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29-633: Leech Lake outlets to the Leech Lake River, which flows into the Mississippi River. The sole outlet to the Leech Lake River is controlled by a dam in order to regulate water levels of the lake. Leech Lake has seven major inlets that include Portage Lake Creek, Sucker Creek, Steamboat River, Benedict River, Shingobee River, Bishop Creek, and the Boy River. There are also nine minor inlets that flow into Leech Lake. Leech Lake hosts eleven islands that cover

58-449: A diamond interchange . MN 115 serves the military base to the west; a large tank used as a monument is on the east side of the interchange. It formerly sat on the west side of MN 371 before the interchange with MN 115 was built in the early 2000s. This interchange with MN 115 was the last part of the MN ;371 freeway upgrade to be completed. The MN 371 freeway ends

87-668: A conflict between Ojibwe and Federal troops of the United States, the Battle of Sugar Point . A firefight broke out between the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe after one of the soldiers sent to retrieve a bootlegger mistakenly fired his rifle. Oscar Burkard received the Medal of Honor on August 21, 1899 for his participation in the battle. In the summer of 1955, Leech Lake became famous for its musky fishing, as

116-411: A few miles north of MN 115 at CR 48, but maintains a four-lane divided highway configuration. North of CR 48, MN 371 crosses into Crow Wing County and enters the town of Fort Ripley , spending a short time passing through the center of the town. It quickly leaves Fort Ripley and continues north as the landscape steadily becomes less farm-oriented and more forested. After Fort Ripley

145-462: A sufficient food source, nesting area, or cover for the native animals. Also one plant can produce around two million seeds annually, and it spreads rapidly through aquatic systems. Better known as the narrow-leaf cattail, this invasive plant is able to grow in deeper water (compared to its native counterparts). The narrow-leaf cattail competes with the native Typha latifolia (broad leaf cattail) and other native plants along Leech Lake. Leech Lake

174-485: A total of 1,617 acres of land. 160 sq miles The following list is in order from largest to smallest. The long, narrow Shingobee Bay is part of Leech Lake, and is located on its southern end. Shingobee Bay, and the adjacent Walker Bay, boast some of the deepest parts in the entire lake. Also known as purple loosestrife. This is an invasive plant that takes over lake shores and marshes, replacing cattails and other native wetland plants. Purple loosestrife does not provide

203-616: Is a popular sport fishing hotspot, and is fished for many different types. The state record lake whitefish (12 lb, 4.5 oz) and pumpkinseed (1 lb, 5.6 oz) were both caught here in 1999. Species of fish the lake contains: Grows in the shallow depths of Leech Lake, emerging through over 4,000 acres of water. Wild Rice is a valuable crop for the Leech Lake community. Grass like plants that grow in water, they can reach lengths of around ten feet. These plants are an important food resources for aquatic life in Leech Lake. Leech Lake and

232-447: Is a three-quarter loop around Gull Lake to the west, while MN 371 makes up the eastern quarter. MN 371 passes north past several lakes and many resorts, and reaches the town of Nisswa at a junction with CR 77 and CR 13; CR 13 goes into Nisswa, while CR 77 goes back around Gull Lake to the west. MN 371 remains a four-lane divided highway, as the landscape becomes noticeably more forested. The next town on

261-449: Is quite close to Miller Bay, and its Shingobee Connection Trail runs on the opposite side of Christmas Point Road from the bay. A public boating access is located on Shingobee Island, which is crossed by Highway 371 on the north side of the lake. The island, though in the middle of the bay, is connected to land on either side by the highway. Walker Bay, which includes Shingobee, is the deepest part of Leech Lake. As of May 2010, there

290-474: The Leech Lake Indian Reservation was established on the south shore of Leech Lake, along with two other Indian Reservations in the area, which along with two additional Indian Reservations, the five Indian Reservations were amalgamated in 1936 to form the current "Greater" Leech Lake Indian Reservation which encompasses most all of Leech Lake. On October 5, 1898, Leech Lake was the location of

319-575: The "Leech Lake Musky Rampage" thrust it into the spotlight when hundreds of muskies were caught in a two-week period in July. Every February, Leech Lake is home to the International Eelpout Festival . The eelpout , also known as the Burbot, is rarely seen in Leech Lake, except in the winter when it is very plentiful. Events include a black-tie dinner, ice bowling, and a contest to see who can catch

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348-491: The bay, where it opens up into the larger Walker Bay. Miller Bay is an extension of the longer, narrower Shingobee Bay, and is located on the northeastern side of Shingobee. Miller Bay is connected to Shingobee by a fairly wide channel visible from Christmas Point Road, which loops around Miller Bay in a rough semicircle. There is no public access on Miller Bay, although it is easily visible from nearby roads. The Paul Bunyan State Trail , used for various recreational purposes,

377-584: The central part of the state. It runs north–south from U.S. Highway 10 (US 10) in Little Falls to US 2 in Cass Lake . MN 371 has become a heavily traveled arterial route that was once a two-lane roadway over almost all of its length, but has been widened to four lanes across most of its southern half. Much of the traffic on the route is Twin Cities -based traffic heading to their cabins on one of

406-516: The focus of many upgrades in the area: Business Trunk Highway 371 ( Bus. MN 371 ) is a business route through Brainerd . Before the Brainerd bypass opened in 2000, Old MN 371 went through downtown Brainerd, then proceeded west on a two-mile (3.2 km) concurrency with MN 210 before turning north at its current intersection in Baxter. Due to the addition of new highway mileage from

