Hayes Lake State Park

Hayes Lake State Park is an iconic Minnesota retreat. Its pine forests, sky blue waters, and solitude is so reflective of the state known for its 10,000 lakes. Hayes Lake State Park is located on the western perimeter of vast, sparsely populated wildlands within Beltrami Island State Forest. Hayes Lake State Park offers visitors recreation and access to hundreds of square miles of untamed land. This man made lake meets the forest edge for spectacular shoreline views. It’s a great place to come explore Minnesota during any season.

Whether you are coming for a day, pitching a tent in the wilderness or parking your RV at the campground you can expect an immersive experience! Hayes Lake State Park lets you vacation your way.

A typical visit to the park is filled with nature, local wildlife, and memory-making moments. During the day, visitors enjoy beautiful views of Hayes Lake and have plenty of opportunities for fishing, birding, time on the water or exploring the original homesteads in the area. They can hike the trails, enjoy the water gushing over the dam, and bike. Spending nights outdoors allows you to view constellations, hear the yip of coyotes, or the trills of songbirds. Hayes Lake State Park has much to offer during your adventure with nature in Roseau, MN. Let’s explore this destination more.

Your first stop at this state park will be at the park office. Here, visitors to Hayes Lake State Park can purchase a vehicle permit, register for camping, or ask the park ranger questions about the local area. Be sure to pick up a map because this park has great little nooks and crannies that you need to explore.

You don’t need a boat to fish Hayes Lake. An accessible wooden fishing pier provides anglers with the perfect spot to try their luck at catching northern pike, crappie, and sunfish. The low banks allow you to stand on the shores if you prefer bank fishing. Be sure to ask the locals fishing for their advice on what the fish are biting on. You can meet a new fishing buddy and their experience on the lake will help you take home a fresh catch.

A boat ramp and wooden dock provide access to Hayes Lake for a day of fishing or sightseeing. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake so visitors can enjoy the scenery and solitude without interruption. Sometimes a loon or a turtle will swim up to your boat for a closer view of its guests on the water.

Enjoy an afternoon with family or friends at this sandy beach along Hayes Lake. The sandy beach is the perfect spot to build sandcastles, launch kayaks, or let the littles splash around. Take a dip in the water at dusk to watch an amazing sunset. The swim area is a great place to launch a paddleboard. The beach area is protected by little bays and the water is almost always smooth and clear like glass. You will see and hear every ripple as your stroke or paddle hits the water. Plan to make a day of it and pack a lunch. Picnic spots are located throughout the park with grills and tables scattered around the grassy open space.

This screened-in picnic shelter near the beach is a wonderful place for group get-togethers. The shelter has electricity and can be reserved by contacting the park office. A grassy, open area with picnic tables, fire rings, and swings for the kids provides a great spot to spend the afternoon. It is a great place to get out of the sun and take a break before exploring all the park has to offer.

This beautiful overlook on Grefthen Bay is located near the park’s campground. A wooden deck allows one to carefully overlook the bay. The water is calm, allowing the clouds and pines to reflect like an artist’s painting. If you are looking for a quiet retreat to Zen out, this is the place. Guests often find this a perfect place to do yoga, meditate or chill with a great read. If you want to be one with nature, consider Grefthen Bay.

Step onto a wooden boardwalk that threads through the park’s bog and you may be lucky enough to spot plants such as sundew, pitcher plant, and lady’s slippers. This unique area was created when Glacial Lake Agassiz retreated, leaving behind a large, flat landscape. Drainage in these areas was very poor, but the water table remained high. As a result, hundreds of square miles of land, from the park eastward, developed into muskeg and bog communities. To help you identify the unique characteristics of the area, interpretive panels line the boardwalk. Moss and flowers grow dense on the bog wetlands. It’s like being transported into a fairy forest when the tree leaves canopy the trails, and the mossy greens light up the walkway.

Bemis Hill is a favorite staycation for Roseau County locals, but they are always willing to share this gem. Locals and visitors alike enjoy ATV and horseback rides in the forest. In winter, the campground offers an excellent sledding hill, a shelter, and access to snowmobile trails. The fall leaves are breathtaking from the landing. No matter the season, the Bemis overlook is a fun photo opportunity where you can see miles of treetops. Make it a destination to visit during every season.

Bemis Hill Campground is located within the Beltrami Island State Forest and is managed by Hayes Lake State Park. The campground offers two campsites and four-horse campsites, all of which are primitive. Drinking water and vault toilets are available seasonally. Evening bonfires and campfire friends make the nights at the campground a summer highlight.

