Minnesota is referred to as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". Those lakes, together with forests, parks, and wilderness areas, offer residents and tourists a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Minnesota’s Itasca State Park hostel is located within Itasca State Park, the state’s oldest state park. Made up of more than 32,000 acres and 100 lakes, the park is the site of the headwaters of the Mississippi River, the world’s third largest river. The headwaters’ shallow depth allows visitors to walk across the mighty Mississippi, here at the beginning of the 2,552 mile river leading to the Gulf of Mexico. The park offers recreational activities including hiking, horseback riding, biking, and cross country skiing. The park is also home to the Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Minnesota’s seven national natural landmarks. The sanctuary, covering nearly 2,000 acres, includes a large virgin stand of white and red pines, most dating back 100 to 300 years.

Minnesota Vacation & Travel Guide