Snowmobile Bridge At Coffee Pot Landing
Mississippi River Trail Crossing
Near Itasca State Park, MN

Snowmobile Bridge At Coffee Pot Landing

• Location: River Mile 1330.5
• River Elevation: 1,382 Feet
• County: Clearwater
• Bridge Type: Steel Truss
• Bridge Length: 50 Feet
• Bridge Width: 10 Feet
• Height Above Water: 9 Feet
• Date Built: 1985
There are several stories on how this location came to be known as Coffee Pot Landing. One story is that there was a lumber camp nearby, and the camp cooks set up the coffee pots in this location while the virgin timber was being harvested. Another story is that a local elderly couple kept a warm pot of coffee going all the time for those camping overnight or just passing bye in canoes.

For nearly two decades, local snowmobile clubs would install a temporary bridge here each winter. The reason is the relatively fast running water and fresh water springs make the river ice unpredictable. The State of Minnesota DNR installed this permanent bridge in 1985.

The river is less than 20 feet across in this area, and about 20 inches deep under the bridge. It is running northeast towards Bemidji, falling about four feet every mile. While I have listed this bridge as being in Clearwater County, there is apparently some debate over that fact. The bridge appears right on the county line in most maps. It might take a formaly survey to determine whether it is in Clearwater County or Hubbard County.


Snowmobile Bridge At Coffee Pot Landing
Snowmobile Bridge At Coffee Pot Landing

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Photo and text by John A. Weeks III, Copyright © 2006, all rights reserved.
For further information, contact: john@johnweeks.com