In Minnesota, the river flows through valleys, bluffs, prairies, and woodlands in a variety of flow rates and widths.

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Get directions, maps, and traffic for Lake Itasca, MN. Portions of the river have been designated as a Wild and Scenic river. Discover Headwaters of the Mississippi River in Lake Itasca, Minnesota: At this Minnesota state park you can easily wade across the source of the mighty Mississippi. From here the river flows north to Bemidji, where it turns east, and then south near Grand Rapids. A lake, flowing into a small stream is hard to imagine becoming the wide Mississippi as it flows south. The mighty Mississippi River begins its winding journey to the Gulf of Mexico as a mere 18-foot wide knee-deep river in Itasca State Park.

Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. Legal. Check flight prices and hotel availability for your visit. A park sticker gains you entrance to all the trails in the park, but also to the Headwaters of the Mississippi River. Come in the morning when it is not busy to get the best Its first 50 miles are narrow, sometimes just five to 10 feet wide, and have few signs of development. Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. It will flow a total of 694 miles before working its way out of Minnesota.

Get directions, maps, and traffic for Lake Itasca, MN. Lake Itasca, MN Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics.

The Mississippi River State Water Trail begins its 2,552-mile journey in Itasca State Park. The Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world, flowing 2,350 miles from Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. You will pass white and red pine, oaks, maples, birch and aspen that support diverse wildlife.