Itasca County and Chippewa National Forest Birding
Winnibigoshish Lake is huge and well worth birding, especially during migration when a number of rarities have been discovered. Vantage points on Winnibigoshish are well described in “A Birder’s Guide to Minnesota”:
• Plug Hat Point campground and public access is reached by turning north off County Road 9, just east of the dam on the Mississippi River
• To reach another public access, go east on 9 to Highway 46, north on 46 for 4 miles, then west on County Road 148; in a half mile, follow the left fork to the lake.
• And on the west side of the lake is the Winnie campground / public access, but you’ll need a county or national forest map to follow the directions: go west off Highway 46 on County Road 33, after several miles go south on Forest Road 2171, then east on Forest Road 2168 to the lake.
• On County Road 9, by the dam on the Mississippi River outlet at the Itasca county line; also note the fish hatchery ponds below the dam.
• At the Birches public access: watch for the sign on Forest Road 2163, which turns north off County Road 9, 3.5 miles southwest of the dam.
• From the nearby Tamarack Point campground and public access at the end of Forest Road 2163.
• In Bena: turn north off Highway 2 to the campground on the east edge of town.
• At Richard’s Townsite campground and public access west of Bena: turn north off Highway 2 on County Road 91 / West Winnie Road, 2.7 miles west of Bena, go 0.2 mile, and turn right at the sign on Forest Road 2074.
• And at the public access about 5 miles farther up West Winnie Road.