One of the highlights of my trip was climbing the Aiton Heights Fire Tower in Itasca State Park. Aiton Heights Fire Tower is located inside Itasca State Park. HikingIn addition to its 49 miles of scenic hiking trails, Itasca State Park hosts a part of the North Country Trail. "That's why we keep our fire tower open," Cox told me. Its your source for sneak previews of the next print issue, new trails to explore, upcoming events and the latest blog posts. The diversity of vegetation along the trail attracts birdwatchers. YOU HAVE BRAINS IN YOUR HEAD AND FEET IN YOUR SHOES; STEER YOURSELF TOWARD THESE SPOTS TO PERUSE. The Itasca Bison Kill Site is named after the extinct bison fossils discovered in the vicinity. The Club House is a two-story log structure ideal for family gatherings and special groups. MSP Communications hide caption. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. Itasca State Park hosts the Headwaters of the Mississippi River, which attracts thousands of visitors a year. LEFT: The 100-foot Aiton Heights Fire Tower in Itasca State Park is open to the public during the spring, summer, and fall. The line can get a little long and this is not for those with a fear of heights but there are spots to sit in the shade to wait if you dont want to climb and there is a replica of the top of the tower that has the same pictures pointing out landmarks. Logging companies muscled their way into the park and began to clear-cut the timber. To see past the trees you need to climb the tower! RIGHT: Inside the DNR Forestry Station in Nimrod, Minnesota, a map identifies the location of the area's fire towers. Because Wilderness Drive, the road connecting to this trailhead, is one-way, you will have to follow the main park road in a long circle before finding the turnoff on the right hand side -- it's easy to miss, so slow down and pay close attention once you're on the one-way road. The white pine is 112 feet tall; the red pine is 120 feet. Today, only a handful of towers exist. After 15 miles, turn left onto Minnesota Highway 27, then take a quick right onto Hubbard Road/County Road 6. It's 100' high so we opted not to as we were already tired from the walk up the hill. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "aitonheightsfiretower" Flickr tag. Aiton Heights Fire Tower attraction reviews - Aiton Heights Fire Tower tickets - Aiton Heights Fire Tower discounts - Aiton Heights Fire Tower transportation, address, opening hours - attractions, hotels, and food near Aiton Heights Fire Tower - Trip.com OverviewNearbyReviewsWin Prizes Trip Travel Guides North America United States Minnesota Read: Is Traveling A Hobby? Manage Settings Turn right onto County Road 23. The trail is a 2.2-mile in-and-out route. Snowshoers like to explore the Wilderness Sanctuary and the point of land between the arms of Lake Itasca. Long Lake Theater! Aiton Heights Fire Tower - Wilderness Dr See all 26 photos Aiton Heights Fire Tower Scenic Lookout, Historic Site, and Trail Park Rapids Save Share Tips 2 Photos 26 See what your friends are saying about Aiton Heights Fire Tower. MN Northwest Minnesota Itasca State Park " Part singletrack and part maintenance road, this wooded trail leads up to a 100 foot tall fire tower. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. Only 6 people allowed on it at a time, and if it is windy you feel it at the top. Cloud. Itasca State Park is approximately 4 hours from the Twin Cities. You have to park about a half mile away in a parking lot and hike to the tower. Peat fires can travel underground, making them infamously difficult to extinguish, as well as unpredictable and hard to control. For Dinner Green Mile Restaurant . Most fire towers in the U.S. were built in the 1930s. Sarah Stacke In early October, the hardwoods are various shades of orange and yellow, forming a colorful canopy over the hilly trail. Accurately plan and forecast revenues and order bookings. The fire tower is accessible with a half-mile hike from the designated Fire Tower parking area. Walk across the Mississippi River as it spills out of Lake Itasca, A family photo at the Mississippi headwaters is a must for many visitors, A paved 6-mile trail connects Douglas Lodge to the Mississippi headwaters. Here are just a handful of the finest historical and archaeological attractions and activities at Itasca State Park, one of Minnesotas best state parks. Some portions have nice wide paths for family hikes. It was a bit upsetting to find that 800-year-old Native American burial mounds at Itasca State Park were largely excavated in the late 1800s. Some other people were coming down and it made the whole tower shake. Courageous visitors climbed to the top of the structures and, unexpectedly, the platforms proved themselves to be "very important in locating fires," says Connie Cox, the MN DNR Lead Interpretive Naturalist at Itasca. At the DNR Forestry Station in Nimrod, a 94-foot ladder leads skyward to the bright red octagonal cab of a fire tower. Information provided by lookouts in each tower is used to triangulate the exact location of a fire. hide caption. If you choose to do that, follow the Deer Path Trail to the tower. Dogs are allowed on leash, and