Hayes Lake officially became a state park in 1967. Both the lake and the park were named in honor of A. F. Hayes, an early settler of the land now included in the park. This land is rich in history. As you drive around the Beltrami Forest, you will see the original family name marking their homesteads.

In the early 1900s, the first homestead was established in what is now the western portion of the park. The family graves of this first homesteader, Alva Hendershot, can be found along the trail starting to the northwest of the dam. Farther down the trail, past the gravesites, the remains of the original homestead and farm can be seen. This is one of the many historical sites located in the park.

Local Lodging

Looking for a spot to call home for your Northwoods getaway? Local lodging options let you decide the level of connection with nature. Some guests want to visit the park for a day and travel back to town for a soft hotel bed and a night dining at a local restaurant.

Others may decide to stay awhile at a park cabin, campsite, or walk-in campsite. Wherever you decide to stay, the activities are the same -memory makers.

Campgrounds and Cabins

At Hayes Lake, you can choose from 35 campsites (18 of which are electric) within the park’s campground. Tall trees provide dappled shade over the picnic table and fire ring found in each site. A centrally located shower/restroom building is available to campers seasonally. The campground has many activities that you can take part in. Visit the bog, go geocaching or trailer your ATV to the trails and enjoy nature!

Want to experience a simpler life in the forest? Rent the Camper or Timberline cabins at Hayes Lake State Park. These cabins sleep five or six. A gas fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere, even on chilly northern mornings. A bathroom and

shower building is located nearby. A picnic table and fire ring provide the perfect spot to enjoy an evening campfire and listen to the call of the wild.

The Camper Cabin is all about privacy. A short path leads you right down to the water and the cabin’s own private fishing hole! Campers using this cabin often dock their canoe or boat along the shore during their stay. Try your luck at fishing during the day and view the northern stars at the dark. There is a reason Roseau is known as the North Star City.

Hayes Lake State Park is a spectacular work of nature. Come enjoy the beautiful views of one of Minnesota’s northern most state parks. Some days it will be just you, loons, and moose traversing around the lake. Come connect with nature, connect with family and friends, explore your wild side or just curl up with a book along the shore. At Hayes Lake, you vacation your way.

Geocaching Northern MN

Geocaching, one of the MANY outdoor activities available in Roseau County

There are 52 active geocaches in Roseau County as of April 2022, and over 28,000 in the State of Minnesota!

Geocaching originated in 2001 when satellites became publicly accessible. At that time, we had no idea how much satellite access would change our lives. Nearly all of us are familiar with mapping programs and driving directions, traffic included, on our devices. Another, more fun, use of that technology is Geocaching! Using GPS coordinates located in a phone app, or handheld GPS, you can find “Tupperware hidden in the woods”. While sometimes the “cache” itself is amazing, more often it’s the location or search experience that people enjoy.

WARNING SPOILER ALERT IN THE VIDEO BELOW

"It’s a planet wide high-tech treasure hunt that you can do at any fitness ability, or location, on the planet!"

I’m Yvonne Wensloff and I started my geocaching adventures in 2006. Some years I have spent days searching for these little gems, and other years life was too busy. I’ve found nearly 1,600 – with the last 700+ with my husband. We geocached on our first date, and he’s been hooked ever since!! It’s a great group, or family, an activity that allows for conversation, exercise, new discoveries, and a shared challenge. The largest expense involved is transportation to an area where they are geocaches, but chances are you can start in your own neighborhood!! To begin your geocaching adventure, first visit www.geocaching.com to register for a user name (finder name) and watch the videos, or read about various adventures. There is much more to it than meets to eye; it goes far beyond the scope of this article! The phone app is free for both Android and IOS. Just search for “Geocaching” and pick the one with the green square logo by Groundspeak. There are other apps but this one is excellent for beginners as it coaches you through the process when you start. But first, you need to learn the basics.

On either the website or the phone app, you can bring up a map that will populate with a little green circle with an ammo can symbol… for most of them. There are different types of caches, which I encourage you to research on the website, or in the app, to familiarize yourself with the different types. DO start with the green ammo can or blue envelope types though!! There are TWENTY different kinds of geocaches designated by “type” of cache definitions, so it’s prohibitive to cover here. Other types include Earth Caches, Event Caches, Puzzle or Mystery caches, all of which do not have a container to find at the posted GPS coordinates! This is why is it critical to understand types of geocaches and how they show on the map. You may want to search for an ”event cache” in your area, where you can meet other geocachers to get more tips and make some new friends if you’re so inclined.

