In the warmer months of the year fishing and boating are popular avocations for local residents as well as the visiting "weekend warriors".  Located 20 miles from some of the best fishing in the world, on Lake of the Woods, Roseau provides a great opportunity for catching trophy size walleyes, northern pike, small mouth bass, crappie, sauger, and muskies.  You can also take in some of the most beautiful scenery in the state.

Roseau is also the gateway to Minnesota's Northwest Angle on Lake of the Woods.  The northernmost point of the lower 48 states, the Northwest Angle invites you to a picturesque vacation on the big lake.  Stop in Roseau along the way and stay a day or two before venturing into the deep woods.  In the winter, when the boats are stored away, ice houses and snowmobiles create cities on the big lake for some of the best ice fishing around.

Other fishing hot spots around the region include Hayes Lake State Park's 187 acre reservoir offering bass, bluegill, crappie, and northern pike. Anglers commonly catch walleye, sauger, northern pike, freshwater drum, and catfish from the Roseau River, a tributary to the Red River.  There is public access to the southern stretch of the Roseau River at the Roseau City Park and 7 miles northwest of Roseau is access to the northern leg of the river.  Bemis Hill Creek, 20 miles southwest of Warroad, is stocked annually with brook trout.  Tomato Creek crosses MN Highway 11 on Blueberry Hill between Roosevelt and Williams.  Brook trout are stocked here annually for the avid trout fisherman. Pitt Grade Trout Stream is stocked with cacheable sized rainbow, brown and brook trout.

Roseau is at the juncture of three major ecosystems-the tallgrass prairie, the boreal forest and the aspen parklands. In this area there is an abundance of public land with significant amounts of wildlife, especially birds.

Over 250 species of birds have been recorded in this area including some highly sought after birds like: the Great Gray Owl, Gyrfalcon, Boreal Owl, Yellow Rail, Snowy Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Spruce Grouse, Three-toed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, and the Connecticut Warbler.

More than two million orchids cover the 75-mile "wildflower corridor" along the Borderland Trail on Highway 11 from Greenbush to Baudette, running through Roseau. Over 800,000 of these orchids are the Showy Lady Slipper, the Minnesota state flower.

A wildflower celebration in June pays tribute to this colorful splendor. Pick up self-guided wildflower maps from the area information centers. In addition to wildflowers, blueberries, juneberries, and wild strawberries grow in abundance along the roadways and forest areas. You'll have to fight the bears for them!!