Visitors to the Heartland Lakes area soon learn it’s the land of 10,000 things to do. To find out the latest local news and upcoming events, turn to the Park Rapids Enterprise, an award-winning newspaper published every Wednesday and Saturday. We offer yearround subscriptions for Minnesotans and out-of-state visitors. For more information, call 218-732-3364. Our office is located at 1011 1st. St. E., Suite 6, Park Rapids, Minn. You can find us online at www.parkrapidsenterprise.com,
or our
Land of 10,000
Note:
AUGUST
THINGS TO DO
8: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
8: Water Wars on Main Avenue
8: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
8: Backyard BBQ Challenge, Park Rapids
10: Northern Knights Run to the Rapids classic car show
10: Northwoods Triathlon, Nevis
15: Noon Hour Concert, St. Johns Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
15: 2nd Street Stage, Park Rapids
16-18: Lake Itasca Pioneer Farmer Show
17-18: Art Fair at the Winery, Forestedge Winery, Laporte
22: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
24: Veterans Tribute Program, Howard Maninga’s home, Ponsford
26: Hubbard County Historical Society program, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids
29: Noon Hour Concert, Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids
SEPTEMBER
28-29: Art Leap 2024
28: Headwaters 100
30: Hubbard County Historical Society program, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids
OCTOBER
28: Hubbard County Historical Society program, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids
31: Trick or Treat Park Rapids
NOVEMBER
29: Community Tree Lighting and Yuletide Sampler
Welcome to the beautiful northwoods
The Heartland Lakes Area teems with the sights and sounds of the great Minnesota northwoods.
Enjoy our towns and its people while surrounded by pristine lakes and tall pine forests.
This region offers a variety of opportunities – from scenic retreats and outdoor sports to rich cultural experiences, shopping, dining and entertainment.
Jump into the water for swimming, tubing, water skiing or fishing.
Bike the famous Heartland Trail for a day of historic sights and healthy recreation.
Explore the scenic North Country Trail.
Play a game of disc golf, tennis or softball or have a picnic at one of the city or county parks. Golfers needn’t go far to find top-rated courses within a short drive in any direction.
With more than 400 lakes, thousands of miles of trails and a wildlife refuge, the Heartland Lakes area is also a gateway to Itasca State Park, home of the Mississippi River headwaters.
Local art galleries and museums celebrate the history and artistic talent of our communities.
Park Rapids and surrounding towns host many summer festivals with parades, music, kids games and more.
From life on the lakes to exercise on the trails, shopping the unique stores or just kicking back with a good book beneath the Norway pines, the Heartland Lakes Area offers it all.
Flip through this issue of Summer Scene and you’ll find what you are looking for in lake and pine country. We just know that you’ll enjoy your stay.
▲ Shannon Geisen/Enterprise
11 FUN THINGS
1. Admire classic cars
Car enthusiasts are invited to the Northern Knights Car Club’s annual Run to the Rapids car show on Saturday, Aug. 10 in Park Rapids. Saunter through Main Ave. for the “Show and Shine.” It begins at 8 a.m and runs through 12:30 p.m. Many car owners invite visitors to check out their vintage machines, and many also share stories of how they restored their cherished classics.
2. Explore the pioneering past
Go back in time and spend a day or two exploring what life was like in the area in the “good ol’ days” at the Lake Itasca Region Pioneer Farmers Show, Friday through Sunday Aug. 16-18.
The showgrounds, located off Hwy. 200 at the north entrance to Itasca State Park, are a rustic village featuring a country school, church, shops, post office, pioneer homes and more. Gates open at 7 a.m. daily.
3. Art fair at the winery
Forestedge Winery, renowned for transforming native northwoods’ fruits and berries into internationally award-winning wines, hosts its annual art fair on the third weekend of August.
This year’s dates are Saturday, Aug. 17 and Sunday, Aug. 18.
Admission and parking is free. The event features selected artists exhibiting and selling their works. Artistic mediums include pottery, porcelain, jewelry, fiber, leather, wood, painting and more.
4. Explore artists’ studios
Art Leap, an open studio driving tour, offers 28 sites and features nearly 100 artists. The event will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28 and 29.
Hop from studio to studio, learn process, appreciate skill and support artists. Let fall’s natural beauty as you pass lakes and travel country roads inspire you as it does the artists. Learn more on page 10.
5. Fall colors during Headwaters 100
The Headwaters 100 Bike Ride takes place on Saturday, Sept. 28. The casual, familyfriendly ride offers 45-, 75- or 100-mile routes through the lakes area. Every year, hundreds of cyclists from all over North America head to Park Rapids to tour the spectacular fall colors. Learn more on page 8.
6. Rock out on Main Street
Bring a lawn chair to Main Street, downtown Park Rapids and enjoy free, outdoor concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays through Aug. 15. The Park Rapids Downtown Business Association hosts the live concerts, featuring regional bands, a beer garden and family activities.
TO DO in Aug. & Sept.
7. Fire it up
If you haven’t done it already this summer, now’s the time – light up that backyard fire pit, take a seat, pop open a cold beverage and roast some marshmallows with your family, friends and neighbors. Or roam away from home and enjoy the sight, sound and smell of a campfire. There are plenty of state forests and resort campgrounds – plus Itasca State Park – where you can pitch a tent and get a campfire going.
8. Contemporary art or history lesson
Turn a rainy day into a visit to the Nemeth Art Center. It shares space with the Hubbard County Historical Museum in a beautiful Victorian building that was originally built as a courthouse. Visit nemethartcenter.org or hubbardcountymuseum.org for the latest hours and exhibits.
9. Ride the countryside
Hubbard County is an ATV enthusiast’s playground. There are miles of ATV and OHV trails around.
The Martineau Recreational Trails are found in the Paul Bunyan State Forest, near Akeley. Located on a combination of state forest roads and trails in northern Minnesota, the Round River Drive Trail showcases the diverse terrain of the Paul Bunyan State Forest.
The Forest Riders Trail in the Smoky Hills and Two Inlets State Forest is a 100-mile, scenic ride through Becker and Hubbard counties, on terrain ranging from rolling and hilly to level and smooth.