This is not just a United States thing, although it started in Seattle Washington. Many geocaches take you to surprising locations where you see the coolest stuff on earth!

Container and Search Basics:

People often envision a treasure chest with loot when we’re talking about finding a cache, but more often it’s an ammo can or plastic container! But yes, you will find caches with “loot” in them, called SWAG by geocachers. The rule of thumb is that if you take something you need to replace it with something of similar value, to keep paying it forward for future finders to enjoy. Kids especially like the caches that are large enough to contain some kind of prizes. Food and non-child friendly themed items are not allowed. Food tends to cause a cache to be destroyed because an animal will smell any kind of food. We rotate the SWAG we trade, rubber balls and pins are in stock right now… tattoos, a charger, small tools, etc.

Geocaches are classified by three different aspects. One is size of container, SWAG is most common in the “regular” or large size container, and others can be way too small to hold anything but the signature log! Other published aspects of a geocache are difficulty of the find/hide and the terrain rating. This gives the geocacher the ability to restrict the physical challenge level and have some idea what they are looking for. When starting out it is wise, and more fun, to target the caches with a maximum of a 2 difficulty and 2 terrain. You want to find a few to cultivate your abilities. Larger containers are usually easier to find as well. But even some big caches are so cleverly hidden that you may have walked right by one without knowing it!! Here is an example of the classifications displayed in the Geocaching app for each geocache. This cache is the most “favorited” cache in the City of Roseau and is quite difficult to find although you can walk right up to it! This is shown by the difficulty rating of 3/5 and the terrain rating of 1.5/5 – ALL terrain 1 geocaches must be wheelchair accessible. So a ton of 1.5 terrain geocaches exist and are the easiest to physically access.

This size on this one is “micro” which will fit in the palm of your hand, or could be TINY.. think the size of a pencil eraser! The description will usually use the term Nano if it’s the smallest of Micro sized. A Regular or Large can be an entire small building!! Paying attention to what size of a geocache you are looking for is key. Some are also ‘evil’ or so well disguised that they may be hidden in plain sight. These are the one’s that drive people mad! You may or may not enjoy that level of search so you may want to avoid anything over a 2.5 or 3 difficulty to avoid the dreaded “did not find” (DNF) which you are also encouraged to log. Us cache owners want to know if people are unable to find our caches!! When someone logs that they couldn’t find one of ours, I look to see if others have had problems, or how experienced is the cacher is that logged the DNF. We will provide additional hints or change the description, or possibly even increase the difficulty rating if many people are unable to find a particular geocache. A few of our Roseau County caches are very difficult… but also result in a major sense of victory when found.

Screen Shot 2022 04 19 at 3.47.30 PM — *A wide variety of geocache containers – the two on the right might be considered “evil”.*

One Final Thing Before You Start!!

You will want to carry a pen/pencil and a tweezer with you at all times. In the smaller containers the paper log is often difficult to extract and return to the container after you sign it, making the tweezer a handy tool! Please note that the rule is that you must sign the paper log to claim the find. Some CO’s (cache owners) DO check logs when they replace them with new pages to verify signatures, especially for very difficult rated caches. Just because you see one hanging in that tree does not make it found!! You have to actually retrieve, sign and replace the container where you found it.

We carry a tactical bag with basic supplies and tools that we have found useful over the years. You don’t need to have anything but a writing instrument, a way to get to the cache, and possibly tweezers to start. If you become ‘serious’ about Geocaching, you may want to pickup some blank logs, small baggies, save your silica packs to place in damp caches, etc. We carry a ‘maintenance kit’ with us wherever we go, and have our bag of tools in the car. Our tools include a magnetic pole, a ladder, a spring loaded parts grabber, a flashlight, headlights, a leather glove (I need to put my hand where?!?!) and a first aid kit.

The only expense that I’d recommend right from the start is a “premium membership” to the app once you’ve decided this is something you want to do for the next year. There are some caches that are hidden in the app as “premium only” and this is done especially for caches where the owner has invested significant effort, money or time in creating the cache. There are also caches that are well suited and published for “travel bugs”. These are coins or trinkets that usually have a tag attached, or are in a baggie, with instructions as to an objective, such as visit all 50 states, that has a tracking number. This is just one of the bonus aspects of geocaching you should be aware of… if you take one of these travel bugs from a cache, PLEASE make sure that you log it and then take it to a different cache to be found again. Geocachers pay $5-$30 for these travel bugs and many of us enjoy this aspect of the hobby.

