Built in 1923, this timbered lodge is perched on the shores of northern Minnesota’s Lake Itasca, where the mighty Mississippi River begins its 3,734-kilometer journey south to the Gulf of Mexico. Because of its remote location in Itasca State Park (about 335 kilometers northwest of Minneapolis), the rustic Hostelling International Mississippi Headwaters Hostel is ideal for nature lovers wanting to hike, bike, swim or ski in unspoiled wilderness.

The lodge, which originally served as the park’s headquarters, has exposed log walls, wood floors and a cozy common area with stone fireplace. The onsite self-catering kitchen and barbecue pit promote a communal environment. There are six private rooms, with rates ranging from $80 to $150 a night depending on the season. Space in the dorm-style rooms costs around $30 a night. The lodge is open daily from June through August and weekends only from January through March, May, and September and October.