10. Sculpture Trail
Sculptures created by Minnesota artists dot downtown Park Rapids and Red Bridge Park. Stroll along the trail to enjoy a dozen new sculptures. All artworks remain in place for a year and are available for sale.
11. Catch fish
The Park Rapids area and its abundance of lakes provide ample opportunity for the fishing enthusiast.
Whether you’re looking for fish simply for fun and the relaxation of dropping a line or wanting to take part in a competitive tournament, you’re sure to find what you want in Hubbard County.
Whether you catch off the dock, from shore or pull fish into a boat, it’s all about creating memories in lakes and pines area. Summer fishing can be as simple as hanging out on the dock and snapping a photo with a big catch.
Fishing is a family sport – for the youngster with his or her first rod and reel, the avid angler or an entire family on vacation visiting one of the many lakes and resorts.
Check in at one of the local bait shops for tips on hot spots, best bait and lures, fishing style and time of day for whichever lake you’re heading out to fish.
Join cyclists for Headwaters 100
Bicyclists from across the U.S. will assemble in Park Rapids for the Headwaters 100, slated for Saturday, Sept. 28.
Established in 1980, the Headwaters 100 originally began as a 100-mile bike race and touring ride.
Organized by the Itascatur Outdoor Activity Club, it’s a casual, noncompetitive ride nowadays.
Scenic beauty attracts hundreds of cyclists. The route includes well-marked 100-, 75-, and 45-mile paved routes through northern woods in their full autumn glory.
Refreshments and prepackaged food are included in the registration, with food and beverage stops along the course at Itasca State Park, the Mantrap Conservation Club and Nevis.
For rules, routes, frequently-asked questions and online registration, visit www.itascutur.org. Register for the ride here: https://www.bikereg.com/ headwaters100.
▲ This couple participated in the 2023 Headwaters 100 for the first time. But they’ve traveled the world on their tandem bike. Enterprise file photo
▲ “I do a lot of repurposing,” says Brenda Mason. “All of these are afghans I bought at the thrift store, then I just did whatever.” She opened her studio on Park Avenue for Art Leap 2023. Enterprise file photo
Meet artists across three counties at Art Leap 2024
Art Leap, an open studio event, will offer 28 sites and feature more than 100 artists and guest artists at studios and other locations in Hubbard, Becker and Wadena counties.
Hop from studio to studio, learn process, appreciate skill and support artists. Let fall’s natural beauty inspire you as it does the artists as you pass lakes and travel country roads.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept 29.
To navigate to locations in the Heartland Lakes area, pick up an event guide with maps and directions to drive a loop north and west and another south and east.
Guides are available at the Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, Park Rapids Area Library and other locations. The guide is also available to view and for download at www.heartlandarts.org.
New artists, new studios
Art lovers will find new locations and artists among 12 sites in Park Rapids this fall. The Giiwedinong Treaty Rights and Culture Museum showcases indigenous artists’ use of art to communicate their stories and preserve their cultural traditions.
ART LEAP: Page 11
▲ One of the new Art Leap sites this fall is the Cedar Swan Woodshop in Nevis. Paul Albright created the swan, which invites visitors to the space. The Woodshop opened in May and aims to create a community of artists and creators, who share their work and teach their skills to others. Contributed/LuAnn Hurd-Lof
ART LEAP
From Page 10
Murals inside and outside the museum are an exciting part of the displays.
West of the city, Grace Community Church is a new Art Leap site this year with local artists presenting ceramics and pottery, handcrafted burl bowls, farmhouse teams with handcrafted harnesses, handmade wooden art decorations and paintings.
Then find a new site at the home of Dan and Mary O’Brien. They create pottery, ceramic sculptures, acrylic painting and wood items and will demonstrate wheel throwing. And a second new site will be Cedar Swan Woodshop in Nevis. Wood creations offered there include works by past Art Leap participants Paul Albright and Chuck Weygand.
Sites near Park Rapids
Studio 176, The Tin Ceiling Gallery, The Gallery @ the Armory and Nemeth Art Center offer gallery viewing within the city of Park Rapids.
To see where and how art at The Tin Ceiling Gallery and The Depot is made, visit Park Rapids’ first makerspace, the Hubbard County DAC Northern Hearts Studio.
Artists Tiffany Besonen and Brita Sailer will show their works at The Gallery @ the Armory. The Armory Arts & Events Center will host a pop-up exhibition and market on the main floor, organized by the Animikii
Print Club, a collective of indigenous artists based in Mahnomen.
Visitors will not want to miss the Nemeth Art Center’s display of works by Madeleine Bialke and Wayne Gudmondson. Bialke created new works as artist-in-residence from May through July and premiered her work at the Nemeth in July. Gudmondson’s photographs include images captured in nearby northern forests.
Debbie Center will display her art at Wine Not?, play the piano and give World of Harmony Music demonstrations. Attendees can quickly learn to play a zither, using her instrument and books.
Brenda Mason’s one-of-a-kind handmade clothes will be seen at her home and she will host Becky Steinhoff who creates jewelry and mixed media art.
North of Park Rapids, Liz Shaw’s fine art photographs of swans, wolves, people and places and Jeff Renner’s acrylic paintings of wildlife in their natural habitat exemplify local artists who are inspired by their natural surroundings.
Indigenous art and more
Bam’idizowigarnig Creator’s Place features indigenous artists of the Pine Point area who create traditional Ojibwe art year round. Village of Pine Point murals, designed by Terri LaDuke and Annie Humphrey and painted by volunteers and Pine Point youth, can be seen on a short drive in the neighborhood north of PowWow Highway. Other sites on the trio again are Bruce Engebretson’s weaving studio, the Snellman
Hemp Market Store and Earl and Jeanette Wohlman’s residence.
On the south and east loop, visitors will find Kathleen Ristinen-Jonas’s charming Finnish homestead and studio and Doreen Schik’s Spirit Lake Gift Shop in Menahga.
Bickey Bender will host seven other artists this fall.
See Raku demonstrations at Kris and Bob Sauser’s Creative Minds Studio at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.