My husband and I go by the cacher ID of YsOnes. If you are searching in the Roseau area, you can use the built in message feature in the app to contact the (geo) cache owner (CO), or us even if it’s not ours, for a clue if you’re struggling or have a problem. Most cache owners are more than happy to assist other geocachers.

Please do visit www.geocaching.com to learn more about this exciting adventure based hobby.

Kate’s Kitchen | Northern MN BBQ

“You’re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy! You’re in Roseau and the BBQ at Kate’s Kitchen is equally delicious.”

The owner, Kate, is a food junkie and she takes cooking and especially smoking to a new level. Kate runs her family-operated business on the same lot as her husband’s barbershop. Her business is drive-thru style which makes it perfect to grab and go. It’s ideal to eat in one of Roseau’s many parks.

Her custom kitchen may be small, but her flavor is not. Kate smokes her meats fresh every day. Locals know to watch the Facebook page to see when the deliciousness will be off the smoker. Kate is open until the food is sold out. It’s rare that she is not sold out because those who eat there always come back. They keep coming back because they have to see what the next culinary surprise is the chef Kate has on her ever-changing menu.

Kate is a one-woman show. If you tell her lip gloss looks great, she would tell you it’s bacon grease. She works hard at her business, and her food reflects her love for cooking. Her alarm is set to wake her in the middle of the night, signaling the time to check the smoker. Her smoke is created with a mix of hickory, oak, and applewood.

Whether your preference is sauce-slathered ribs or dry rub meats, there is something there for everyone. Each morsel of meat is tender and juicy. The seasoning is perfect, and the smoke is that of a pitmaster champion. Kate buys quality meats and infuses hardwood flavors the result is smoky goodness that reminds you of a Kansas City or Memphis BBQ joint. But you’re not in Kansas anymore Dorothy! You’re in Roseau and the BBQ is equally delicious.

A local favorite is the outlaw sandwich. The beef brisket is brined and smoked over smoldering oak before it is forked onto a think piece of garlic butter drenched grilled Texas Toast. Then it is piled with a crispy slaw and house-made sauce. Add some fried onions and this is a sure crowd-pleaser. If you want a taste of Kate’s clever matchups, try the Hawaiian. Smoked pulled pork, bacon, provolone, pineapple, and BBQ sauce. No matter your menu choice, Kate serves it up hot and fresh with a side and a drink.

Baby back ribs are a little meaty morsel of goodness. Slowly smoked in house for six hours to mouthwatering perfection, she offers them up in six ribs or full racks. Occasionally you can order a rack snack, 1/3 of a rack for only $8. Whatever size you order, you get a guarantee to fall off the bone meat with just a bit of chew. Add beans and coleslaw for that full-on BBQ experience.

If you love smoky charred meat with an innovative twist, try the smoked tacos. Kate serves smoked chicken, pork and beef brisket tacos and occasionally we have seen grilled shrimp. Each taco is unique and made with the perfect flavor profile; try the brisket taco with Pico de Gallo, cotija cheese and lime crema. The pork taco with mango salsa, queso fresco and her own secret sauce. When you eat at Kates Kitchen you are taken on a flavor journey of delightful eats featuring spices and flavors from around the world.

After picking your main course add a side to make your meal complete. Choices include gouda mac and cheese, slaw, smoked beans, or Wisconsin cheese curds to name a few. Do you like sweet and sour together? If so, try the deep-fried pickles. I mean sour pickles, a salty and golden crust dipped in sweet ranch dressing, what’s not to love? Kate is also famous for her Brisket Chili. This house-made chili is packed with smoky flavor and served with jalapeno cheddar cornbread, sour cream, and cheddar cheese.

However you like your BBQ, just ask the chef. She will customize your order any way you like for no charge. Kate says, “I love what my customers create and sometimes their creations might end up on our menu.” She takes pride in making each order fresh, and they know you appreciate it once it hits your taste buds.

Kate’s Kitchen is located in the red building at 202 4 th Ave NW in Roseau, MN. If you can’t find it, just roll down the window and smell the goodness.

Take out and Catering Available

Find Kate’s Kitchen on Facebook.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking in Roseau is a unique experience for both the nature nuts and the more extreme mountain biking thrill-seekers.

Roseau offers riding opportunities on gravel trails inside Hayes Lake State Park and asphalt trails looping around the city of Roseau. The experience you are looking for determines your path, and you certainly have choices fit for your style and level when riding in Roseau.

