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Thin tall trees line the highway just like they hug the whitewater rivers weaving through these Iron-rich hills. Dark grey, rust-streaked cliffs loom against the road and point downhill to nearby lakes. I’m wearing a warm green jacket and a new pair of boots. It may be the middle of July, but when you’re camping rugged in Finland, you expect cold nights, rainy days, and limited human contact. Are you ready to leap into the unknown, camping where none of your friends have ever visited? There’s no cell reception here. No electricity even. Very few people. In fact, I saw only one person the whole week I camped in Finland, except when I was sitting in my car recharging my camera. Despite the similarities in the landscape, this is not the Finland you are thinking of. This is Finland, Minnesota. It is the quietest place I’ve ever camped. It may be the place I feel most at peace in the world. Finland State Forest in Northeast Minnesota is over 100,000 acres of private and public woodland for wildlife preservation, cheap camping ($3-17 per night,) trout fishing, and timber production. Cool morning fog rolls between these evergreen hills. Two hours from Ontario, Canada, campers in Finland may want a jacket at night even during the summer. The narrow pine, ash, spruce, and birch reach high into the sky in shades from black to green to white. Black-throated warblers whistle. White-throated sparrows cheep and chirp, and woodpeckers knock trees hard enough to wake me from my nap. Last summer I surprised a ruffed grouse as I walked the muddy path to the nearest rapids. It flapped its wings in an ostentatious display of irritation. On drier days, you might even meet a porcupine marching down the path. There’s no electricity in the forest, so if you plan to take pictures, bring an extra battery for your camera or reserve a camping site within easy hiking distance of your car. If it rains, be prepared for a few of the paths to be washed out. Your campsite will be safe, but the lowlands between the hills tend to flood for a few hours. You may not be within reach of a water pump or an outhouse until things dry out, so bring an extra day’s water and personal essentials with you. After a few days of this intense beauty, I sometimes need a break from the rugged conditions and want to return to civilization. Perhaps you will too. Or perhaps you just want to enjoy all the scenery the region has to offer. Finland State Forest is an hour and a half from Duluth, Minnesota, a cozy college town on the coast of Lake Superior, the largest lake in North America. In Duluth, you can visit a variety of restaurants, stay in nice hotels, and lounge by the lighthouse on the beach. They have a very nice aquarium for kids. You may also travel up the North Shore of Lake Superior to stay in one of the bed and breakfasts or tour a local brewery. I recommend Castle Danger Brewery. There are also some nice bars and restaurants only a few minutes away from Duluth in Superior, Wisconsin. Finland State Forest in Northeast Minnesota is a quiet, rugged retreat filled with trees, birds, and rusty rivers straight out of an Iron Range tall tale. Hide your food in case of bears and listen closely. The rivers and trees may be calling you like the call to me. Or maybe that’s just a woodpecker.