Since the pandemic prompted many of us to work from home, the concept of working remotely has gained popularity in Minnesota. However, due to their remote location, it may be difficult to complete any work!
Beyond the well-traveled routes and known landmarks in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, time slows, and the incessant hum of civilization fades into the whisper of the wind and the rustle of leaves. These are areas where the actual essence of nature and isolation come to life, providing a dramatic contrast to the hectic activity just beyond the horizon.
Okay, enough with the poetic imagery. If you want to get away from it all, go no farther than Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin’s most distant locations. And, while they may be remote, we now know exactly where they are located.
The upper Midwest is home to some fantastic urban areas and cities, like Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Milwaukee, and Des Moines. But our neck of the woods also has some fairly unusual locations. If you travel north in Wisconsin or Minnesota or exit I-35 in Iowa, you will come across some places that are literally in the middle of nowhere!
Coleman Island: The Most Remote Place in Minnesota
This lonely location is in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, far north near the Canadian border. If you want to go, you’ll have to drive around three hours and forty-five minutes from the Twin Cities, then climb in a canoe and paddle for a few hours.
The Most Remote Place in Iowa is 3 miles west of Titonka
To find the Hawkeye State’s most distant location, head southwest of the Twin Cities. In truth, 24/7 Wall Street reports that it is three miles west of Titonka in the north-central Iowa county of Kossuth.
The nearest big city, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is about a two-hour and 42-minute drive away, however, there are other small communities in the region, including Emmetsburg, Forest City, and Blue Earth, Minnesota.
Outer Island, Lake Superior: The Most Remote Place in Wisconsin
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore on Lake Superior is the most isolated area of America’s Dairyland. It’s just 24 miles from Bayfield, Wisconsin, but getting there can be difficult. The National Park Service (NPS) states, “Only the most experienced private boaters and sea kayakers should consider attempting a trip to Outer Island due to the great distance and exposed location.”
Landing at the Outer Island Lighthouse is typically out of the question: “Even when lake conditions permit approach, the exposed location of the dock frequently makes landing impossible,” according to the National Park Service.