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| The showy lady's slipper is Minnesota's state flower. |
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| Dr. Roberts Nature Trail topo map. Click map for larger version. |
A 2.3-mile loop, the Dr. Roberts Nature Trail includes a number of interpretive signs. A guide to flora along the trail also is available at the trailhead or for purchase at the visitor center gift shop.
To reach the trail, from Bemidji take U.S. Hwy 71 south. Turn tight/northwest onto Minn. Hwy. 200 then left/west onto County Road 48. Next, go right/north onto County Road 1/Park Drive. Take the next left/south onto Park Road then right/west onto Douglas Lodge Drive. Park at the Douglas Lodge/Forest Inn lot.
Head along the sidewalk past the lodge. Veer left/west at the next two road junctions. After crossing a bridge, take a connector trail heading west.
At about 0.3 miles, go right/northwest. You’re now on the Dr. Roberts Nature Trail proper.
Lakes and cabin
The trail arrives at the shores of Lyendecker Lake at about 0.8 mile. Formed by melting glaciers during the last ice age, the lake is home to common loons.
A couple of benches can be found along the trail, which heads up the lake’s eastern shore. At the second bench is a short spur trail on the left/west leading to an overlook of the lake.
At 1 mile, the trail veer east away from the lake and in short order reaches Lake Itasca. The headwaters of the Mississippi River are north of here on the lake. As the trail parallels the lake’s southwestern shoreline, watch for terns dive bombing into the water and for trumpeter swans. Along the way is a boardwalk that traverses a marsh.
The boardwalk ends at about 1.7 miles, as the trail comes to Old Timer’s Cabin. The Civilian Conservation Crops constructed the cabin out of four huge downed white pine trees during the winter of 1933-34. The massive logs give a good idea of why loggers swept through northern Minnesota during the late 1800s to early 1900s; indeed, the logs are so large that only four are needed per side to build a single story. Some fun trivia: the CCC nicknamed its creation the “Honeymooners Cabin.”
South of the cabin, the trail becomes a boardwalk again, this time heading through a conifer bog. A lot of tamarack trees, whose needles turn orange in autumn, line this wetlands. The northern parula warbler also can be found here, as the bog is a breeding ground for the migratory bird.
Show lady's slipper
Among the most impressive sights in the conifer bog is the showy lady’s slipper, Minnesota’s state flower. Also known as the pink and white lady’s slipper or queen’s lady slipper, the orchid thrives in open fens, bogs and wet woods where it can receive plenty of light.
The showy lady’s slipper grows slowly. Up to 16 years can pass before its first flowers bloom.
At 2-3 inches tall, the flower consists of a trio of white, pointed sepals above a large, pink and white streaked petal that forms a pouch looking vaguely like a slipper. As the plants can grow up to four feet tall, the beautiful flower often stands above the others in the bog.
Minnesota adopted the showy lady’s slipper as the state flower in 1902. At that time, the flower was a favorite adornment on rural church altars.
Since 1925, however, state law has protected the wildflower. Picking the flowers as well as uprooting the plants is illegal. Regardless of the law, you can get a rash if you touch its stem.
The protection status is merited, as the flower actually is uncommon in Minnesota, though its range is the entire state except for the western and southern prairie regions.
Mary Creek
At 2 miles, trail veers east and runs along lake’s south shore. Watch for the Chester Charles II tour boat in the lake.
Next the trail crosses Mary Creek, which feeds Lake Itasca. The trail leaves the lake behind at 2.2 miles and passes two trail junctions; the first one is the Brower Trail with the second going to a campground. Veer right/south at each junction then climb 51 stone steps to where Douglas Lodge sits.
Take the sidewalk east and at roughly 2.3 miles, you’ll arrive back at the parking lot.
Insect repellent is highly recommended in summer. Parts of the trail also can be muddy at spots after a rainfall. Given this, it makes a great snowshoe trail in winter, though there will be no flowers to see, of course.
