Big Bog State Rec Area is one of the newer areas in the Minnesota State Park system. Usually…read moreRecreation areas do not have many amenities and maybe built around one specific activity. Big Bog has a developed campground, with camper cabins as well as hiking trails at the bog area north of the campground area. The bog boardwalk is a mile long into the bog. Information signs are posted to help give history of the area. The office staff are very friendly and helpful. Nice nature store items for sale in the office too.

This is a smaller park that doesn't get much traffic. The campground is along the Tamarac River and…read morevery close to Red Lake. They have kayak and paddle board rentals and some free items that you can check out. The Red Lake is a great walleye destination and the largest lake inside the Minnesota border. Mille Lacs is #2 at about half the size. This Recreational area has a beach on the Red Lake and the Big Walk a short drive away. They don't have many hiking/biking trails. ATVs are used widely in the area so there are ditch trails that link you to other trails. You can also climb up the fire tower or view the fire tower camera from the web.

I have been sponsoring a group of friends here for several years. Carol and Perry are the…read moreowner/operators of this resort-style fishing camp and they do it right. Their staff is amazing and they understand customer service. The cabins are beautiful, serene and well kept. The views are amazing and the location is convenient yet remote enough to feel distant and unplugged. You park and take a boat over to the dock and the staff unloads your gear while you get settled in. And that's just the lodging. The food is spectacular and I gain weight each time I go, unfortunately. But, of all of the spectacular reasons to go to Young's Wilderness Camp, the fishing is out of this world. If you want to put a big Muskie or Pike in your boat, then Lake of the Woods and this resort is the place to be.

My husband and I did a tour with Captain Tim yesterday on the six hour Kettle Falls tour. Tim was…read morevery knowledgeable about the park and the area. He had a wonderful personality and as other people have said became our friend right away. I loved his sense of humor. It was a very nice boat and a top-notch operation. We would highly recommend this.

This was my first visit to International Falls, and I knew I had to get on the water to really see…read moreVoyageurs National Park. I was leery of paying $120 for a 2 hr boat tour, but it turned out to be well worth it. First week of October is already past the busy season and there wasn't much in the way of fall colors on the lake yet, but it was a truly beautiful ride nonetheless. Our guide Tim grew up on the lake and was not only full of information about the incredible history (and prehistory) of the region, but had his own stories to share that added such a depth and personal touch to the experience. I could have happily listened to him all day. If I can make it back someday for the 6 hour, I hope Tim is my guide once again.