Voyageurs National Park
Sky tinted waters
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Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway
MN Highway 11Karlstad, MN 56732
About
Minnesota's northernmost scenic drive travels from Voyageurs National Park along the Canadian border. Ideal for anglers, boaters, birders and wildflower lovers, the route runs along the Rainy River from International Falls to Baudette, through fields of lady's slippers from Baudette to Warroad, and along the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail west of Warroad.
ZippelBay State Park has a 3-mile long beach on Lake of the Woods. This massive lake is known for its fishing, as is the Rainy River. The roadside between Baudette and Warroad blooms with wildflowers, and the area west of Warroad is part of the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail. The western end of the byway heads north on Hwy. 59 to Lake Bronson State Park.
Numerous resorts surround Voyageurs National Park and Lake of the Woods, two of the route's key attractions. The "Dancing Sky" refers to the aurora borealis, or northern lights, which frequently appear in the area thanks to its far-northern location and absence of bright city lights.
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Length
- 229 miles
Route
- Across the top of Minnesota, between International Falls and the North Dakota border, mostly on Hwy. 11
Scenery
- A mix of woods and farmland, Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.
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What's Nearby
Mentioned In
A couple explores the hills and river bluffs around Red Wing by motorcycle / Roy Son
Wild elk in the Skull Lake Wildlife Management Area / Minnesota DNR