Star Island

Star Island is one of the unique features of the Chippewa National Forest. It is named for its star shape and is the largest of four islands in Cass Lake. Cass Lake covers 15,596 acres in northern Minnesota and is one of eight lakes of the Cass Lake chain. Star Island has more than eight miles of shoreline. It encompasses 980 acres of both public land and private homes. Please respect private property boundaries when visiting. The Chippewa National Forest manages more than three-fourths of the island for public, scenic and recreational use. 

GETTING THERE 

Star Island can be accessed by boat or canoe. The US Highway 2 Wayside Rest Area, east of Cass Lake, provides ample parking and drive-down boat access. Boat rentals are available from some local businesses. 

WHAT TO SEE AND DO 

Six miles of trails wind along the high banks and deep woods of the island, providing good opportunities for hiking and nature study. Star Island has a lake within the island. Lake Windigo sits inside Star Island. This special location earned recognition from Ripley’s Believe It or Not in the 1950s, as the only spring-fed lake on an island in the middle of a river-fed lake in the northern hemisphere. Windigo covers 199 acres with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Three public portages lead to Lake Windigo. 

HISTORY 

Visitors to Star Island may not realize they have just spent time in one of the most historical areas on the Forest. Star Island is part of the Chippewa National Forest’s Ten Section Area, one of the earliest designated portions of the national forest. Its old growth trees provide perfect habitat for bald eagles. Star Island is also one of 10 unique areas of Chippewa National Forest, designated for its prehistoric and historic Indian occupation. The earliest documented occupation on Star Island is approximately 5000 years old. Two Paleo sites, 7000 to 8000 years old, are nearby on the mainland. The Woodland people were residents of Star Island about 1,500 years ago. Land was first made available for summer cabin development in 1909. In the early 1900s, northern Minnesota was advertised as a curative place for asthma and other ailments and was considered a great place for escaping summer heat.