Edge of the Wilderness
Edge of the Wilderness is a National Scenic Byway in Minnesota. Within Minnesota it covers roughly 45 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Edge of the Wilderness with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Edge of the Wilderness is a 47-mile National Scenic Byway through Minnesota's north woods, running from Grand Rapids north to Effie on State Highway 38. The two-lane road winds around 36 named lakes and through a patchwork of county, state, and Chippewa National Forest land thick with aspen, birch, pine, and maple, a mix that turns the drive into one of the state's most celebrated fall-color routes. Chippewa National Forest holds the largest bald eagle population in the continental United States, and the byway's designated Discovery Sites highlight both the region's natural history and its logging-era past along the way. The small communities of Grand Rapids, Marcell, Bigfork, and Effie provide fuel, food, and lodging at intervals, while side roads off the byway lead to many of the area's roughly 1,000 lakes for anyone wanting to get off the pavement. It's a full-day drive if the side trips and Discovery Sites are worked in.
- 47 miles, Grand Rapids to Effie on Hwy 38
- 36 lakes along the route
- Chippewa National Forest bald eagles
- Discovery Sites natural & cultural history
- renowned fall foliage drive
Designated for its natural qualities
Plan a drive on Edge of the Wilderness → Drive this route in Road SortiesTurn-by-turn on iPhone · App Store
Places to stop along Edge of the Wilderness
Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center
A Marcell visitor center with area information, free summer naturalist programs, and a lookout tower over the forest.
WebsiteNorth Star Lake
A large, clear lake about 90 feet deep along the byway, typical of the hundreds of glacial lakes in the Chippewa National Forest.
Bigfork
A small river town at the northern end of the byway, with an interpretive kiosk on its logging past.
Website
Where to Stay along Edge of the Wilderness
4 campgrounds and RV parks sit within about 5 miles of Edge of the Wilderness.
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Photos of Edge of the Wilderness
What is a National Scenic Byway?
National Scenic Byways are roads recognized at the federal level for at least one outstanding quality — scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological or recreational — that gives travelers a reason to seek them out rather than just pass through.