Continue the tour north of Nevis to visit Cathy Meyer’s studio and delightful buildings with her artwork and works by three guest artists and Gary and Marsha Wolff’s WolffWorks Studio.
To kick off the weekend, The Upper Mississippians will play at the Armory Arts and Events Center Friday evening. Enjoy an evening of dancing with music from the ‘20s through the ’50s. Nemeth Art Center will host an Art Leap after party, celebrating Art Leap artists from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday evening.
Heartland Arts sponsors Art Leap with funding provided, in part, by ItascaMantrap’s Operation Round Up, Park Rapids Downtown Business Association, West Acres Cares and the Park Rapids Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
This activity is also funded by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by Minnesota voters on Nov. 4, 2008.
Big and small corn pits at Pikes are one of the attractions that younger children especially enjoy. Enterprise file
Local fall festivals are fun attractions for families
LORIE SKARPNESS
Park Rapids Enterprise
Fall is the perfect time to return up north for some family fun. Temperatures are cool and fall colors paint the landscape.
Carter’s Fall Festival and Pike’s Farm are two locations that provide opportunities for outdoor family fun.
Carter’s Fall Festival
Pirates is the theme of this year’s fall festival at Carter’s Farm.
This year’s wagon ride drama theater will include information about historical pirates.
“We’ll also pull from pop culture stories that have pirates in them. The Pirates of the Caribbean series, Peter Pan, Treasure Island and Pirates of Penzance,” festival planner Steven Carter said.
“Local actors will be portraying pirates as the wagon drives by. “It’s like a moving theater. Instead of sitting in a theater you’re moving through scenes where people are acting out the story line.”
FESTIVALS: Page 13
▲
photo
▲ There are plenty of pumpkins to pick from at Carter’s farm, along with activities the whole family will enjoy. Enterprise file photo
FESTIVALS
From Page 12
Those attending the festival may dress as pirates. “As long as it’s appropriate but no weapons and nothing too gross or scary,” he said. “It is a family event.”
New this year is a 8-by-16-foot climbing wall for kids. There will also be a variety of games for all ages.
Younger children enjoy playing in the corn bin, according to Carter. The corn maze is popular and includes a treasure map with prizes for successful treasure hunters, he said.
Other attractions include a basketball shoot, mini golf, duck races and a small pirate ship playground.
There will also be magic and musical performances and food vendors.
Carter said he works on themes for the festival during the winter.
“We want something that is educational and fun,” he said.
“We try to have a new theme every year to keep it fresh so people will want to come back.”
Carter said fall events have been featured at the farm since 2010. “I’ve been running the fall festival since 2021,” he said. “Before that a different family
member was running it and they were called pumpkin parties. The Carter farm was started in 1956 by my grandpa, Russell Carter. My uncle, Dwight Carter, owns the farm now and I help manage it.
The festival opens Sept. 28 and will be held Saturdays and Sundays for five weekends. The last day is Oct. 26. In addition, the festival will be open Friday, Oct. 18, when schools are closed for MEA weekend.
The farm is located at 14766 119th Avenue. For more information about the festival, go to cartersfarm.org.
Activities include carving and decorating pumpkins.
Children will also be able to see animals on the farm, including sheep, goats, donkeys, horses, pigs and cows.
The event will begin the weekend of Sept. 28-29 and continue every weekend through Oct 27. Pikes will also be open during MEA Thursday and Friday, Oct. 17-18.
Pike’s Pumpkins & More
Pikes will offer plenty of family fun this fall.
“We will not have a corn maze this year, as our crop rotation did not allow for that as the fields are planted to organic dark red kidney beans,” Jay Pike said. “We will have hay rides, an adventure trail, large and small corn play bins, a straw castle, kiddie straw maze and for the older kids wooded trails. There is lots of room for kids to roam and burn off energy.”
Visitors may pick their own pumpkin in the field or select one from the pumpkins in the heated shop.
award-winning wines are handcrafted from the fruits & berries of the north. Stop in for a sip, take home a bottle!
The farm is located at 16303 Dovetail Road, off Cty. Rd. 6 near Park Rapids. Go to their Facebook page for more information.
Lorie Skarpness can be reached at lskarpness@ parkrapidsenterprise.com
Dutch oven delights for campers
ADutch oven is a large, heavy cooking pot with a lid that can be used to create many delicious dishes while camping. Dutch ovens made of cast iron need to be seasoned before using, while the ceramic type does not.
According to the “Taste of Home” magazine, seasoning a new cast iron Dutch oven for the first time takes one to two hours. After preheating the oven or grill to around 425 degrees, clean the Dutch oven and dry it thoroughly. Rub oil over the oven and bake it in an oven or grill for 45 minutes then let it cool for 30 minutes and repeat.
These recipes are from 50campfires.com. From breakfast through dinner and even dessert, they showcase some of the creative ways to use a Dutch oven. The website also
includes many more recipes and tips for campfire cooking.
Mountain Man Breakfast
1 lb. mild pork sausage, crumbled
5-6 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 lb. package frozen hash browns, shredded
12 eggs, beaten
1 pkg. shredded Cheddar cheese
Cook and stir the sausage, onion, and garlic in a 12-inch cast iron Dutch oven with lid, raised over the coals to medium-high heat, until the sausage is no longer pink and the onion is tender.
Stir in the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and hash brown potatoes until evenly mixed. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the hash browns are hot and the peppers are tender, about 15 minutes. Pour the beaten eggs evenly over the top of the potatoes, allowing them to sink into the potatoes. Cover the Dutch oven, and place 6 to 9 coals underneath, and 12 to 18 on top.
Allow to bake until the eggs are firm, about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese, cover, and continue cooking until the cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.
Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
1 lb. ground beef 1 cup uncooked instant rice
2 cups beef broth
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
3/4 onion, minced
1 Tbsp. minced garlic
12-oz. can tomato sauce
28-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained Salt and pepper to taste
In the Dutch oven, brown ground beef, onion, garlic and peppers Add salt and pepper to taste.
Heat beef broth with the hamburger mixture. Add tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir well and make sure that it is heated through. Once hot, add uncooked rice and simmer for a few minutes until the rice is done. Check the rice frequently.
