Otter Trail Scenic Byway
Otter Trail Scenic Byway is a State Scenic Byway in Minnesota. Within Minnesota it covers roughly 160 miles. The map below shows its route. Use “Plan a drive” to open it in the Road Sorties route planner — already routing along Otter Trail Scenic Byway with scenic roads turned on, ready to add your own stops.
The Otter Trail Scenic Byway is a 150-mile loop through Otter Tail County in northwest Minnesota, packing more than a thousand lakes into rolling, maple-oak-birch hill country. The route follows old paths used by Native American nations, fur traders, and explorers, and later by Mormon settlers and European immigrants who turned the area into some of Minnesota's most productive farmland, with 19th-century flour mills and historical markers still standing along the way. Roadside sculptures, a quirky signature of the byway, appear at intervals alongside the more conventional lake and forest scenery, giving the drive a distinct local character beyond its natural beauty. Because it's a loop rather than a point-to-point route, travelers can join or leave at any of the small towns along the way depending on how much of the full 150 miles they want to cover. Fishing, golfing, and snowmobiling round out the recreation on offer across all four seasons.
- 150-mile loop, Otter Tail County
- 1,000+ lakes and wetlands
- 19th-century flour mills
- roadside sculptures
- fur trader & Mormon settlement history
Plan a drive on Otter Trail Scenic Byway →
What is a State Scenic Byway?
State Scenic Byways are roads a state has formally recognized for their scenic, natural, historic or cultural value — each state's own curated collection of drives worth taking slowly.
Where to Stay along Otter Trail Scenic Byway
1 campground or RV park sits within about 5 miles of Otter Trail Scenic Byway.
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