The walleye is the state fish of Minnesota. All anglers dream of reeling in a big one. This one is a landmark to find your way to Otter Tail Beach Resort. Photos by the author.
Thinking of Minnesota roadways, superlatives do not normally come to mind. Riding Minnesota?s Otter Trail Scenic Byway can change that. The route includes many ?largest,? ?highest? and ?most? spots along the way, making for an interesting ride. Plan carefully and you will cross three continental divides!
Otter Tail County is in the Lake Country of Minnesota, the ?Land of 10,000 Lakes.? Otter Tail County itself contains more than 1,000 lakes, more than any other in the United States. These numerous bodies of water cause the byway to curve and flow between them for a great motorcycle ride. My BMW R 1100 RT was an excellent choice for some sport-style riding and some touring. The tourism economy of Otter Tail County includes cabins, resorts, lakes, boating and fishing, and many of the small towns in the area have a variety of festivals throughout the tourism season. The many lakes create the need for curvy roads to wind around all the water.
The Otter Trail Scenic Byway is conveniently detailed on a free map. Supplement it with a state map for the more intricate sections and you?ll be all set. The route has a few straight, flat roadways, but any straight sections on the 160-mile loop are usually rolling and higher than the surrounding terrain, providing vistas over lakes, forests and farms. The pavemen...