▲ A Dutch oven is a versatile camping accessory. It can be used on an open fire, cook using coals buried in a hole and also works on a traditional stove. Adobe Stock
Cheesy Potatoes
8 potatoes
1 lb. thick sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 cups shredded cheese
1 cup onions, sliced salt and pepper to taste
Slice potatoes, thin and slice the onion into rings and set aside. Cut strips of bacon to 1-inch pieces while heating up the Dutch oven on the campfire, grill or stove. Fry the bacon crisp, then spoon it out, leaving the bacon grease in the bottom of the pan.
Alternate layers of potatoes, sliced onions, bacon and cheese and repeat. Cover the dutch oven and cook for at least 45 minutes at 375 degrees, or until the potatoes are soft.
Peanut Butter Bacon
Chocolate
Bars
1 package peanut butter cookie mix
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 heaping teaspoon creamy peanut butter
2 Tbsp. maple syrup
1 egg
12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Lightly oil or spray a 12- inch dutch oven and lined with parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together cookie mix, oil, syrup, peanut butter, and egg until soft dough forms.
Reserve 1/4 cup bacon for garnish. Stir remaining bacon and peanuts into dough. Press dough evenly into the parchmentlined dutch oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips. Replace lid and cook for 3-5 minutes or until chocolate has melted. Immediately spread softened chocolate over bars with the back of a spoon.
Sprinkle reserved 1/4 cup bacon over chocolate. Cool for 30 minutes with the lid removed before lifting from Dutch oven. Wait until chocolate has set, before cutting into squares.
Monkey Bread
2 tubes of refrigerated biscuit dough
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
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3 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 stick butter, melted
Spray dutch oven with cooking spray or line the oven with foil and coat foil with cooking spray.
Chop biscuits into quarters. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a plastic bag. Drop each quarter into the bag and shake to coat well. Place the mixture in the dutch oven.
In a separate pan, melt the butter and pour over biscuits. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Check around 30 minutes to see if the dough is done.
Baked Salmon
4 salmon fillets or a 1 lb. piece of salmon, skin on one side
3 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
16 crackers, crushed
Coat the Dutch oven with a non-stick cooking spray. Place salmon fillet, skin side down. Spread mustard evenly over fish and sprinkle with crushed cracker crumbs. Add a little dill weed or lemon pepper desired. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Wonderful ‘shrooms found year-round
The Heartland Lakes Area is a great place to spot weird and beautiful life forms from the kingdom Fungi – and if you know what to look for, you might find some of them tasty.
Dr. Jonathan Schilling, a fungal biologist with the University of Minnesota and director of the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratory, pronounces “fungi” with a soft g, spoiling that sorry pun. But he recently shared some pointers about mushrooms, from species that many folks look for to ones that might not be so well known.
Hen of the woods
Moving on toward fall, the hen of the woods, or maitake, comes out in mid-to-late August and early September, Schilling said.
Like the chicken of the woods, the maitake is something you’ll find on oak trees – but the maitake will typically be at the base of the tree, and can grow as large as a basketball.
Schilling described it as a bunch of little, fan- or shell-like protrusions, clustered in a spherical area. “It’s almost like a piece of branched coral,” he said. “It’s a gray color, so it’s not a spectacular looking mushroom, but it’s got quite a lot of flavor.”
While he admits that maitake isn’t his favorite edible mushroom, Schilling said it’s popular in Asian cuisine and pairs well with umami flavors.
“You’ll see hen of the woods or maitake in a lot of dishes in restaurants,” he said.
Rich in antioxidants
Schilling said there’s even a type of fungus that people look for during the winter.
The chaga (Inonotus obliquus) grows on the side of birch trees – especially paper birch – and looks like a burnt marshmallow, although it’s rock-hard.
“It’s not a mushroom, per se,” said Schilling about the visible part of the chaga. “It’s a funny little appendage from a fungus.”
A parasite that feeds off a wound in a living tree, the chaga is widely collected and ground up to make an herbal tea with super-high levels of antioxidants.
“Like, blueberries times 100 or something,” Schilling said. “It’s very common throughout the boreal regions of the world.”
“Boreal,” meaning northern, refers to the largest natural biome in the world, also known as taiga. It circles from Russia to Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska and back to Russia.
Schilling hinted that people interested in collecting chaga might want to check for local restrictions, particularly in state parks. Because few collectible species are out during the winter, there is a possibility of chagas being overharvested.
▲ Chaga (Inonotus obliquus). Photo courtesy of Dr. Jonathan Schilling
▲ Maitake, Hen of the Woods, Sheepshead or Grifola frondosa is a sought-after mushroom with many names. Adobe Stock
Following some simple guidelines can save a bear’s life.
Kristi Coughlon is the northwest region information officer with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). She said that when campers are careless and leave food that attracts bears, they will often keep coming back.
In some cases, they may be able to relocate bears, but in others they are dispatched. “No one at the DNR enjoys having to dispatch bears. If there are cubs, we try to send them to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator,” Coughlon said.
It’s a human problem
Coughlon said removing bears doesn’t resolve underlying issues that attracted them to the location in the first place.
“Our preferred action is to eliminate the food source,” she said. “Without those attractants, bears won’t become problem bears because they have become habituated to humans. It’s a human problem, not a bear problem.”
Coughlon said while bears are usually not aggressive towards humans, if they are in situations where they are in close proximity to people they could become defensive.
BEARS:
Page 19
water
Find the GREEN, find the FISH
BY MIKE FRISCH
Several falls ago, I experienced my best fall of fishing and some of the best overall fishing of my entire career by fishing a small shallow lake near my home. This particular lake is river-fed, has dark, dingy water, and though the weeds don’t grow that deep, they are very thick where they do grow.
On a mid-October day during that fall, I happened to be drifting along a weedline with the boat holding in about seven feet of water when a walleye ate the jig and minnow combination that was dragging behind. I landed the fish, rebaited, and quickly repositioned the boat for another pass over the spot the fish had come from. That pass resulted in another 17-inch walleye in my net. The next two passes produced similar results.