given the shortness of this hike, most children should be able to complete it. Sweet bessy this thing is tall. There are 45 miles of hiking trails at Itasca State Park, but you can also cycle on a 16-mile paved and off-road paved track or take a beautiful drive along the 10-mile Wilderness Drive to access many of the historical and natural sights. After a century, the Native American (or Woodland people) skeletons were reinterred in ten burial mounds. This three-mile loop is hilly but not too strenuous. Adventure Awaits Thrill or chilldiscover a kind of fun thats right for you! hide caption. AIM FOR A HOLE IN ONE, BUT PARS ARE NICE, TOO. Evergreen Gifts & Fun ParkEvergreen Gifts & Fun Park2Evergreen Gifts & Fun Park RIGHT: Kasey Lake is on the trail that leads to Aiton Heights Fire Tower, a popular tourist attraction in Itasca State Park. The chance to spear Northern Pike attracts ice fishermen to Itascas lakes. Oh, the Places You Should Go! Beautiful autumn colors. A mile-long boardwalk allows a relatively close-up look at this natural masterpiece. ! Through interpretive signs, school tours, and conversations with staff and local fire historians, visitors learn about the surrounding ecosystems, specifically the massive bog and Red Lake, and why protecting them is critical. Similar to the experience in Big Bog, from the top of the Aiton Heights tower, the dense quilt of emerald trees and cobalt lakes looks nearly the way it did before European settlers, when only the Dakota and Ojibwe inhabited the land. Errol Sleeper, 7, takes in the view from the cab of the Aiton Heights Fire Tower in northern Minnesota's Itasca State Park. On the climb up, there are many interpretive signs that describe the various strata or levels. 8* Riverfront! Its about more than standing on the mountain top. Google Maps Directions. The vistas, though, are well worth the wait and the effort. you may not see to infinity (and beyond! In 1903, Gibbs, the first female park commissioner in North America, stood up to loggers (who even threatened her with a rifle) to safeguard the parks pine trees, insisting that they reduce the level of the dammed water. Fishing dock on the south end of Lake Itasca. YOU MAY NOT SEE TO INFINITY (AND BEYOND! The 100-foot fire tower in Big Bog State Recreation Area offers views of Upper Red Lake and portions of the Red Lake Peatlands. Sarah Stacke Dogs are allowed on leash, and given the shortness of this hike, most children should be able to complete it. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Later, aircraft monitored the forests on a regular basis. Contributed material may be separately copyrighted. Listen for all the warblers along the way. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Sarah Stacke The Ultimate Guide To An Exciting Way Of Life. Your session has expired. Head west on Interstate 94 towards St. It requires a $7 daily car fee or $35 annual pass to enter. You can see other evidence of early people in Itasca at the Indian Mounds near the headwaters. 2023 Minnesota DNR | Equal opportunity employer |. 20 Must-Know Great Smoky Mountains National Park Facts. RIGHT: Connie Cox is the MN DNR Lead Interpretive Naturalist at Itasca State Park. Search high and low for these Minnesotan stones and snap a pic of each rock you find. A day pass is $7 per car. The Aiton Heights Fire Tower is one of only six deactivated fire towers still standing in Minnesota (five of which are available for climbing when not closed due to the epidemic). You can find all of your Itasca State Park information and maps here, as well as browse the educational and historical displays. A "good chunk" of visitors climb it to connect with the natural landscape, "not a manicured forest," says Cox. This 100 foot observation tower is a perfect stop to see fall colors. Sarah Stacke Monthly Though typically wet and spongy, when dry, peat ignites easily and often burns unnoticed for days, weeks, and even years. Sarah Stacke View all hotels near Aiton Heights Fire Tower on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Aiton Heights Fire Tower on Tripadvisor, Hotels near Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl Airport (MSP), Motels near Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl Airport (MSP), Observation Decks & Towers in Lake Itasca, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Lake Itasca, Tuscany Bike Tours: one day bike tour through the hills of Chianti, Maui Pineapple Tour - 1.5 Hour Farm Tour in Haliimaile, Dolphin Cruise from The Florida Aquarium in Tampa Bay, Outdoor Escape Room Scavenger Hunt in Old Town Temecula, Experience the traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, Premium Valle de Guadalupe Wine and Food Tour. The 80 Aermotor tower with 7x7 metal cab continues in service with David Quam (MN FFLA Director) as the park interpreter. Fire creates favorable conditions for the growth and survival of pines and they depend on it for reproduction. 2021Outdoor Project. Its about nourishment and learning. Whether you want to climb a fire tower or hike to a scenic overlook, youre sure to see some beautiful sights at these state parks. Evergreen Fun Park - - Evergreen Fun Park 2 - Evergreen Fun Park , ,