Leaf River

Minnesota's ghost towns are lumber camps and Iron Range locations, most of them already half-digested by the north woods.

Leaf River Township is a township in Wadena County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 473 at the 2020 census. Leaf River Township was named after the Leaf River.

The on-the-ground condition of Leaf River is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Leaf River is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Leaf River is roughly 46.4942, -95.1014 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.