Beltrami County Highpoint Trip Report

ten unnamed areas (1,510+ ft)

Date: May 28, 2005
Author: Mark Ness

Beltrami County's 10 small high point areas are located in Section 19 of Liberty Township and Section 24 of Buzzle Township. I visited these areas on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.

I came from the north, on State Highway 89. After splitting south from S.H. 1, just south of Minnesota's largest body of water, Red Lake, I continued south about 20 miles and turned right onto County Road 600.

I drove west on C.R. 600 for 2.7 miles, and turned left into a posted driveway. I wanted to ask permission for this one, so I turned around there and drove up to the place across the road (depicted on the topo map as the black square 0.2 mile east of Spot Elevation 1456) to ask but there was no response. On a major holiday weekend, it's really hit or miss to find someone home. I returned to the posted driveway and followed it along the wood line to the point where it curved down into a muddy area.

I parked at the curve, which was 0.23 mile straight-line distance from area 1.

Area 1: I crossed into the wood line and began the hike toward area 1. It was a typical non-maintained woods. I arrived at area 1 in 11 minutes. I then continued west on a brief hike to area 2.

Area 2: This 2 is the largest contour of the 10. It was a 2-minute walk.

Area 3: I turned slightly south and continued to area 3, 2 minutes.

Area 4: I continued south to area 4, 2 minutes.

Area 5: This is 3 minutes southwest of area 4.

Area 6: From area 5, I started toward area 6 and stepped over a fence. Just past the fence was a woods road. From here on, I stayed almost entirely on roads and trails. I arrived at area 6 in 7 minutes. It is just on the other side of the fence from a deer hunter's stand on the road crest.

Area 7: I continued on this road for a short distance, then turned right onto a series of trails and paths that led generally southeast to area 7. It and area 9 are the only open-air areas of the 10. This is 10 minutes from area 6.

Area 8: Areas 8 and 9 are a pair just northeast of area 7. I arrived at area 8 in 3 minutes. It was marked by a number of small boulders.

Area 9: Area 9 is 3 minutes east of area 8. It is located in a field of short grass.

Area 10: I followed the woods edge, then through the narrow woods on a path, then along the woods edge again to the section line road. Although not shown on the topo map, it is a good road. I continued south on the road and then east on a poor woods path. Area 10 is just off the path in the woods. It’s a 10-minute walk from area 9.

I returned to the section line road and turned north, following woods lines and crossing fields back to my car. Total hiking time was 74 minutes.

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