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The serene circular drive rolls through the forests and lakes of Maplewood State Park and Glendalough State Park and past a scenic overlook at Inspiration Peak. Bring a piece of your trip home with a work of art from one of the galleries in Battle Lake or Fergus Falls. Anglers can try for northern, walleye, bass, perch and panfish. Or, simply relax and take in the beautiful and plentiful fall colors along the route.
Day 1
A Sense of Place: Start out with some local history and highlights in Fergus Falls, considered the anchor town of the byway. The Otter Tail County Historical Museum creates a sense of farm life in the late 1800s. Check for a performance at A Center for the Arts. Take a self-guided tour (summer months) of the Phelps Mill, originally constructed in 1889. Then enjoy the outdoors. Maplewood State Park is brilliant with its namesake maple forests turning to gold, orange and red in the fall.
Day 2
Shopping and Sites: Many of the picturesque towns have a signature site to visit. Pelican Rapids, at the northwest tip of the route, claims the world’s largest pelican—a giant sculpture overlooking a small waterfall. Perham has several gift shops, a boat factory and a small doll museum, while Battle Lake has gift shops and a gallery carrying works by regional artists along its Main Street. In Vining, don’t miss several quirky metal sculptures on display (a perpetually spilling cup of coffee, a pliers holding a cockroach, etc.), created by a local welder.
Day 3
Nature’s Beauty: Lush woods, sparkling lakes, farmland pastures and panoramic views are what the Otter Trail is all about. Fish, go birding or rent a canoe at Glendalough State Park, or head to Inspiration Peak near Urbank, the second highest point in Minnesota (1,750 feet). In Dalton, bikers can follow the west end of the Central Lakes Bike Trail back to Fergus Falls. This also marks the southern “prairie” end of the Pine to Prairie Birding Trail, which extends from Fergus Falls north to the Canadian border.
More info:
800-726-8959 www.visitfergusfalls.com |
LENGTH: 150 Miles
ROUTE: Circle route connecting Fergus Falls, Pelican Rapids, Perham and Battle Lake
QUICK TRIPS
The Otter Tail River made this county a prime location for mills, and the Phelps Mill Festival, held annually at the Mill in July, is a great time to tour the historic site and enjoy the arts, food and music of the area. Inspiration Peak is the highest point of a collection of glacial features near Urbank known as Leaf Hills. The quarter-mile hike to the top is relatively easy, and the view is particularly impressive in autumn when the hardwoods are ablaze.
ALONG THE BYWAYS
Limmer’s Resort
35338 Rush Lake Loop, Ottertail, 56571
218-367-2790
www.limmersresort.com
Located on the Otter Trail Scenic Byway and the shore of Rush Lake, we offer lakeside cottages for a relaxing break from everyday life. Fishing, birding and loon watching ease away stress. Wheelchair accessible. |
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