This updated 2nd edition of the popular Backroads of Minnesota (2002) comes in a new portable size, making it easy to tote in your car and head out to a new destination in beautiful Minnesota. Have you driven on the Gunflint and Arrowhead trails? Have you circled the whole of Mille Lacs? Have you gone birding on the western prairies, or wound around the bluffs of the Mississippi River from Red Wing to the Iowa border? Have you experienced the forgotten corners of the Twin Cities metro area? Backroads of Minnesota takes you on 31 routes covering all corners of the Land of 10,000 Lakes: routes that lead you to the state’s most scenic natural areas and sites that capture the state’s colorful history. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend getaway, Backroads of Minnesota will lead you deep into the soul of the state, beyond the common tourist attractions.

Tired of the same old tourist traps? Whether you’re a visitor or a local looking for something different, let Minnesota Off the Beaten Path show you the North Star State you never knew existed. Ski, hike, or just relax at the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center; visit a three-billion-year-old rock in Yellow Medicine County; or fill up at the world’s only Frank Lloyd Wright–designed service station in Carlton County. So if you’ve “been there, done that” one too many times, get off the main road and venture Off the Beaten Path.

The committee was formed to examine and offer recommendations for the long-term funding, use, expansion, and administration of Minnesota's system of state parks, recreation areas, trails, and state forest day-use areas.

Dedicated to travelers with a taste for the unique, these easy-to-use, state-by-state guides will help you discover the hidden places that most tourists miss -- shining the spotlight squarely on the off-beat. If it's funky, funny, little known, or out of the way, then you'll probably find it in Off the Beaten Path "RM". -- More sidebars about the quirky and unique -- Additional state trivia -- Fully updated information