“The Best Single-track within a two-hour drive in Northeastern Minnesota”

Our paved trails around the city wind through woods, along the Roseau River, and past golden fields of wheat and straw. Animal sightings on the trail are common with deer, bald eagles, and rabbits making relatively common appearances. What sets the trail apart is something we call Mount Roseau.

When Roseau built a river diversion system to protect the city from flooding from the Roseau River they took all the dirt and over 20 acres of land to create a one of a kind area now known as Mt. Roseau! Mt. Roseau has over 6 miles of both advanced and easy paths which includes hundreds of flowing turns on groomed single-track which is mowed, sprayed, and leveled on a regular basis by the local club. The man-made “mountain” is ~60 feet tall, and the trail goes up and down it several times yielding ~250′ of elevation per lap. The most technical features are the switchback climbs and the downhill jump constructed of a recycled wooden front porch from the locals. The fastest laps are considered to be less than 30 minutes to complete.

MONDAY NIGHT BIKE RIDE EVENTS

The bike riders club meet at Mt. Roseau regularly to enjoy the trails, challenge each other, and share their enthusiasm for mountain biking. The club welcomes all ages and all experience levels to join them at 6:30 every Monday!

PARKING AND TRAIL ACCESS

To get to Mt. Roseau it is best to park your car at the Roseau City Park. From there, you can bike or walk across 11th Avenue to the north side of the bridge next to the park. A Mount Roseau sign is posted with directions. You will stay along the diversion until you come across the biking area. One of the best ways to explore Roseau is on two wheels-four if you’re still in training. Come explore Roseau. You’re bound to find a trail for you.

Northern MN Summer Family Fun

Roseau, Minnesota offers a wide variety of family-friendly, summer fun that is sure to appeal to everyone in your family.

As the weather becomes warmer outside, our minds drift off to those long-awaited summer days and the star-filled summer nights. Where the smell of campfire in the air mingles with the sound of laughter, as you are making memories that will last forever! If you haven’t already planned your family’s getaway this summer, now is the time.

Roseau offers the entire family an opportunity to explore and be adventurous in the great north. Many visitors come for fishing, boating, and sailing on the beautiful waters of Lake of the Woods, Hayes Lake, or the Roseau River. The City of Roseau recently built two kayak launches that make experiencing the Roseau River easy. If you don’t have your own kayaks or paddleboards, no worries, you can still take part with rentals from Riverview Outdoors and Recreation (ROAR). The area also has two golf courses, casual and fine dining, and unique locally owned shopping options. Roseau offers countless outdoor family attractions including hiking, biking trails, and water activities. Traveling with small children, let them cool down at the Roseau Splash Pad. The Roseau County Museum and the Library also offer great family-friendly activities at no cost.

Roseau County Fair has been a summer highlight since 1904. It’s one week a year that makes memories for a lifetime. It is always the third full week in July. It is the goal of the Roseau County Fair Board to provide fun and entertaining events for all ages. Events include fireworks sponsored by Polaris Industries, carnival rides, 4-H project displays, food, live music, and entertainment. The midway rides, games, and fair stands take you back to simple times filled with laughter and fun. Most of Roseau County can be found at the demo derby, rodeo, and other grandstand events. Unlike most fairs, there is no gate fees.

Looking to fish in the area? Lake of the Woods is only 20 minutes away and offers world-class fishing. You can also cast a line off the banks along the Roseau River for a chance to catch northern, catfish and maybe even a walleye. Hayes Lake State Park offers a nice sandy beach, great views of lush green wooded shoreline. But what if not everyone in your family enjoys fishing? The lake is also a beautiful destination for boating, swimming, or just catching an amazing sunset.

Once you’ve made a shortlist of all the activities your family wants to make part of your unique summer vacation in Roseau. It is time to decide where you will stay. How many people in your family? What is your budget? Is where you stay as important as what you do while you stay there? Roseau offers numerous lodging options, whether you are looking to “rough” it at a campground, bring your RV, stay in a tent along the river, or relax in a mosquito-free comfort at one of our hotels. Check out our lodging page to find the best options for your family or look at our day trip itineraries to narrow down and customize your vacation.

Plan, pack, and go. Most importantly have a great time, we look forward to seeing you here in Roseau.

All Minnesota Shop Hop

The All Minnesota Shop Hop brings together sewing and quilting enthusiasts from across Minnesota and neighboring states. The event takes place April 1 through May 31 in 2022 and Roseau’s very own Ro-sew Stitches is taking part.