Realizing I had found a hot spot, I used the anchor mode on my trolling motor to hold the boat in place – a bit out from where the fish were holding – and started pitching a light jig and fathead minnow to the productive spot. Over two dozen
walleyes were caught – and most released – that day.
Subsequent trips to that spot produced similar catches, and, in fact, I used the spot to guide groups of late-season guide clients to good catches from. The fishing stayed good well into late fall as I remember my last day fishing at the hotspot was Nov. 20, and I had to dodge ice chunks on my way to and from the fish.
What made this particular spot so productive? Simply put, the area had a patch of weeds – some cabbage and somewhat I called “junk weeds” for lack of a better term. What made these weeds especially appealing, however, was the fact that they were green and still living and stayed that way late into the season. Green, living weeds not only provide good cover for fish during fall, but the oxygen they give off draws baitfish, which makes them even more appealing.
What was interesting is that as fall progressed, the walleyes had to “share” the spot with other fish, as big northern pike and some lunker largemouth bass were caught from the area too.
What is even more interesting is that this is an easy pattern to duplicate. By staying on the move and using today’s sonar technologies, anglers can now “see” off to the sides of our boats and identify weeds. A quick cast or two will often tell us the state of that vegetation and whether it deserves some fishing attention or should be skipped in favor of further searching. Using this process of elimination, anglers can often find green living weeds and the walleye gold that lives in them.
In conclusion, if finding walleye gold is a goal of yours this fall, consider a trip to the weeds of your favorite lake, as that trip just might reward you with the season’s best fishing.
Good luck in your search for walleye gold, and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoor adventure.
Mike Frisch hosts the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series on the Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, and several other networks as well. Visit www.fishingthemidwest.com tosee all things Fishing the Midwest.
▲ Mike Frisch with a weed walleye. Contributed photo by Mike Frisch
BEARS
From
“Bears prefer not to be around people, but when they get used to going to a place where people are for a food source that’s when we start to have situations,” she said.
Coughlon said staff at Itasca State Park have been encouraging campers to do their part. “They’ve been reaching out with information on camp safety and food storage practices and tips on how to respond to any encounter with bears in the park,” she said. “Normally, bears aren’t inherently dangerous, but if they become habituated and a situation arises where they become not
afraid of humans and are in close proximity to humans, that is a human safety issue and it becomes paramount that the situation is handled,” she said.
Remove scents that
attract bears
Bears have a very sensitive sense of smell. Coughlon said grills that aren’t cleaned thoroughly, clothing that has been worn while cooking on the grill, food remnants on picnic tables, unsecured garbage, snack foods and scented beauty products can all attract a bear into a campground.
“It’s natural for a bear to smell a food source and come to check it out whether it is a natural source or a human source,” she said. “Bears eat lots of things: acorns, chokecherries, blueberries. If those natural sources aren’t available they will seek out other sources of food and that’s when they can get in trouble. They’re just looking to put on those calories before they enter winter and hibernate.”
Coughlon said people camping in bear
More resources
country have additional responsibilities and should take every precaution available to prevent bears from coming to the location. Coughlon said when going out, especially at night, it is good to make some noise to let bears know you are around. “Announce to whatever out there that you are a human and you’re coming outside,” she said.“When hiking in the woods you want to let bears know that you are coming by making noise too. You announce yourself and they move off. You might not even know they are around.”
Bear safety tips
Sandra Lichter is one of the naturalists at Itasca State Park. She said these tips shared with campers entering the park will avoid attracting bears.
► Store food in bear-proof containers or in coolers in a locked vehicle.
► Don’t keep food, clothes worn while cooking or any scented items in a tent.
► Keep a clean camp at all times. Don’t leave any trash or trash bags outside.
► Don’t feed bears or other wildlife.
For resources on how to coexist and live responsibly with bears, more information is available at bearwise.org or the website (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/bears/index.html).
Other links with information about bears are listed below: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/backyard/privatelandhabitat/bear_country.pdf http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/livingwith_wildlife/bears/homes.html http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/blackbear.html
Itasca State Park was established on April 20, 1891 to preserve the old growth pine trees that were in danger of being logged.
More than half a million people visit Itasca State Park every year to see the giant pines and wade across the headwaters of the Mississippi River State Water Trail.
Park Rapids is the undisputed Gateway to Itasca State Park.
Itasca State Park encompasses Lake Itasca, the official source of the Mississippi River, and a scenic area of northern Minnesota that has remained relatively unchanged from its natural state.
Today, the park totals more than 32,000 acres and includes more than 100 lakes. Stand under towering pines at Preacher’s Grove. Visit the Itasca Indian Cemetery or Wegmann’s Cabin, landmarks of centuries gone by. Camp under the stars, or stay the night at the historic Douglas Lodge or cabins. Explore Wilderness Drive past the 2,000-acre Wilderness Sanctuary, one of Minnesota’s seven National Natural Landmarks.
ITASCA PARK: Page 23
GROUNDS LODGE & CAMPING
miles North
Hwy. 64 Akeley, MN
· 800-725-1579 www.stompingroundslodge.com
▲ Crossing the headwaters of the Mississippi is a tradition at Itasca State Park. Shannon Geisen/Enterprise
Angust & September HIGHLIGHTS AT ITASCA STATE PARK
As summer begins to wind down, there is still plenty to do at Itasca State Park in August, September and beyond.
▶ Star gazing With days getting shorter, drink in the night sky. The Milky Way is amazing to see and visible earlier in the evening.
▶ Challenge your birding skills Migrating birds, especially warblers, are less colorful as they molt worn feathers. Fall birding means learning to identify birds by other features, such as patterns like eye rings.
▶ Lace up your boots. Fewer biting bugs and cooler temperature means fall is a great time for long hikes.
▶ Enjoy a campfire. Cooler evenings and earlier sunsets means more time to be mesmerized by campfire flames and more time to enjoy s’mores!.
▶ Bait that hook. Changes in water temperature means fishing will start to pick up. The fall equinox also triggers fish to eat more, packing on weight for winter.
▶ Wildlife watching. Early evening and twilight is a nice time to watch for signs of beaver activity as they begin to cut more shrubs and trees for winter food supplies.
