Cass County: Lakes, Trails and Cultural Heritage

Cass County is defined by its lake landscape: the county includes 514 lakes with more than 258,000 acres of water. There are also winter activities, hiking trails, and cultural offerings to suit a variety of interests. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider both activities on the water and trails and visitor programs.

Lakes, Shorelines, and Island Landscapes

Cass Lake covers nearly 16,000 acres. Its wooded shoreline includes 27 miles of coastline, as well as sandy beaches. The Cass Lake Loop is part of the Norway Beach Recreation Area on Cass Lake and offers opportunities for boating and fishing.

Six miles of trails wind across Star Island, which is also home to 199-acre Lake Windigo. At Deep Portage Conservation Reserve, glacially formed hills, lakes, rivers, and wetlands alternate across the landscape. The 6,307-acre reserve is held in trust by Cass County.

Trails and Activities in Different Seasons

Cass County's non-motorized trail systems can be used for hiking, hunting, biking, and horseback riding. Winter activities include ice fishing, ATV riding, cross-country skiing, hiking, and snowmobiling. The Lake Country Nordic Ski Club maintains and grooms the cross-country ski trails at Cut Lake, Hiram Lake, Goose Lake, and Washburn Lake.

Deep Portage maintains nearly eleven miles of public trails for birdwatching, hiking, and cross-country skiing; many are groomed for cross-country skiing in winter. The trail descriptions reflect different scales: Star Island has six miles of trails, while the Hiking Club Trail in Schoolcraft State Park is a 1.75-mile, mostly flat, mowed loop. It offers self-guided interpretation.

The 49-mile Heartland State Trail is a multi-use trail that runs between Park Rapids and Cass Lake. A boat launch in Schoolcraft State Park provides access to the Mississippi River for fishing and sightseeing trips. The Cass County Land Department manages more than 1,000 miles of forest roads; some sections also serve as recreation routes.

Culture and Visitor Programs

Programs and exhibits at the Norway Beach Visitor Center cover Dakota and Ojibway heritage, as well as the region's flora and fauna. The Cass County Historical Society collects, preserves, and shares knowledge about Cass County history and its connection to Minnesota history. This lets you consider nature topics and historical perspectives side by side when planning your trip.

As another visitor program, Deep Portage offers pizza-making classes to the public. Along with trails for hiking, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing, these add a hands-on class experience to the range of activities.

If you're looking for a hotel for your trip to Cass County, your main interests can help shape your plans: for example, water activities at the Cass Lake Loop, trails on Star Island or in Schoolcraft State Park, winter activities, or cultural and nature topics at the Norway Beach Visitor Center. The options listed vary by activity and season, so first consider what interests you most during your stay.

Discover more destinations: East Gull Lake, Walker, Cass Lake, Rice County, Pine County, Hennepin, Anoka, Crow Wing County

For the main travel overview: Minnesota.