Anyone here that’s ridden to the farthest north point in the lower 48 ?

Cycledude

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Thought I had until I read this interesting article
its actually a town named Northwest Angle in Minnesota less than 500 miles from my home.

 
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Cycledude

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And it doesn't look like you can ride/drive there without leaving the US. Maybe a ferry?
You definitely can drive there but you will need a passport to enter Canada and to get back into the USA
i will probably take a ride up there next summer.
I previously rode to the northwest corner of Washington state
 
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tntmo

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I watched a video on this place, there's not a border guard there but you have to stop at a booth and call in to the Canadian border guards. Interesting place, I grew up in MN and didn't know anything about it.
 

gapmtn1

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I too would have guessed Maine
It wasn't that long ago that I would have guessed Maine, too. I think for me it's because when you project that large chunk of the globe onto a flat map like we grew up with in school, Maine appears "higher" on that piece of paper. I grew up in the northeast, so maybe that also plays a part.

The northern most point in Maine, like Northwest Angle MN, is also an enclave but not due to a lake, but just terrain and the roads. There's a gas station that's only accessible through PQ and a story of someone being jailed fire not checking in with border agents before getting gas. Not surprisingly that station is now closed.
 

Cycledude

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It wasn't that long ago that I would have guessed Maine, too. I think for me it's because when you project that large chunk of the globe onto a flat map like we grew up with in school, Maine appears "higher" on that piece of paper. I grew up in the northeast, so maybe that also plays a part.

The northern most point in Maine, like Northwest Angle MN, is also an enclave but not due to a lake, but just terrain and the roads. There's a gas station that's only accessible through PQ and a story of someone being jailed fire not checking in with border agents before getting gas. Not surprisingly that station is now closed.
Wow 35 days in jail for not stopping at a closed entry port .
 

magic

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And it doesn't look like you can ride/drive there without leaving the US. Maybe a ferry?
You have to drive through Manitoba to get there by road. There is a ferry service out of Baudette MN. that will get you there too. Also, float planes are another option. Then there's snowmobiles in the winter. There is at least one customs checkpoint each way for border crossings. Went to Lake of the Woods a few times on fishing trips. Always stayed on the Canadian side. It must have been an interesting place to be during Covid with the border closed.
 

Checkswrecks

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Never thought about them. I'm guessing the lake freezes over?
Kinda like Alaska, where the locals prefer Winter because the lakes and streams become roads for their snow machines. Boats are slower and renting airplanes is expensive.
 

Wallkeeper

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Odd little statistic I heard. the majority of our Canadian brethern live south of 49th parallel which is the northern border for most of the lower 48.

still waiting to hear a ”y,all” though
 

NDK

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@Cycledude we are planning a trip to the Northwest Angle in June. Planning to stay in Warroad and visit "The Shed" - a classic car museum there as well.
 

Cycledude

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@Cycledude we are planning a trip to the Northwest Angle in June. Planning to stay in Warroad and visit "The Shed" - a classic car museum there as well.
NDK thanks for bumping this thread.
i am supposed to be riding to the southern tip of Florida the last 2 weeks in May, not sure yet when I will be riding to Northwest Angle but June does seem possible since it’s less than 500 miles from my home.
 
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NDK

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I believe we're riding up there June 20th or whatever that weekend is, you're welcome to ride along if you like :cool:
 

notthebluelampshade

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Now that would be a fun place to stop next year with what I have planned myself.
I went up to International Falls last October at the end of the season and rode from there down through Ely and took the best road, Hwy 1, to the North Shore.
When we were up there we debated doing the ride from Intl Falls, up through Ontario, and head east to Grand Portage; That's gonna be happening at some point this summer.
 
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