Mississippi River Headwaters

Beautiful place. It's a must see for everyone. We even saw a bear on the way

Definitely a good idea to buy a park pass prior to getting there, but if you don't....you don't have to sit at the entrance and try to do so, you can buy one at the gift shop.

Very cool to see the headwaters of the Mississippi River start as a creek flowing out of Lake Itasca. Quite a few people visiting here in late June. In the 1930s stones were added so you can walk across. When we visited, the water was high, the rocks slippery, and those walking across got wet. Note that some creeks flow into Lake Itasca, and some argue that one of them should be considered the Mississippi River headwaters (and at least one is so marked on Google Maps), but these are the generally accepted headwaters and certainly the most fun.

Great trails, great amenities, make sure you know there are not water hookups before you come to camp! Great water access as well.

Was late, and I didn't have a lot of time to walk around and check everything out the way I would have liked. Parked near the head waters and walked in. Was very cool to see where the mighty Mississippi starts!!! Lots of information about the head waters history!!! Even said that there were people camping out here as long as 5,000 years ago! With copper even which is cool to know that they were mining copper from the north shore that long ago and it got that far inland is really cool! The history is amazing and fun to learn!

This was my second time here, the first being 28 years ago in 1996. I don't remember there being so much to the place. There's a gift shop, ice cream parlor, educational displays, and a very well maintained trail down to the headwaters. You can either walk across the river in knee deep water, or walk across on rocks they have placed where the river exits the lake.

Always a beautiful time at the headwaters.
Been there many times first time camping.. great time was had by all.