▶ Photograph mushrooms. Bring a camera and photograph some of the amazing and colorful mushrooms that appear when autumn rainfalls stimulate fungal threads to send up fruiting bodies such as mushrooms, toadstools and shelf fungus.
▶ Get your wheels in motion. Biking in late summer and fall is a nice way to see the start of autumn changes and the weather can be a lot cooler.
▶ Get on the water. Decreasing light levels in late August and September trigger fall color changes. Enjoy the reflection of autumn leaves on the water’s surface.
▶ Fall leaf watching. Enjoy the yellows, oranges, reds and purples as the green leaves of summer fade and fall colors appear. A warm, moist summer leading into sunny, cool fall days with less daylight means fall colors will start to appear. Just like a recipe needs to be measured, if the weather is too warm, too cold, too wet or too dry it can affect when leaves drop or even if the colors will change before the leaf falls from a tree.
▲ Lake Itasca offers boating and fishing opportunities. Shannon Geisen/Enterprise
◀ A paved trail connects Douglas Lodge with the Mississippi River headwaters and Itasca State Park’s campgrounds. Shannon Geisen/ Enterprise
ITASCA PARK
From Page 21
But the main attraction will continue to be walking across the headwaters of the Mississippi River on stones at the mouth of Lake Itasca. But there are plenty of other activities to do at the park. Other outdoor activities include taking an excursion boat on Lake Itasca, exploring along Wilderness Drive, biking or hiking along more than 30 miles of designated trails, fishing in one of the many lakes, observing the wild flowers in season as well as birding. Like the entire Park Rapids area, wildlife can be seen throughout the park.
For more information about the park events and schedules, call Itasca State Park headquarters at 218-699-7251, email itasca. statepark@state.mn.us or go to www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_ parks/itasca/index.html.
Silhouette
Hidden treasures of Itasca Discover autumn colors on Mary Lake
BY HEATHER FUNK
Visitor services coordinator, Itasca State Park
There are countless ways to experience autumn at Itasca State Park.
A cruise on Wilderness Drive with the sunroof open, sitting round a campfire dressed in your favorite flannel, or panoramic views from on top of the Aiton Heights Fire Tower immediately come to mind.
As days shorten and temperatures drop, new adventures await. How about experiencing this magical season of color from a new perspective this year?
Itasca State Park has over 100 lakes within its 32,000-acre border. Four of the larger lakes have a public access site, including Lake Itasca, Ozawindib Lake, Elk Lake and Mary Lake. Each has its own merits.
MARY LAKE: Page 25
▲ The calm water on Mary Lake is a mirror that magnifies the splendor of autumn colors. Contributed/Heather Funk
▲ Taking a paddle on Mary Lake is a serene way to view the colors and a variety of wildlife on an autumn afternoon. Contributed/Heather Funk
MARY LAKE
From Page 24
Ozawindib Lake is a tranquil location for a solitary paddle at dusk.
Elk Lake is most beautiful on a dazzling, blue-sky day with the sun sparkling on open water, and Lake Itasca offers miles of pristine shoreline to explore before arriving at the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Through all the many phases of fall color from late August to November, Mary Lake is the unsung hero of autumn splendor.
The calm, quiet waters of Mary Lake are the perfect canvas for reflection in both a literal and figurative sense. Its diverse shoreline reflects towering pine trees and the dark, conical spires of spruce intermixed with vibrant shades of yellow, orange and red in the most perfect mirror image.
About the time when most deciduous leaves have dropped, tamarack trees blaze yellow along the southern shore before they, too, lose their colorful foliage and the scene shifts into demure shades of brown soon to be dressed in white.
Mary Lake is alive with both color and wildlife.
Swans glide effortlessly on glass-like water until ice forms.
Loons emit long, mournful wails calling out to their partner in conversation, saying “I’m here, where are you?” before gathering to migrate south for winter.
Deer tiptoe gracefully down to the water for a cool drink and with the flick of their tail disappear into the brush.
A splash announces the presence of a beaver; soon enough they will seek the warmth and dry comfort of their lodge for the winter months. These are the pure, harmonious sounds of nature.
This remarkable scene at Itasca State Park can be appreciated from a bench at the boat access, an easy 0.7-mile shoreline hike on Mary Lake Trail or through a photographer’s lens, but it is quite possibly best enjoyed from the water itself, where the gentle ripple from your paddle transforms the reflection into one that includes you, too.
▲ The trail along Mary Lake is a mix of pines and deciduous trees. Contributed/ Heather Funk
• Lodge with Rec Room • Tiled Showers & Laundry
• Heated Swimming Pool • Shu eboard & Horseshoes
Beach Ping Pong & Games
& Motors Tennis / Pickleball Court
& Snack Bar Canoes & Kayaks
• Gi Shop
• RV Supplies
• Boat Launching Ramp
• Internet Available
23801 Green Pines Road, Park Rapids, MN 56470 • Phone: (218) 732-5234 gocamping@vagabondvillage.com—www.vagabondvillage.com
Park Rapids’ Most Complete Deluxe Campground on Potato Lake
▲ The North Country Trail wanders through forested hills and valleys interspersed with rivers, lakes and numerous wetlands.
Contributed/Eric Haugland
Discover the North Country National Scenic Trail
Ahidden gem meanders through lake and pine country.
It’s called the North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT).
It’s one of 11 national scenic trails in the U.S. and the only one in Minnesota.
NCT is a footpath stretching over 4,800 miles – from central Vermont to central North Dakota.
Being open to foot traffic only, Minnesota’s trail holds unimpeded travel for hikers, berry pickers, mushroom hunters, geocachers, cross-country skiers and snowshoers.
Short day hikes or overnight hikes are possible.
Maps, events and suggested hikes are available at www.northcountrytrail.org.
Anyone walking this trail is in for a treat as it meanders through forested hills and valleys interspersed with rivers, lakes and numerous wetlands.
At most locations, there is a kiosk or signboard with information about the trail. Hiking distances to the nearest kiosk are also provided.
A “Guide to Hiking the North Country Trail in Minnesota” guidebook is available in bookstores in Park Rapids, Itasca State Park, Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge and online.