The All Minnesota Shop Hop Magazine is your guide to the event, participating stores, and sponsors. The magazine also includes valuable patterns, projects, and articles along with the official passport and map. Each participating store offers the exclusive Shop Hop fabric, along with other giveaways, raffles, and prizes. Participants have their passports stamped at each store they visit to qualify for additional prizes.

Click here for an Insider’s Tips for Shop Hopping.

GET THE MAGAZINE

Visit any participating stores to get your All Minnesota Shop Hop Magazine. It features everything you need for your Great Sewing Adventures. Many stores also sell the magazine online.

Besides an Official Passport and Map of Stores, the magazine contains patterns, articles and other resources for sewing and quilting.
The magazine notes special Shop Hop store hours and Regional and State maps that make it easy to plan your route.
Each person in your party will need a passport in order to register for prizes.

You’ll want to reference your magazine all year. Use it to find a quilt shop whenever you are exploring the country roads of Minnesota. Be inspired by the patterns, projects, and articles.

GO SHOPPING

Check out the 2022 exclusive All Minnesota Shop Hop fabrics designed by Benartex.

Each year they have a custom-designed line of fabric that is sold only at Shop Hop stores during the event. When it’s gone, it’s gone!
Enjoy the unique personality of each Shop Hop store. Discover the secrets and special items individual stores have that keep you inspired and excited about sewing. At Ro-Sew Stitches the staff is a fun loving crew excited to share their creativity and love of quilting. The local quilters who gather are a very welcoming bunch.

The specialty fabric that Ro-Sew Stitches ordered looks like this.

COLLECT FREE QUILT BLOCKS

Each store has created a unique 4-inch quilt block capturing the fun and creativeness of sewing and quilting. The quilt blocks are only available to those embarking on their Great Sewing Adventures Across Minnesota!

Collect the fabric blocks and combine them with the exclusive All Minnesota Shop Hop Fabric to make a one-of-a-kind project.

Regional Quilt Blocks – Collect the stamps from all stores in a Region and we’ll send you a free 6-inch, on-point quilt block to commemorate your accomplishment. (You must turn in your passport to receive Regional quilt blocks. You’ll receive one block for each region completed.)

State Quilt Block – Purchase a commemorative 8-inch finished state block. A free state block will be awarded to participants who collect stamps from all stores!

To find out more or to participate in the All MN Shop Hop contact:
Ro-Sew Stitches

(218) 463 – 2400
rosewstitches@gmail.com

107 Main Ave North
Roseau, Minnesota 56751

Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

This event will bring sewing and quilting enthusiasts to Roseau from many states. Ro-Sew Stitches is also looking at renting a chartered bus to hop from shop to shop across the state. If you would be interested in joining, call or email them.

Ro-Sew Stitches offers online sales, classes, and sewing in store.

ATV Trails MN

Forests surrounding the Roseau area provide lots of forest roads and more ATV trails than you can imagine.

There are over 1,400 miles of ATV-accessible roads and trails within the greater Beltrami Island State Forest area.

The Bemis Hill Trails, located in Beltrami Island State Forest, offers more than 96 miles of riding. The trails travel along pine-covered sand ridges, large areas of low flatland, and near peat bogs. Trails are provided by Roseau County and maintained by the NorthStar ATV Club and the Lake of The Woods Sportsmans Club.

Trails are well marked for newcomers. While in the forest you will drive by old homesteads and see the family names and dates of their settlement in the area marked along the trail. A ride into the Beltrami Forest would not be complete without making a stop at the Penturen Church which dates back to 1916.

Take a break from riding for a picnic lunch under the pines. Wash off the dust from the old hand pump well and stroll through the church graveyard. Then pack up and hit the open road, you still have much to explore.

You could ride for days in the area and not take the same trail twice. If you head east of Roseau about 17 miles you can encounter some tribal land in and around Warroad. For the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area, contact Norris Camp for a free permit. You can always pick up a free ATV map at area gas stations and the Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page or contact trail administrator Myles Hogenson, (218)
689-6889.

Club volunteers play a crucial role in the maintenance and mapping of the trails in Roseau County. Just south of Roosevelt is a rider’s paradise, Roseau/LOW (aka Carp’s Pit) Recreational Area which marks the trail hub for 10 acres of land and includes a pavilion for picnics, restrooms, a warming shack, shooting range, and camping. There are also campgrounds at Bemis Hill and Blueberry Hill with minimal facilities. You will find outhouses, picnic areas including campfire rings, and a shelter. If you’re really looking to rough it, however, you can pretty much camp anywhere as long as you’re not on private only land.

