Save Pleasure Island Blog: Trip Report: Angle Inlet, MN

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Trip Report: Angle Inlet, MN

Even though you've probably viewed a map of the United States a hundred times, you've likely never noticed that Minnesota has a "little hat" on top of it that projects itself up into Canada. This area is known as the Northwest Angle and its only town is called Angle Inlet, Minnesota. The Angle is mostly the water of Lake of the Woods but there is a land area to the north of that and it's definitely part of the United States. By road you can only get to it via Canada.

Last month we visited Key West, Florida and this buoy that represents the southern most point in the continental United States. Our goal for this trip was to locate the buoy that represents the northern most point in the continental United States.

We flew into the closest airport which is in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (YWG). After renting a car, we headed east on the Trans Canada Highway.

After more than an hour, we reached our turnoff. Manitoba Provincial Highway 308 southbound.

The first 10km or so are paved but the rest of the way is all gravel so you can't travel very fast. Why does the U.S. have a piece of territory that thrusts itself up into what seemingly should now be Canada? This actually goes back all the way to the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War in the late 1700's. As part of the Treaty of Paris, it was agreed that British territory would follow a straight line along the 49th Parallel from Lake of the Woods all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Britain got to keep all of Vancouver Island even though it drops below 49° North and it was agreed that the United States should own the source of the Mississippi River. At the time it was assumed that Lake of the Woods was that source so the U.S. got most of the lake even though it was above 49° North. It was only later that the true source of the Mississippi River was discovered to be Lake Itasca well to the south.

After a seemingly endless drive along that gravel road, our next turn finally arrived.

Manitoba Provincial Highway 525, another gravel road and in really poor condition.

As we're still in Canada, this sign is still in kilometers. But we were getting closer!

Never really saw any marker to indicate the exact location of the border but you know you're finally back in the United States when you see this warning sign.

The actual border here is completely unstaffed. This next sign warns you to check in with United States authorities at a place called Jim's Corner 8 miles ahead.

We don't know who Jim is or why this is his corner, but we finally made it to Jim's Corner. It too is unstaffed but this where you check-in with U.S. Customs & Border Protection.

The back side of the kiosk. When entering the U.S., you enter the building and locate the iPad and fill-out the on-line form. In most cases, you receive a confirmation approving your entry into the U.S. See that black phone outside the kiosk? That's the phone for Canada Border Services Agency, where you check in to return to Canada. Pick up the receiver and it automatically contacts C.B.S.A. where a Canadian Agent asks you a number of questions. This must be done prior to leaving the Northwest Angle and your return to Canada.

Our destination was Youngs Bay Resort, home of the northern most buoy. This is a popular boat launching point, RV parking area, cabins, etc.

It's also home to the best restaurant in Angle Inlet and a souvenir shop too.

And look out the window, there it is! The northern-most buoy.

It's not at the actual northern-most point as there is U.S. land beyond it. The the southern-most buoy in Key West is not at the actual southern-most point of the U.S. either. Both are symbolic though.

Similar to Jim's Corner, this resort also has an Immigration kiosk. If Jim's corner has a queue, you can come here. After eating lunch we used that outside phone to report back to Canada of our intent to return to Manitoba.