How cool is it to walk across the Mississippi River! The headwaters are in Itasca State Park. There's a wonderful hands-on children's section in nature in one of the visitors' Centers. There are lots of trails to walk, bike or ride. There's even a 100' tower one can climb and look out over the canopy of trees! It's a great park to visit!

I went here to see the Mississippi headwaters and not only did I see it, but the park is an amazingly beautiful even beyond just Lake Itasca. I traveled in the Fall and the colors were stunning. I stayed in a rustic cabin which had a half bath, futon, bed, microwave, kitchen sink and dorm refrigerator. The campgrounds, lodges, gift shops and visitors center were very clean. The one-way drive was beautiful and worth doing after seeing the headwaters. The shower house had great water pressure and clean. I will definitely come again.

Great state park. Very impressive hiking and biking trail system. The park is huge with tons of lakes, streams, wetlands and forests. The wilderness drive is awesome. Be prepared for mosquitoes... it's Minnesota! If you know, you know! The firepits in the campsites are not very good and the firewood sold at the park is low quality and very expensive. Nice they have a restaurant in the park and extensive gift shop.

Itasca State Park is truly one of the most stunning places I’ve visited in Minnesota. The park is incredibly well-maintained, with miles of scenic trails, pristine lakes, and beautiful forests that offer something for everyone – from casual walkers to serious hikers. Standing at the headwaters of the Mississippi River is a unique experience, and the clarity of the water there is amazing.

We were on our way back to the Twin Cities from Bemidji, and had never walked across the mouth of the Mississippi river. My wife kept asking me what’s the big deal about walking across the bridge on the Mississippi until we got there and she realized that we were going to be walking across rocks at the mouth of the mighty Mississippi. So literally you walk across the Mississippi on rocks Very cool experience beautiful huge state park lots of great camping spots you could easily spend a weekend in here and never hit all the trails We were here a little past the changing of the leaves, there was still some color and we really enjoyed our short stop at the park and plan on spending more time again

By far my favorite state park yet! It was worth the drive. We loved the paved bike trail right through nature. And the headwaters of the Mississippi was a nice quick stop

Itasca state park is a great place to visit. There are a number of attractions, some are obvious, the headwaters of the Mississippi, and a slice of woods. However, the park is special for its history and biological diversity as well. I’d recommend the headwaters of course, but also try and visit (tour required) the Biological research station, take the walk to the fire tower, and one of the walks where the rangers explain the plants in the park. The campground is nice, although I’d recommend against any site that notes a slope.

Very nice well maintained campground within Itasca State Park. Bathrooms, showers are very clean. Beautiful scenery, great fishing, nice playground, beautiful trails and hiking.

We had gorgeous fall days for camping! The campground is beautifully maintained and the bathrooms are wonderful.

Bearpaw Cabins are perfect for a family. Not much for my 1.5 year old to get in trouble with, and she fit nicely in the deep kitchen sink for a bath. Very spacious and cozy, futon and bed, room to put my playpen up, and kitchen has most things you'd need for basic cooking. Bathroom has racks to hang clothes, I put a clothesline up to dry some stuff I'd washed. A lot of hooks to hang stuff up. They provided some towels & washcloths. Nice porch & chairs, picnic table & fire grate. There's a ceiling fan, and a little plug in fan that was good for white noise.

Bear Paw Campground is one of the two choices, for RV/Tent camping in Lake Itasca State Park, let me start with this park is worth a visit with extensive trails, for hiking/walking, and biking. The ‘star’ attraction might be considered the headwaters of the Mississippi, but, when you are at the campground you are well positioned to take a tour of the UofM Biological Research Station, hike to the fire tower (and if you go with a ranger join The Ancient and Honorable Order of Squirrels!). The campground is well spaced out, easy to access and sites (like most MN parks) do not have sewer, or water (some have electrical) hookups. That said the on site dump station is nice. Bath house is very nice (and big enough) clean and it’s a historical building itself! There are a few sloped sites, be careful with these since getting level in them can be tricky. All sites are a short walk to the lake. Highly recommended as a place to stay.

Nice campground. Easy coming in from the East or South entrance, no issues with trees. Potable water is available at dump station to fill your campers (not in CG). Road threw the CG is rough, so take it slow narrow, and you'll hit the pot holes. Restroom and showers accessible and clean. Ask when checking in for a park map, we would have liked to have had one with us when we took off on a bike ride, beautiful trails. Headwaters were busy, wear something that you can walk in the water with..

Love this place. Quiet, friendly, lots of things to do...or not do.

The host at Bear Paw helped us out of a jam. We were scheduled to leave the morning of June 11 and our truck would not start. I went over and asked a fellow camper if he could do us a big favor, he happened to be the camp host. He said sure. He came over with a nifty battery charger and we were able to start the truck in a couple of tries! He really helped us out! Thank you! The Sherrills

This is a great place to camp with the Family! The bathrooms are clean with plenty of hot water!

