Voyageurs National Park is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Minnesota’s only national park was established in 1975. It’s a water-dominated landscape that borders the northern part of the state and Canada. People have traveled through and lived within the region for thousands of years. The park will celebrate its history, people, and landscape throughout the year and open a new visitor center this summer.
A plan is in place to return elk to some of their native range as early as 2026. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, in partnership with the Minnesota DNR, plans to move 100-150 elk from northwestern MN to the Tribe’s reservation and surrounding areas in Carlton and southern St. Louis counties.
We’re revisiting our most viewed topics of 2024! These include stories on forever chemicals in Lake Superior, continued efforts to protect wilderness, the possibility of full mobile phone coverage in the BWCAW, and a peak Northern Lights season.
Biking the Mesabi Trail between Tower and Ely, part of 165 miles of jaw-dropping beauty, connecting 28 communities in MN’s wild north.
Since 2021, the USFS Northern Research Station’s Mercury Sulfur Initiative Working Group has been studying mercury and sulfur pollution in the Upper Great Lakes region. They will be hosting a webinar series on reducing these harmful chemicals in water and soil. Innovative research includes using trees, plants and microbes to remediate pollution.
The entry deadline is just a few days away. The writer of the winning essay receives a parent-free, fully outfitted five-day canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for themselves and up to three friends.
Bringing natural night skies to more people is the goal of a mobile classroom and online camera.
The BWCAW isn’t just for canoeing. Volunteers help clear and maintain 200 miles of hiking trails in the Boundary Waters annually.
Shooting stars will light up the night as public programs help visitors learn and enjoy the region’s dark skies.
Volunteers are vital to measure how clear lakes and streams are, providing valuable information to track long-term health.
The dogs were eager, ready and pulling on their leads, when the 2020 Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race officially began early on Saturday, January 11, spectators and mushers expected great weather and optimal trail conditions.
Exhibit at Minnesota History Center features large collection of historical materials connected to the famed early explorer and defender of the Quetico-Superior region.
Forest Service educators will lead hikes, activities, campfires and more at campgrounds, resorts, and other sites in Cook County.
Heart of the Continent Partnership is promoting the diverse riding opportunities throughout the region with rides of varying types and difficulties.
A snowy wilderness echoed with the barking of sled dogs poised for a heated competition. Recent snows and warmer than usual temperatures made good conditions for mushers and race watchers.
Mining opponents show river and wetlands that would be most affected by the proposed copper-nickel mine in the Lake Superior basin.
Married adventurers and advocates for mining protection are on their way to the capital to raise awareness of the Boundary Waters and its threats.
Annual volunteer weekend at Voyageurs will contribute to wetland restoration efforts.
In Grand Marais, Minnesota, gateway to the Gunflint Trail and canoe country, there is a place where the traditional crafts of the north are celebrated. From timber framing and boat building, to basketry and knitting, craftsmen and women gather to share their knowledge and skills—often using traditional resources like birch bark.
Business operators, organizations, and government staff are invited to attend a series of events centered on promoting the region’s resources to visitors.