Leech Lake, Minnesota

[3iron]

The wife and I are going to Leech Lake, Minnesota next to visit some friends. My hobby is photography and I wondered if any of you might suggest some must see areas or good photography areas. We might catch some fall colors this time of the year, but I have never been in the area and have no clue where to go.
We will be visiting near Walker.
Thanks for your help and best wishes.

[Gooselover]

This reply is quite late since I just recently rejoined this group. Having been up to Leech every year for 30 years, I know a lot about the area. We used to have a year long trailer on "little Leech" - in fact, I believe it is still there. We went there every summer from 1960 until the 90's.

Leech Lake is named due to the leeches in the lake. Yes, that is true - played with them as a little girl and a lot of locals use them for bait.

Best place in the world for Walleye and Northern. Even caught myself a muskie or two. Love it up there, but summer is short!

We used to stay at Agency Bay Lodge

[3iron]

Thanks rvtommy, will definitely check out the campground.

[rvtommy]

On East side of lake FEDERAL DAM wow what a campground!!! 6 bucks a night and run by the corp of engineers at least drive through it at least!!! rvtommy

[3iron]

Thanks to all of you for your help and suggestions. We will be camping part of the time and you have shared some great ideas. Photography is the main goal and hopefully we will be there at the turn of the trees. Not a bad time to visit friends as well.
Have no idea why it is named Leech Lake, we can only guess. Probably named by some Indian after he went swimming. LOL
Best wishes to all.

[John_Joey]

Northern MN is very pretty this time of year. You should have no problems finding things to photograph.

If you're coming by RV, Northern Lights Casino South of Walker has free 20amp electic hookup for RV'ers.

[Skid_Row_Joe]

3iron wrote:
The wife and I are going to Leech Lake, Minnesota next to visit some friends. My hobby is photography and I wondered if any of you might suggest some must see areas or good photography areas. We might catch some fall colors this time of the year, but I have never been in the area and have no clue where to go.
We will be visiting near Walker.
Thanks for your help and best wishes.

59 years ago, my parents took us to stay in Wayzata, MN on Lake Minnetonka, on Gray's Bay, staying in relative's lakeside rickety cabin built in the '30s with chickens in the yard. This was in 1954 - today there's million dollar homes there, no outhouses, and if you had chickens in the yard, the authorities would be called.

Later, in 1960, we would go up to Clubhouse Lake to tent camp and fish, water-ski, swim for 10 days every end of August. Subsequent years, to Crain Lake, Winnebigoshish, and one year up The Gunflint Trail north of Lake Superior - portaged back 9-lakes from basecamp in 3 canoes - the first one had a small outboard pulling the other canoes. Two families of 11 people and two adversarial dogs. Stayed in a one-room ranger cabin on an island built in the '20s on the Canadian Border. Drank straight lake water for a week.

Many, many years of Minnesota camping as a youngster. You can't go wrong with 10,000 lakes. You don't have long before the snow starts flying - best get a move on up there...

[Beartoo]

If you go to Walker just head north and to highway 2 and you'll find plenty to photograph. From the head waters of the Mississippi then east to Grand Rapids. Stop in Bemidji, Cass Lake area, stop in for a snack at the general store in Bena. We love it in that area, camp up there about 5 times a season.
Just day trip and enjoy.

Have a great time up there.

[MinnCamper]

Just returned from Temperance River State Park. Not sure if your camping, if you don't have a reservations you won't get in. The trees will be at max color in the next two weeks. Great place and worth the trip even for the day.

[deleted-2]

Why the name "Leech" Lake?
Guess I could Google that...

[Alfred622]

Leech Lake is a beautiful area. There are many drives to take through the area with great scenery. As long as you're there, I'd recommend you find a way to head West to Itasca State Park (it is about an hours drive). Not only will there be excellent photos on the way, once you are are the park, you can hike across the headwaters of the Mississippi River! Literally, you will be able to walk across the river! It is a fun thing to do. There is also a drive through the woods that will be full of color and you may sight animals also. Highly reoommended.

If you can afford the 2-3 hour drive East to Duluth Mn, then you are at the southern end of Minnesota's North Shore. From Duluth, take Hwy 61 NorthEast up to Grand Portage State Park. This is a considerable drive, about 3 hours, but well worth it. Recommend stopping at Split Rock State Park and touring the lighthouse, Tettagouche State Park and hiking the falls, Gooseberry Falls State Park for hiking, Temperance River is definitely worth a stop, and end with the living history at Grand Portage. If you can spare the time, continue into Canada to Old Fort Williams at Thunder Bay. Incredible! Google it. Living history at its very best. I'd suggest making it a day trip using one of the State Parks in Minnesota as base camp. If you haven't been to this part of the US before, take advantage of it. We totally enjoy it.

PS - There are some excellent mom&pop restaurants and pie shops on US 61.

[rexlion]

Plenty of waterfalls and views of Lake Superior along the shoreline from Duluth to Grand Marais. Palisade Head is especially nice. I've gotten some nice photos of people rappelling on the cliff face there.

[Supercharged]

3iron wrote:
The wife and I are going to Leech Lake, Minnesota next to visit some friends. My hobby is photography and I wondered if any of you might suggest some must see areas or good photography areas. We might catch some fall colors this time of the year, but I have never been in the area and have no clue where to go.
We will be visiting near Walker.
Thanks for your help and best wishes.

As a boy I was there with mother and dad, we went to the movies in a old buttler build that was round on top, it was a western movie, there were 30 or 40 kids in there watch, my brother and were the only ones rooting for the cowboys, I guess we were on the Indian reservion. Lots of bugs, mother got a 8.3 lbs Waleye. Sorry that all I remember, it was over 60 years ago.