Destinations
Where to Stay
There are dozens of lakeside resorts in the forests near Cass Lake, Pennington, Blackduck and Bemidji offering cabins and campsites. Simply click on one of the numbered dots on the map above to see their web page.
Blackduck
This town at the north end of the byway is in the heart of an area popular for hunting and fishing. For the less sports-minded, Anderson Fabrics Outlet and other interesting stores offer unique shopping. Also be sure to visit the Blackduck Area History and Art Center located downtown at Main Street and Margaret Avenue. The annual Woodcarvers Festival is held the last Saturday in July at the Wayside Rest, and features over 50 carvers. An arts and crafts fair is held simultaneously just across the street.
More info: www.blackduckmn.com
Cass Lake
This town is a few miles west of the southern end of Lady Slipper Byway. A replica of a logging camp, built by a retired forester, shows what life was like for the lumberjacks. Next to Lyle’s Logging Camp, the Cass Lake Museum in an old railroad depot has exhibits on the area’s history. A bike route through Cass Lake links the Heartland and Migizi bike trails, and the town is a popular ice cream stop.
More info: www.casslake.com
Bemidji
Bemidji is located between Blackduck and Cass Lake and offers tourists an abundance of metro style amenities, including a regional airport and retail shopping opportunities with major chain stores. It is also a regional healthcare center with a state of the art hospital and specialists in virtually every medical field. Bemidji is famous for its statutes of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox, which is the second most photographed statute in the United States, next to Mount Rushmore. Bemidji also offers summer theater events and is home to Bemidji State University. There are many ethnic restaurants featuring Italian, Chinese, Mexican and other cuisines, as well all the usual fast food suspects!
More info: www.bemidji.org
Norway Beach
At the southern end of the Byway where it meets US Highway 2, you can travel west to Norway Beach Recreation Area. The area has 4 campgrounds nestled within towering red and white pines. Each of the campgrounds has showers, restrooms and one loop has electric hook ups. This large recreation area also has a beautiful white sand beach and a large picnic shelter and shower house. There are two boat accesses and the Mi-Gi-Zi bike trail winds through the campgrounds. The shoreline stretches for miles beyond the campground, perfect for strolling along the beach.
An interpretive trail near the visitor center takes you through part of the Ten Section Area, part of the original Minnesota National Forest founded 100 years ago. Cass Lake is a favorite with anglers, and serves up muskies, walleyes, northern pike and perch.
The Chippewa National Forest visitor information center here, housed in an old log lodge, is open throughout the summer, and offers maps and brochures about sits and activities in the forest, as well as naturalist programs.
To reserve a campsite go to RECREATION.gov and search for the perfect site.