Savanna Portage State Park

I would have liked to have been able to write more about the pictures I’m about to present to you, but since my time to do such things as been small as of late, you’ll have to settle with a shorter, less explanative post. Basically, I just wanted to share some of the pictures I took over the weekend before they become too old to be considered recent. The pictures you can see below were all taken at Savanna Portage State Park, about 15 miles north of McGregor, MN in Aitkin County.

There were a couple of reasons why I was at this state park last weekend, but the primary one was to look at the fall colors. The Minnesota DNR’s web page is keeping close tabs on all of the fall colors in every state park throughout the state, and I read that Savanna Portage was experiencing some really nice colors. Along with seeing the colors, I also wanted to get out and do some geocaching. Much to my surprise, I discovered there was a geocache within Savanna Portage State Park.

Although I had planned to go the other caches around the park, I didn’t actually get to them. Not only was Saturday the opening of the small game hunting season – which meant there were a lot of hunters out and about in the woods – I also really enjoyed the park, and did not want to leave until I saw all of the major attractions that it offered.

Check out the pictures below. As you can see, while some trees were visibly pretty vivid, the majority of the trees have not yet begun to change colors, or have done so only slightly. In any case, I still had a really good time; it was a great way to spend a nice Saturday afternoon.


Some colors can be seen off the shore of Loon Lake


Here's some color on a tree next to Loon Lake


Another shot of Loon Lake


Colorful leaves and Loon Lake in the background


This deer was roaming around the side of the main road that goes through the park


One of the scenic overlooks in the park. The spot this picture was taken at is a continental divide. All of the water downhill from where I was standing flows into Lake Superior (eventually the Atlantic Ocean) and all the water behind the spot I was standing at flows into the Mississippi River (eventually the Gulf of Mexico). Way back toward the horizon, about 5 miles away, also marks the St. Louis-Aitkin County border


The main road in the park, and a sign directing hikers to the scenic overlook


A shot of Lake Shumway. Two people can be seen fishing in this picture.


About half a mile north of Lake Shumway was the very interesting "Interpretive Bog Walk," where I learned a lot about life in a bog. Here's a picture of the bog itself.


This is a picture of the mossy floor of the part of the bog that has dried up.