Just got back from a weekend at Pine Ridge Campground in Itasca State Park, and honestlyI really liked it! I’d rate the whole experience around 4.5/5 🌲⛺️ The view is beautiful, you’re surrounded by tall pines and it feels peaceful and secluded, but not too far from the park’s main attractions. The access is easy, with well-marked roads and parking close to each campsite. Great for both first-timers and experienced campers. There’s a nice little playground nearby, perfect if you’re camping with kids. Restrooms were clean and well-maintained, which is always a relief. It’s also dog-friendly! I saw a few families with their pups enjoying the trails and just hanging around the campsite. The picnic areas were super handy too, flat, shaded, and equipped with sturdy tables and fire pits. Now here’s the plot twist of the trip: while I was sleeping soundly, there was apparently a bear that came and rummaged through the trash we hadn’t thrown out yet 😅🧸🗑️ It didn’t bother anyone, but it definitely messed up the garbage bag near our tent. Sooo… take this as a tip—make sure to dispose of all your trash before bed! Not a bad experience at all, actually kinda thrilling 😂 But still, better to be safe and avoid attracting wildlife. All in all, Pine Ridge is a lovely, peaceful place to camp. Would totally go again if I have a chance. and next time, I’ll double-check that the trash is gone before lights out! 😂

Beautiful and idyllic. Summer weekend, 2024. Full campground but it didn't feel cramped. Short walk to the beach on Lake Itasca. There's a terrific 16 mile paved bike path around the lake. Be forewarned that there's some uphill/downhill, but nothing overly strenuous. Clean bathrooms. The lodging office sells ice and firewood, along with some simple snacks. The reservation rules have changed so make sure you read them on the website. The long and short of it is if you don't show up on the first night of your reservation you risk losing your entire stay. So no more gaming it by reserving thur-sun just so you can get the weekend and just not showing up on Thur. Don't forget to walk across the Mississippi at it's headwater.

Nice campground with decent restrooms and showers. Sites are reasonably level. The firepits are a poor design, uneven, and not practical for actual grilling over a fire. Would be nice if more trails were connected.

Great camp grounds, so much to do here, from the paved walking 🚶‍♀️ or biking trails. Or renting a pontoon or kayaks on this beautiful lake with no cabins on it. Walk or bike to the Mississippi head waters is a short distance from this camp grounds. 🏕

A solid camp ground with large shade trees that is very affordable. Bathrooms and showers are good. Trails are paved and you can walk across the Mississippi river! The bike shop had a bike inner tube, which was very convenient!

Great campground right in the bike path. There is a small playground for kids. There is firewood available for purchase for $6 a bundle. Electric and non-electric sites available (20, 30 and 50 amp). Campsites are relatively level. Lots of mature red pine surrounding the campsites. There are a couple of downsides to the campground. First, there is only one dump station and it's only accessible by going to the Bear Paw campground (about a 5 minute drive). Second, some of the campsites get mildly flooded during rain. Third, there is water available for filling your RV, but it's not at each campsite.

I have gone to Itasca since childhood and the place always amazing. It's such a an awesome sight the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River. I went on a sunny summer weekday afternoon. There was a crowd of people there. You start at museum and cafe and gift shop. I was disappointed giftship has no footwear at all. There's a cafe there too. The trail walk 😄 s enjoyable and the woods so peaceful serene. It's good exercise too and really not a long walk. I loved seeing the woods and river. Definitely a highlight of my summer travels.

We were able to visit multiple times during our camping trip. The kids loved crossing from rock to rock. It is difficult when there are a lot of people there but if you go during off peak hours, it's definitely worth it and it's so beautiful! And did you know, the tall "grass"in the lake Itasca is actually wild rice?! I didn't know that either, but now I do, thanks to one of their information sessions!

If you ever wondered were the Mississippi starts well here it is. This was my first stop on my road trip. I enjoy discovering new places and unusual places. There are hiking trails and dog friendly. There is also a gift shop.

This is soooo cool. The start of the Mississippi River, and you can walk across it or even walk down the middle downstream to the next bridge. Hasn't changed since I was a kid, and now I can take my grandson. He had a blast!

Beautiful and highly accessible. Even dogs can cross the headwaters! Nice cafe with a fair amount of coffee and deli options.

It's kind of awesome and worth the visit. Fun swimming spot. Epic start to one heckuva canoeing adventure if that's your thing.

Easy walk only a few hundred yards level with a good trail amazing park worth the 8 hour drive. Our dog loved he could swim across.

So neat to see where the Mighty Mississippi begins. The park and interpretive trail are very well done and there’s even a little café. It’s definitely well worth a stop.

Awesome gem of Minnesota! Definitely a must see for anyone visiting the area. Fun to walk across the headwaters and really beautiful nature areas and hiking trails around. One of the best places to go in Minnesota, honestly. Weekends are busier, and the gift shop and ice cream shop is fantastic!

I could spend an entire day here! We only got a short visit, and we mostly stayed around the actual headwaters area but we had so much fun! Walked across the rocks and a cool fallen log bridge, got to walk through and down the river in thight high water was a fun. I wish we could have stayed longer to experience the whole park. The gift shop was pretty nice and very reasonable prices for very comfy t shirts and hoodies.

I've always wanted to go to the headwaters of the Mississippi, definitely looking forward to the return, so much information to take in

Beautiful in the fall. Brought our relative from CA. here. Met people from MO. also visiting the Headwaters. We enjoyed our visit...as always!

Beautiful view, Swimming area and walking paths. The walk from the parking lot to the creek was a quick and sweet walk.

Beautiful park to visit. Can only imagine what it's like in the summer. Was quite cold and windy on our visit but nonetheless still fun. Definitely cool the"see" the Mississippi head waters. There is also a web can looking at the area across from the pillar.