Local chapters
The NCT is administered by the National Parks Service, managed by federal, state and local agencies, and built and
maintained primarily by the volunteers of the North Country Trail Association (NCTA) and its partners.
Do you enjoy hiking and are you looking for a group to hike with on a regular basis?
Join these area NCTA hiking groups: Laurentian Lakes or Itasca Moraine.
The area’s segments of the North Country Trail are maintained by these two chapters.
The Laurentian Lakes Chapter maintains over 60 miles of the NCT through Becker and Clearwater counties, using only volunteers and donations..
The Itasca Moraine Chapter maintains 75 miles of the trail in Hubbard and Cass counties.
Since formation in the spring of 2002, the chapter has been engaged in extending the NCT from the west boundary of the Chippewa National Forest through the Paul Bunyan State Forest and Hubbard County’s tax-forfeited forestlands toward Itasca State Park.
Rewards along the trail
Eric Haugland, a member of Itasca Moraine chapter, says, “Hiking along an undeveloped forest lake allows you to experience wildlife with little human activity, and see lady’s slippers, wild rice and other flora in a natural setting.”
Later in the summer, Haugland said hikers are rewarded by finding wild strawberries, raspberries and blueberries along the trail.
Small wild plums are a late seasonal fruit found on the trail in high, dry areas.
Mushrooms and fruits can be picked along the trail and within the state park for non-commercial and personal use.
One of Haugland’s favorite hikes is Upper Teepee Lake when a sole birch forest turns yellow.
“Beavers, otters, nesting loons and trumpeter swans are found in and on the lakes,” he said.
More resources
Matthew Davis, regional director of the NCT, said, “We’re always looking for additional volunteers to help us do routine maintenance in addition to responding to these natural disturbances.”
According to Davis, folks interested in hiking can find more information about the NCT here:
► NCTA’s interactive map for the area is at https://arcg.is/1SGf050.
► NCTA’s free hiking map downloads are at https://northcountrytrail.org/maps/mn_ map_series_020_052_northcentral_mn.pdf (to print out) or https://www.avenzamaps. com/maps/850596 (to download to your smartphone).
► NCTA’s Guide to Hiking the North Country Trail in Minnesota can be purchased here: https://shop. northcountrytrail.org/collections/books/ products/guide-to-hiking-the-northcountry-trail-in-minnesota.
How to build a safe camp re
Campfires are a summer tradition in the Northwoods.
Whether cooking hotdogs, roasting marshmallows or taking the chill off the night air, these tips will help you build a campfire that burns well and extinguish it safely when you are done.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources suggests these steps to build a safe campfire:
► Clear the campfire site down to bare soil and remove any combustible materials (leaves, sticks, etc.) within five feet of the fire.
► Build a small fire and contain it within a fire ring three feet or less in diameter.
► If no fire ring is available, scoop out a depression in the center of the cleared area and arrange a ring of rocks around it.
► Have a bucket of water and a shovel near the campfire in case the fire spreads.
There are a few important things to consider before building a fire.
If wilderness camping, pick a spot at least 10 feet from tents and away from brush and grass. This will keep smoke away from the sleeping area. Also pick a location that is sheltered from the force of the wind so the fire will not be blown out.
Be sure young children are actively supervised so they do not get too close to the fire. They should also practice the move “stop, drop and roll” used to extinguish clothing that catches fire.
Learn more at https://smokeybear. com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfiresafety.
Campfire styles
Did you know there are nine different ways to build a fire and each serves a unique purpose?
These are a few of the most popular styles.
The Teepee
This is the most common type of campfire. It is made by a creating a base of kindling (newspaper, bark, or dry brush), then leaning logs onto each other over it. The fire is started at the bottom, and as the kindling burns it ignites the logs.
Eventually, the teepee will collapse as the logs burn and fall into the middle of the fire. More logs may be added as needed.
The teepee fire produces a lot of heat and light, but is fast-burning, so be sure to have a good supply of wood on hand.
The Log Cabin
This type of fire may also be referred to as the criss-cross or self-feeding fire. A log cabin format consists of logs stacked in alternating layers like the frame of a log cabin. Larger logs are stacked in a criss-cross fashion at the bottom level, then medium sized-wood, then small
wood. Put some twigs and brush on the top for kindling and start the fire from the top down. As the fire burns on top, it will spread down to the next layer, making this a self-feeding fire.
The Log Cabin fire is exceptional for cooking since it produces a steady heat and burns for a long time.
Extinguishing the campfire
The best way to extinguish the fire is to first use a bucket to spread water over the fire to extinguish the flames. Next, use a stick to stir the fire bed and then pour more water over the area. Repeat as needed until there is no more “hissing” sound coming from the fire when water is poured over it. Cover the area with dirt. This assures embers are all extinguished and cannot re-ignite. Stay in the area for at least 30 minutes to make sure the fire does not start up again.
Late summer spectacle
Watch for migrating common nighthawks
▲ The University of Minnesota Extension descrbies the common nighthawk as “a nocturnal bird that is larger than a robin but smaller than a crow. It is black, gray, and buff with white patches on its wings, a tiny bill and short legs.” Adobe Stock
The common nighthawk is a long-distance migrant that winters in South America.. Adobe Stock
MBY MARSHALL HOWE BIRDWISE
id-August to mid-September is prime time to be looking for common nighthawks migrating south, especially in the couple of hours before dusk.
Although most migratory bird species (except for hawks and waterfowl, which migrate later) slip through quietly on their return south and are largely unnoticed by non-birders, nighthawks are a welcome exception.
Despite their name, nighthawks are not hawks at all but members of a largely nocturnal family of species that includes the whip-poor-will and the nightjars. Owls are their closest relatives.
The common nighthawk stands out among the others in that it becomes active well before dark and is quite social during migration. So not only can they be easily spotted, it’s possible to run across flocks of several dozen, or even hundreds, when weather and feeding conditions are right.
A typical flight altitude for foraging nighthawks is between 100 and 200 feet.
One of the best places to look for them is out over our lakes at twilight. About the size of a small, dark gull, they are easily identified by their rapid and erratic flight patterns and by a conspicuous white perpendicular bar toward the tip of the wing.
