Listen for Connecticut Warbler and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher!  The self-guided interpretive Landmark Trail goes along Ogechie Lake and commemorates the park as a National Historic Landmark. The Hiking Club trail includes the Landmark Trail plus a nice wooded path along a glacial moraine to close the loop back to the Landmark Trail parking area. Numerous species of thrushes, woodpeckers and flycatchers make this park their home. Twenty eight different species of warblers can be found in the park during spring and fall migrations and 15 of those stick around in the summer months including Northern Parula, American Redstart, Ovenbird and Golden-winged, Mourning, Canada, Black-throated Green and Blackburnian Warbler. Listen for Winter and House Wren in the woods and Sedge and Marsh Wren along the marshy lakeshores. Don’t forget to watch for winter finches and owls when you find yourself on the trails in the winter.

Mille Lacs Kathio State Park is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., 365 days a year. Office hours vary as staffing allows. All vehicles must display a valid Minnesota State Park vehicle permit. Biking is permitted on park roads where motor vehicles are allowed. Geocaching is allowed in Minnesota State Parks but a signed permit, available at the park office is required to place a cache. Pets must be leashed and attended to at all times. Minnesota ski pass is required to use the groomed cross-country ski trails in winter. A Packed trail for snowshoeing is available and snowshoeing allowed anywhere in the park except on groomed cross-country ski trails.

Directions: Located 8 miles north of Onamia, the main park entrance is one mile south of U.S. Highway 169 on County Road 26.

Contact Information: Mille Lacs Kathio State Park, 15066 Kathio State Park Road, Onamia, Minnesota 56359-2207, Office Phone: 320-532-3523, Kathio’s Interpretive Center Phone: 320-532-3269.