Lake Winnie owes its existence to one of the mightiest rivers in the world – the Mississippi. The now sprawling lake formed in 1884, when a dam was built to control water levels downstream. In addition to Lake Winnie, the dam formed Cut Foot Sioux and Little Winnie, two more of north central Minnesota's best-known lakes. At 78 feet, the deepest point in the three lakes is found in Cut Foot Sioux. Clean and sandy beaches punctuate all three.

Lake Winnie offers boaters a big-water experience. If you're looking for calm waters and a secluded bay, head to the smaller lakes. There, you'll find many long beaches for beachcombing or picnicking. Low motorboat traffic on all the lakes makes them prime playgrounds for swimming, canoeing, fishing, sailing or waterskiing. While on the water, you'll have to look closely for development on land. Most of what you'll see is the stunning scenery and wildlife of this beautiful area of Minnesota.