The Roseau area is an outdoors lover’s dream any time of the year, and that’s what keeps me coming back at every opportunity.

It’s also why friends and family not fortunate enough to live here drive hundreds of miles to soak in that experience whenever they can.

Whether it’s walleyes on Lake of the Woods; sturgeon on the Rainy River; deer, upland game or waterfowl on the thousands of acres of nearby public land; or a few hours of casting for northern pike on the Roseau River, the abundance of outdoors opportunities available in the Roseau area are limitless.

Boredom? It’s not part of the vocabulary here.

Hockey might be part of the fabric of life in winter, but not to be overlooked are the miles of groomed snowmobile trails available when the snow flies. Local snowmobile clubs partner with the DNR to offer hundreds of miles of signed, groomed trails without the traffic that riders encounter on so many trail systems farther south.

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing enthusiasts don’t lack for options, either.

The Roseau area also is gaining a reputation among birdwatchers and nature photography enthusiasts — and for good reason. Roseau’s abundance of bird life has made it a stop on the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail, and the area’s proximity to both the prairie and the “big woods” makes it a haven for both prairie and woodland species.

I’ve had the opportunity to experience some remarkable outdoors destinations over the years, but nothing gives me more enjoyment than coming home to Roseau.

It’s all here. All year.

Written by Brad Dokken