Story Opportunities
Leech Lake and the surrounding area offers everything needed for a relaxing vacation. More is offered than world class recreation. Where sky meets water we have even more…
- The last battle in the American Indian War was fought on Leech Lake.
- The City of Walker was founded on lumber mills and pioneering citizens
- Walker as an event city with rich festivals and cultural celebrations
- There is history here----of PaleoIndian people living along the lakeshore 10,000 years ago. As well as Dakota and Anishinabe people, French Voyageurs and early loggers make up a diverse past.
- Our local area fishing guides including Al Maas
- Moondance Jam – one of Minnesota’s largest outdoor music festivals.
Read on for more story teasers:
A Large Lake Leader
Leech Lake is famous amongst outdoors enthusiasts for its walleye and muskie fisheries. Amongst conservationists, it holds another esteem: With about half of its massive shoreline in public ownership, Leech is Minnesota's large-lake leader in protecting habitat for fish and shoreline wildlife species. The lake is also something of a gem in the Governor's North Central Minnesota Lakes pilot project (part of Minnesota's Clean Water Initiative), emulating the best in public-private partnerships to preserve and protect the Leech Lake Watershed. Story Contact: Jerry McCauley, Leech Lake Association Board Member, icecrack@eot.com or (218) 836-2076.
Over 100 year old National Park
In 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt signed the papers making Chippewa national Forest the first National Forest established east of the Mississippi. Forest lands surrounding Leech and Winnibigoshish lakes were set aside for what would eventually become the 666,524-acre Chippewa National Forest. Uniquely situated at the intersection of three major biomes-hardwood, coniferous and prairie- the park has changed little in the 100 years. Story Contact: Mary Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer, Chippewa National Forest, (218) 335-8658 or mnordeen@fs.fed.us.
Access the Outdoors: Leech-Area Hiking, Biking & Motorized Recreation
The Leech Lake area a major crossroads for Minnesota's amazing recreational trail system. Multiple recreational trails converge in the Leech Lake area, providing outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone, hikers, bikers, horseback riders, snowmobilers and off-highway vehicle riders alike. Along with other, smaller trails and footpaths, the area features trail access for the national North Country Scenic Hiking Trail, the Chippewa National Forest's Shingobee Hiking Trail System, and two state trails-the 108-mile Paul Bunyan Trail and the 47-mile Heartland Trail. Story Contact: Dick Kimball, Minnesota DNR Trails & Waterways Supervisor, (218) 755-3972 or dick.kimball@dnr.state.mn.us.
Walker Women: Northwoods Entrepreneurial Spirit
In the days of the town's origin, the men came to Walker to log the area's abundant forests. Today, they come to fish for Leech Lake's famed walleye and muskie, and it's the women of Walker who have carved out a tourism-based business climate and fashioned Walker as a quaint little northwoods shopping destination. The "feminine touch" is evident: a large percent of Leech Lake area businesses are owned or co-owned by women. Story Contact: Cindy Wannarka, Executive Director of the Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, (218) 547-1313 or cwannarka@arvig.net.
Fishing from the Cradle
In Walker, they like to start them young--fishing that is. Walker's Marine Max hosts the annual kids crappie fishing event for the community, where nearly 200 kids--some in strollers--enter their first casting and catching contests. The kids walk away with fishing lures, door prizes, full bellies and--the sponsors hope--the start of a lifelong love of fishing. The event is held the Saturday before the walleye opener each year. Story Contact: Jennifer Benik, Marine Max events coordinator, (763) 428-4126 or jennifer.benik@marinemax.com.
A Town Eager for a Party: Celebration of an Ugly Fish
Always looking for a reason to host a celebration, the community of Walker, MN has been celebrating one of Minnesota's ugliest fish, the eelpout, for 28 years. The annual Eelpout Festival claims to be Minnesota's biggest party on ice. This year, the festivities include a five-mile run, rugby tournament, snowmobile and auto races, a polar plunge, and the ceremonial lighting of the hibachi (of course). Story Contact: Cindy Wanarka, Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, 800.833.1118, cwanarka@leech-lake.com, www.leech-lake.com
Leech Lake Area Provides R&R for National Guard Families
Walker makes its American Pride felt throughout Minnesota. The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is kicking off its fourth year of the “Vacations for National Guard Families Program.” The program donates weeklong stays at local resorts to Minnesota National Guard members and their families when they return from active duty in the Middle East. Over the years, the committee has provided hundreds of vacations to returning Guard families. In addition to free lodging, the families are given gift packages with vouchers for local restaurants, businesses and activities. Story Contact: Cindy Wanarka, Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. 800.833.1118, 800.833.1118
cwanarka@leech-lake.com, www.leech-lake.com
Lakes Country Biking
Fill your limit fishing? Hop on your bike and explore the area’s other natural resource treasures—forests, bogs, rolling hills and the Mighty Mississippi. The Leech Lake area a major crossroads for two of Minnesota's finest biking trails—the 108-mile Paul Bunyan Trail and the 47-mile Heartland Trail. Multiple recreational trails converge in the Leech Lake area, providing outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone, hikers, bikers, horseback riders, snowmobilers and off-highway vehicle riders alike. Story Contact: Dick Kimball, Minnesota DNR Trails & Waterways Supervisor, (218) 755-3972 or dick.kimball@dnr.state.mn.us. |