Hayes Lake State Park also has beautiful campsites, a nice swim beach, screened pavilion, walking trails, and small boat rentals. You must trailer your ATV into the park. ATVing in the campground is not allowed.

If you have a few extra hours and you’re looking for something to do in town, checkout Riverview Outdoors and Recreation right on the Roseau River. You can rent paddleboards, canoes, and kayaks on an hourly, half-day or full-day basis.

Stop by the Polaris Experience Center and see the snowmobile that started it all and learn. You can also watch the documentary made by the founder’s sons Mitchell Johnson and Mike Hetteen. Mitchell shares the funny story of how he participated along with staff to hid the development idea and build of the first Polaris side by side from management as the prototype was being built. This design changed riding and made a unit that functioned equally as a utility and recreational machine.

If you like to ride in groups and want a guided ride, let ‘er rip in an ATV Run for good causes.

The Femme Fatale run is July 30, 2022. This 17-year tradition raises money to support a different local cause each year. Their goal in 2022 is to raise $15,000 for emergency medical equipment.

The Veteran’s ATV Run is June 18. The guided ride through Beltrami starts and ends at Bemis Hill. Last year they raised $5,000.00 for the Lake of the Woods and Roseau County Veteran’s Relief Fund.

Fall colors can be enjoyed at the Roseau/Lake of the Woods Sportsman’s Club Ride hosted in September.

Don’t worry if you don’t know anyone, Roseau folks are great at making strangers feel like family. Just show up with a machine and you already fit in.

Come to Roseau, jump on an ATV and hit the woods. You’re in Polaris Country. We not only design and build ATV’s here; we ride them The community of Roseau loves to ride as much as you do. Make yourself at home.

To learn more about ATV riding in Roseau County visit:

• www.mndnr.gov/atv
• On Facebook – Roseau & Lake of the Woods Sportsman Club (for updates on rides and events)

Lefse Roseau Style

You can’t come to Roseau without trying lefse. Lefse (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈlɛ̂fsə]) is a traditional soft Norwegian flatbread It is of made with potatoes, flour, butter, and milk, cream, or lard.

For the sake of comparison; it is a large thin potato pancake served buttered and folded.

In Roseau, the most quintessential way to eat lefse is to spread it with sweet butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, and then roll it up.

Lefse is popular in most Scandanvian countries. Colorful stories carry it back to the time of the Vikings, but history shows potatoes first appearing in Norway some 250 years ago. Most historians agree that potatoes first arrived in Norway sometime in the 1750s, likely brought back home by traveling priests and soldiers. On the traditional Norwegian homestead, enough lefse would be made at one time to last for up to a year.

In Roseau, lefse is a staple side dish served around special occasions. Learning to make lefse is a skill best taught by the oldest Scandanvian cook in the kitchen. Rolling the sticky yet delicate dough until it is thin like a tortilla takes talent and the right kitchen tools. A grooved rolling pin, cotton flour sack rolling board, a wooden flipping stick and Bethany griddle are almost a must have.

Where do you get your hands on the best lefse in Roseau?

The grocery store sells lefse year around but the best lefse can be found at the Farmers Market and the Four Season’s Senior Center.

The Senior Center sells lefse around hunting season and family gathering holidays. Most of the time you buy lefse by the round? This is not like buying a round at the local bar. A round of lefse refers to the circular shape of each piece. It’s common to buy it in 5 round packages.

Roseau Lefse Recipe

6 Cups of russet potatoes, mashed/riced 2 T. Sugar 2tsp, salt
2 Cups Unbleached Flour 1⁄2 Cup half & half 1 stick of butter

Cook a kettle of potatoes with salt. Mash or rice while hot and mix in butter, half & half and sugar. Cool overnight or a minimum of 4 hours. Mix with two cups of flour and roll out thin. Bake on a lefse griddle, flip once. Keep covered with a towel on a cooling rack.

Now that you have the lefse, slather a generous amount of butter on the round and sprinkle it with sugar. This simple potato style pancake may now just become a favorite of yours as well. As the old Scandanvian saying goes, lefse is a simple joy that brings happiness to those who eat it and to those who make it.

David Johnson | A Snowmobile Pioneer Remembered

“He once told a local reporter that the real reason for the creation of the snowmobile was that they were lazy. As serious outdoorsmen, they wanted an easier, mechanized way to get to their hunting cabin. It was tiring skiing to it in the winter. They figured a snow vehicle would be quicker and could carry their gear. The real problem they had was the vehicle’s success. Once others saw that it worked and could make life easier, well, they wanted one, too.”