Like swallows, they pursue any flying insect that comes within reach. This is what accounts for their erratic, darting flight. Nighthawks have extremely broad beaks and the inside of the mouth contains a sticky substance that helps prevent insect prey from escaping.
One of my wife Janet’s and my favorite nighthawk memories occurred years ago on Lake Ida. While fishing there near dusk, we were suddenly surrounded by a large flock of nighthawks dashing around like bats just over the water surface snatching emerging aquatic insects. The spectacle went on for several minutes and we were totally mesmerized. Even if you aren’t fortunate enough to experience something like that, just watching a small flock dart around overhead is a joy to behold and a phenomenon pretty much confined to late August and early September. So, for a new migration experience, look skyward during those weeks between 6:00 and dusk for common nighthawks, especially on westerly or northwesterly winds.
Marshall Howe is a retired biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He specialized in bird population studies. Howe has been a Park Rapids resident since 2010.
▲
Scenic drives are a peaceful pastime
As summer turns into fall, the northwoods region shows nature at its most magnificent.
The Heartland Lakes area includes several routes for a leisurely drive to watch the changing colors.
The Lake Country Scenic Byway is a stretch of State Hwy. 34 from Detroit Lakes to Walker. The 88-mile route includes a spur on U.S. Hwy. 71 north to Itasca State Park.
Traveling east, hardwoods give way to conifers near Snellman, with birches and aspens showing their fall colors first. At the right time of the season, visitors will see warm yellows, oranges and reds mixed with tall evergreen spires.
Detroit Lakes promotes a Fall Color Tour whose northern route travels through Park Rapids and up to Itasca State Park before looping back.
Another “Fall in the Prairie” route loops through the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, passing by blue lakes cruised by trumpeter swans.
Forest roads and trails
David Schotzko with DNR Parks and Trails in Bemidji recommends taking a scenic drive through either the Paul Bunyan or Two Inlets State Forest.
The forest roads there are “narrow and winding,” he said, “and very, very colorful, when the colors start turning.”
While trucks or Jeeps may be needed for the minimum-maintenance roads, Schotzko said the system forest roads can be traveled by any highway-licensed vehicle.
There are also non-car routes for taking in the scenery, such as the Round River ATV Trail and the Martineau Motorcycle Trail in the Paul Bunyan State Forest, the Forest Riders ATV Trail in the Two Inlets State Forest, an equestrian trail in the Huntersville State Forest and canoeing the Crow Wing River State Water Trail, starting on 11th Crow Wing Lake in Akeley.
For sheer beauty, there’s the Thorpe Tower overlook, north of Nevis. “You can see forever,” Schotzko said.
SCENIC DRIVES: Page 30
SCENIC DRIVES
From Page 29
Meanwhile, the Smoky Hills State Forest has drivable trails showing ridges and swales vibrant with maple and pine.
Itasca and beyond
At Itasca State Park, interpretive naturalist Connie Cox said the time to start seeing fall colors is mid- to late August, close to the ground with bracken ferns turning camel-tan and red maples starting to change color early.
Scenic routes through the park include a 16-mile loop, including Wilderness
Drive and Main Park Drive, that can take 40 minutes to an hour to travel. Cox also suggested climbing to Aiton Heights Fire Tower for a panoramic view.
Moving into September, Cox said, basswoods turn a soft lemon yellow, red maples bright red, sugar maples yelloworange and ironwoods add yellow hues to the forested hills, while in the wetlands and along the ponds and lakes, ash trees turn a lovely shade of yellow.
Later waves of color
For those sticking around later in the fall, Cox said, a second wave of color begins from late September into early October.
“We’ll start seeing the paper birches
Antiques in Minnesota's Vacationland
turning a rich, deep, gold color,” she said. “You might start seeing some of the aspens changing, with the trembling aspens throwing in a few hints of yellow. Bigtooth aspens have kind of an orangish yellow.”
The third color stage features the tamaracks in late October, Cox said, while the beauties of fall go far beyond the trees.
“The beautiful asters will be purple,” she said. “You’ll have the lovely goldenrods with their bright yellow flowers. You’ll see the wild rice ripening in late August on Lake Itasca, and with that, you can also enjoy the waterfowl that are moving through” – such as blue-winged teal, wood ducks, mallards and Canada geese, paying in their migration to feed on the wild rice.
Curious tidbits about TICKS
Dog ticks and deer ticks
► American dog and deer ticks are just two of 13 known tick species in Minnesota. Deer ticks are potential carriers of Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
► Ticks are blood-sucking members of the arachnid family.
► American dog ticks feed on a wide variety of mammals, including mice, voles, chipmunks, raccoons, squirrels, dogs, cats and people.
► Male American dog ticks feed briefly but do not become distended with blood. Once replete, female dog ticks detach from their host and drop into a leaf litter, where they can lay over 4,000 eggs before dying.
► Deer ticks, also known as blacklegged ticks, live about two years. Adult females are the size of a sesame seed.
► Lyme disease is named for Lyme, Conn., where scientists first discovered the tickborne infection in 1975.
Removing and avoiding ticks
► Use tweezers to grasp an attached tick close to its mouth. Gently and slowly pull ► Pull the tick straight outward. Wash
the area and apply an antiseptic to the bite. Ticks must remain attached for one to two days to transmit Lyme disease bacteria.
► When hiking in wooded areas, wear light-colored clothing so ticks will be more visible. Use a repellent containing DEET or permethrin. After being outdoors, get out of your clothes immediately and do a complete body check.
American Dog Tick
Male Deer Tick
Female Deer Tick
Little emergencies are a big deal.
Life happens. When you need care, you need it fast. With our NEW Primary Care Clinic and 24/7 Emergency Department, you’re in good hands with CHI St. Joseph’s Health in Park Rapids.
NEW Primary Care Clinic
• appointments Care for all ages
Same-day and next-day
• Located in the lower level of
• the hospital Call 218.616.3900 to schedule
• Emergency Department Open 24/7
• Level IV Trauma Center
• Acute Stroke Ready Hospital
• Women’s Choice Award
•
• for Emergency Care For emergencies, call 911
For more information on our services, please visit chisjh.org or call 218.732.3311
