The Rainy River is unique – not only in that it straddles the border between Minnesota and Canada, it’s also one of just a handful of rivers along the thousands of miles of frontier shared by the United States and its neighbor to the north. This Minnesota border river also passes through some of the most beautiful parts of the North Star State. Just take a look!

The Rainy is one of two rivers that Minnesota shares with Canada. The Pigeon, known for its high falls at Grand Portage, is the other.
Lake of the Woods Tourism/Google
The Rainy River, however, is on the other side of the Laurentian Divide, so instead of flowing east toward Lake Superior (or south toward the Mississippi), it flows north and west, from Rainy Lake to Lake of the Woods, from which its waters will eventually drain into Hudson Bay.
The Rainy River flows out of Rainy Lake at the small community of Rainier, near International Falls.
Rainy Lake Visitor Center, Ut - 342, International Falls, MN, USA
Lanie Yarbro/Google
Minnesota also shares the massive Rainy Lake with Canada.
Ganesh B/Google
​Much of Rainy Lake’s Minnesota side lies within Voyageurs National Park.

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The Rainy River’s course flows mostly through wilderness or rural areas on both sides of the border.
Trent Jonas/Google
In some places, it seems the border line is not confined to the river, itself.
Franz Jevne State Park, Minnesota 11, Birchdale, MN, USA
Trent Jonas/Google
Like within ​Franz Jevne State Park, the smallest unit in the state park system.
The Rainy River ends its 137-mile course at Lake of the Woods.
Zippel Bay State Park, 54th Avenue Northwest, Williams, MN, USA
Trent Jonas/Google
​​The stunning Zippel Bay State Park is not far from the mouth of the Rainy River.
Lake of the Woods, which is also split between Minnesota and Canada, comprises most of the Northwest Angle.
Northernmost Point of the Contiguous US, 7600 Young's Bay Dr NW, Angle Inlet, MN 56711, USA
Logan Edwards/Google
It’s the cartographic anomaly that resulted in the Northernmost Point in the Lower 48 being located in Minnesota.

We definitely think a road trip along the Rainy River should be on your bucket list. Have you visited the Rainy River or any of the awesome spots along its course? What are some other interesting cross-border spots in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!

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