We’ve had a lot of snow this winter and the snowmobile trails have been great, which got us thinking about our snowmobile history. We came across a story by Jerry Bassett (click the image below to view the story) and wanted to share it for all of you who would like to know a little more about the history of the men who started it all, right here in Roseau.

Screen Shot 2022 02 14 at 9.54.55 AM — Story by Jerry Bassett, Photos by Bassett Archives, Polaris Oct. 13, 2016

Top Outdoor Winter Activities in Roseau

Freezing temperatures and several feet of snow make for a great Roseau winter. With state parks, nature preserves, and abundant open space this small town just 6 miles from the Canadian border is the epitome of outdoor adventure. Here are the top outdoor activities and things to do in Roseau in the winter.

Snowmobiling. A Top Winter Activity in Roseau

When a David Johnson and Edgar Hetteen, local residents who loved to experience the great outdoors, needed a way to easily trek through the fields and across frozen lakes with gear they took it upon themselves to invent a “motor toboggan”. The year was 1954 and the very first snowmobile had just been invented. They called it Polaris because Polaris means Northstar. You can see this Northstar in the Polaris logo to this day.

Since then, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has allocated 22,000 miles of trails for snowmobile riders in the state. In Roseau the terrain varies from flat farmland to pine covered forests in the northern woods and local clubs keep them groomed. There’s nothing quite like riding through glistening glades and pine trees to the favorite local dinner for a midday break. Don’t forget to stop by the Polaris Experience Center to see the history of Polaris snowmobiling with one of its development and manufacturing facilities next door.

Ice Fishing

With nearly 15,000 lakes and waterways throughout the state, it’s no wonder Minnesotian’s take to the frozen surface to go ice fishing during the winter. Roseau is only 17 miles from Lake of the Woods, some of the best walleye fishing in the state. When the ice thickens to four – six inches, most anglers venture out on foot with sleds full of gear. Ice huts and shanties create tiny, frozen villages on the lake’s solid surface. You will also see $50,000 ice castle fish houses and 2 ice bars. This is a great family experience from the moment your car hits the frozen ice road to catching the big one. Pack up the gear, bundle up, and drop a line this winter in Roseau County.

Snowshoeing

“Walking in a winter wonderland” takes on a new meaning in Roseau. Our many state parks, and nature preserves offer ample mileage for winter hikers. Snowshoeing is an activity as old as time. Thought to have originated as a means of travel over 6,000 years ago, snowshoes have evolved to create a unique recreational experience during winter months.
Renting a pair of snowshoes from Riverview Outdoor and Recreation is the best way to test the waters before investing in your own pair. When going out into the snow be sure to dress for the weather. Layer up your clothes, strap on the snowshoes and enjoy a serene journey into the north woods.

Ice Skating & Hockey

As noted above, Minnesota is home of over 10,000 lakes not to mention thousands of miles of riverfront. When these liquid bodies solidify in the winter, ice rinks pop up in their place. The Roseau River runs right down the center of the city and it is a much used winter rink. But not all ice rinks in Roseau are natural. This town is known for its hockey arenas and its passion for the sport. Many local residents started their careers at these Roseau arenas and went on to skate on Olympic and National Hockey Association teams. The feeling of gliding across ice on freshly sharpened skates is unlike anything you have ever experienced.

Nordic (Cross-Country) Skiing

When most of us think of skiing, we think of mountains, slopes and chairlifts. But there’s another type of skiing that is just as popular- Nordic skiing.

This type of skiing requires skiers to use their own momentum and strength to traverse across snow-covered fields and up/down rolling hills, hence the term cross-country skiing. Roseau offers miles upon miles of groomed trails to nordic skiers in the winter. The Scandanvian heritage of the area takes Nordic Skiing to the next level. After burning off some calories skiing stop by a local bakery or cafe and grab some lefse or a hearty plate of potato dumplings with side pork. U betcha that will make your experience complete.

Winter Festivals and Tournaments

If outdoor recreation does not pique your interest, consider attending some of Roseau’s Winter Festivals or Tournaments. Hockey tournaments, lumberjack ski races, pub crawls, figure skating shows, bonfires, food, music, the list goes on and on. In Roseau we embrace winter. The Flannel and Frost Winterfest is happening Feb. 24-27. Come see why Roseau claims to be bold in the cold.

Although Roseau’s winter weather may make you want to go into hibernation, do yourself a favor and try something new. Now is the time to get outside and test your limits. Seek adventure and embrace the beauty of Roseau during winter season. You’ll instantly see why this little town is one of Minnesota’s hidden gems.