In the area:

This is a land of many rivers and streams, winding their way through woods of aspen, birch, maple, oak and pine.

The longest is the St. Croix, forming Minnesota's border with Wisconsin. This National Wild and Scenic River is bordered by forest, its banks uninterrupted by towns or buildings. The best place to visit this part of the St. Croix is at St. Croix State Park (list state parks), 16 miles east of Hinckley. Minnesota's largest state park, it has miles of St. Croix shoreline, with naturalist programs, hiking trails and canoe rentals. The beautiful Kettle River also runs through the park.

The Kettle also flows through Banning State Park near Sandstone. Rapids tumble over the rocky riverbed here, making this a favorite spot for adventurous kayakers. The St. Louis River leaps through a rocky gorge at Jay Cooke State Park at Carlton, and nearby, exciting whitewater rafting trips take to the St. Louis. The St. Croix, St. Louis, and Kettle rivers, as well as the Snake and Rum, are all designated canoe rivers.

Cyclists also enjoy this part of the state. The paved Willard Munger Bike Trail meanders the countryside for 68 miles from Hinckley to Duluth; it's the state's longest bike trail. At St. Croix State Park, there's six miles of surfaced bike trail, plus 23 miles of mountain bike trails (list trails).

In the winter, snowmobilers take to the Munger Trail plus over hundreds of miles in the state forests around Cloquet, Moose Lake and Hinckley. The woods of St. Croix, Banning, and Jay Cooke state parks shelter some of the state's prettiest cross-country ski trails.

Over 100 years ago, the forests of this area were ravaged by forest fires. The tragic story of one of these fires is told at the Hinckley Fire Museum in the old train depot. At Pine City, a reconstructed 1804 fur trading post tells of an earlier era. The town of Mora has strong Swedish roots, visible in its 22-foot traditional red Dala Horse statue. The Kanabec History Center here features the early settlers to this area (list historic attractions).

Two hot spots are the Grand Casino in Hinckley and the Black Bear Casino at Carlton, both operated by local Ojibwe Indian reservations (list casinos).