435-502: The highway turns northeast for several miles and clips the southeast corner of Crow Wing State Park . A few more miles northeast, MN 371 intersects Business MN 371 (Bus. MN 371); this is the Brainerd exit. In 2000, MN 371 was moved onto the C. Elmer Anderson Memorial Highway, which bypasses Brainerd to the west, and the old roadway into downtown Brainerd was redesignated Bus. MN 371. MN 371 itself turns back to

464-520: The largest eelpout. Shingobee Bay Shingobee Bay is a bay of Leech Lake , Minnesota . Shingobee Bay is located three miles south of Walker , the Cass County seat, on the southern side of Leech Lake. The land adjacent to the bay is part of Shingobee Township, and a portion of it is allocated to the Leech Lake Tribe of Ojibwe. Minnesota State Highway 371 spans the northern end of

493-481: The many northern lakes. MN 371 serves as a south–north route in central and north-central Minnesota between Little Falls , Baxter , Brainerd , Nisswa , Pequot Lakes , Walker , and Cass Lake . MN 371 departs from US 10 at Little Falls heading north, paralleling the Mississippi River on the east side of the river. MN 371 is a freeway-standard route coming off US 10 as it passes on

522-403: The new bypass, the old route of MN 371 was a candidate for turnback to local jurisdiction. Because of local preference to keep the old routing of MN 371 part of the state trunk highway system, it was agreed that portions of other highways in the surrounding area would be turned back instead: MN 18 from MN 210 to MN  , and the two-block long MN 322 would be given to

551-463: The north and crosses the Mississippi River before entering Baxter , a smaller city just west of Brainerd. In Baxter, MN 371 intersects MN 210 , another major arterial route for northern Minnesota. MN 371 heads north through Baxter's business district, then enters the Gull Lake area, a popular tourist destination. MN 371 crosses an intersection with CR 77 and CR 48. CR 77

580-432: The route is Pequot Lakes , most famous for its fishing bobber water tower . MN 371 exceeds freeway standards from the intersection with CR 107 to the intersection with CR 112 and Patriot Avenue. Right after the intersection with CR 16, MN 371 turns into a two-lane road (one lane in each direction). The road leaves the town behind quickly. Several miles north of Pequot Lakes and after passing through

609-436: The south, passes through downtown and ends at US 2 just north of downtown, although the roadway itself continues north as a local street. MN 371 was originally designated as US 371 from 1931 to 1973. In 1973, it was designated MN 371. The former US 371 designation was concurrent with US 2 from 1931 to 1973 between Cass Lake and Bemidji with a terminus at US 71 . In 1994, US 371

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638-564: The surrounding national forest is home to a large population of bald eagles . They are known to return to their same nests when mature. Populations have risen over the last few decades. On early maps, Leech Lake is identified in French as "lac Sangsue" ( Bloodsucker Lake), which was then translated into English to its current name; its French name was translated from the Ojibwe " Ozagaskwaajimekaag-zaaga'igan " (lake abundant with bloodsuckers). In 1855,

667-624: The town of Backus , on Pine Mountain Lake, where it meets MN 87 for a short concurrency . After MN 87 splits off to the east just past Backus Airport, MN 371 heads into rural forest for about 22 miles (35 km), broken only by the small town of Hackensack before reaching MN 200 just south of Walker, a regionally important city in northern Minnesota. MN 371 and MN 200 begin an eight-mile (13 km) concurrency at this intersection; MN 371 north and MN 200 west continue northwest together as they pass around Walker Bay,

696-425: The town of Jenkins , MN 371 enters Cass County . The forested landscape subsides for a short while as MN 371 comes to the town of Pine River , the largest town on the route between Brainerd and Walker , where it intersects the southern terminus of MN 84 . MN 84 heads northeast to Chickamaw Beach and Longville while MN 371 continues due north. The forests return as MN 371 reaches

725-556: The west side of Little Falls' industrial sector. The first interchange heading northbound is with Morrison County Road 46 (CR 46), which is the only interchange within the Little Falls area for the freeway portion. After Little Falls the route enters rural farmland, which characterizes the rest of the route's freeway portion. The next interchange is near the Fort Ripley military base, where it meets MN 115 and CR 47 at

754-409: The west. Several miles northwest of Walker, MN 200 splits off MN 371, heading west toward Lake Itasca while MN 371 heads north. MN 371 intersects no more state highways on its mainline routing after this intersection. Meanwhile, the landscape becomes less treelined and hillier as the route progresses toward Cass Lake , the final city on MN 371. The route enters Cass Lake from

783-461: The western arm of Leech Lake , one of Minnesota's largest lakes. The two pass the former Ah-gwah-ching facility, which was serviced by the unsigned MN 290 . MN 371/MN 200 concurrently reaches downtown Walker, a town where most amenities can be found. Also in Walker is the eastern terminus of MN 34 , which provides the main route between Walker, Park Rapids , and Detroit Lakes to

812-483: Was a significant amount of crappies caught in Shingobee Bay. 47°03′19″N 94°33′51″W  /  47.05528°N 94.56417°W  / 47.05528; -94.56417 Minnesota State Highway 371 Minnesota State Highway 371 ( MN 371 ) is a 107.411-mile-long (172.861 km) state highway in central and north-central Minnesota . The route connects Minnesota's northern lakes region with

841-480: Was recycled and reassigned to a concatenation of state highways in Arkansas and Louisiana to form a new US 371 that has no relationship to the old US  (now MN 371) other than being associated with US 71 as the parent number. For the most part MN 371 has been a high-volume, two-lane highway. Because of increases in traffic, especially during times of peak recreational demand, MN 371 has been

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