoolcraft. A large acreage along the west side of the lake is designated the Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary State Natural Area and invites nature lovers to enjoy the old-growth forest and natural marshlands remaining here. The surrounding area and many lakes are home to deer, waterfowl, loons and birds of prey.

    A swimming beach is available, complete with picnic shelters, playground and volleyball courts. Canoeing, kayaking, boating and sailing all take place here. Even more visitors take one of the two-hour boat tours of the lake offered at the historic Douglas Lodge along the shore. Those who wish to paddle their own canoe but don’t have one with them can rent canoes, sit-on kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, pontoons, fishing boats, rowboats and accessories. The same facility on the northern shore rents bicycles, tandem bikes and electric-assist bikes to use on the many bike trails in the area and acts as camp store for the park.

    Fishermen have plenty of angling enjoyment awaiting at Lake Itasca as they attempt to catch yellow perch, walleye, black crappie, northern pike, bluegill, rock bass and largemouth bass. Fishing is free for Minnesota residents, but out-of-state visitors need a Minnesota fishing license. A seasonal permit or daily admission fee is charged to enter the park, but with over 100 small lakes to fish, many anglers feel it an entirely reasonable cost. The sports rental facility also rents fishing tackle and sells bait.

    Two main campgrounds are located within Lake Itasca State Park. Pine Ridge Campground offers year-round camping while Bear Paw Campground is limited to the summer season. Both have picnic tables, fire rings, shower facilities, water, some electrical hook-ups and restrooms. Eleven backpack campsites are available year-round. Two group campgrounds are open only in summer. Historic Douglas Lodge offers a variety of lodgings to overnight visitors, with camping cabins, lodge suites and a clubhouse. The appeal of the trails in the park is a year-round attraction, so several of the lodging facilities are open all winter. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling all delight cold weather sports participants within the park. Sections of the Mississippi Headwaters State Forest surround the park and offer several state forest campsites,

    Jacob V Brower Visitor Center acts as headquarters for Lake Itasca visitors. The Center holds exhibits and meeting facilities, acts as a winter warming center for cross-country skiers, and heads several of the hiking and biking trails. The University of Minnesota has campus facilities along the shore in the form of the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories. Field research has gone on here since 1909, and the facility holds offices, laboratories, classrooms, computer lab, cabins for student and faculty housing, food service and recreation facilities. Roads circle the lake, allowing those with cars to access the Visitors Center and several historic sites surrounding the lake.

    No private homes are located along Lake Itasca, but civilization isn’t faraway. The small town of Park Rapids is a few miles south of the lake and offers the usual services visitors and campers may need. A number of guest cabin resorts and small motels and inns provide lodging in the area outside of the park. Nearby, a commercial zipline and family fun facility accommodates those who feel the need for more organized adventure and entertainment. Lake Itasca can be reached from Duluth by car in about three hours and is nearly four hours from Minneapolis-St. Paul. There is no real estate available directly on Lake Itasca, but the entire surrounding area is full of residential lakes where the perfect cottage can be found for sale. So, pack up the hiking boots and the fishing rod and come visit Lake Itasca. Come wade across the Mississippi at its source.

    Things to Do at Lake Itasca

    These are some activities in the Lake Itasca, MN area visitors can enjoy:

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    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Camping
    • Campground
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Snowshoeing
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • State Park
    • State Forest
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Itasca?

    Lake Itasca has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Bluegill
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Northern Pike
    • Perch
    • Pike
    • Sunfish
    • Walleye
    • Yellow Perch
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Itasca

    If you’re considering a Lake Itasca lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Itasca Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Itasca lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Itasca Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Surface Area: 1,162 acres

    Shoreline Length: 13 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 1,475 feet

    Average Depth: 30 feet

    Maximum Depth: 40 feet

    Lake Itasca Map
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