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NE Minnesota State Forests

Bear Island

  • Location: St. Louis and Lake Counties
  • Features: Taconite State Trail, Bear Head Lake State Park, Soudan Underground Mine State Park
  • Map
  • More: “Bear Island State forest is adjacent to the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area and surrounded by the towns of Ely, Babbitt,Tower, and Soudan. Bear Island State Forest is home to Bear Island Lake a large, sprawling lake sandwiched between the Vermilion and Mesabi ranges. The lake is full of arms, points and islands, not to mention a healthy supply of walleyes. The 2,351-acre lake has three accesses, two at the northeastern corner and one on the southwestern shore. The forest is largely white and red pine, balsam fir, white spruce, and aspen-birch with rolling topography. Several small lakes dot the landscape along scenic trails.” -MN DNR

Burntside

  • Location: St. Louis County
  • Features: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Bear Head Lake State Park, Taconite State Trail
  • Map
  • More: “Burntside State Forest is located in the northeastern corner of St. Louis County and northern Lake County. The forest lies on the southwestern border of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and more than 80 percent on it is within the boundaries of the Superior National Forest , making it subject to U.S. Forest Service management rules. Burntside State Forest also include a 10,000-acre Burntside Lake which has six public accesses. This lake is renowned for its big lake trout and walleye, it supports one of the largest populations of Minnesota’s state bird, the loon, in the state.” -MN DNR

Cloquet Valley

  • Location: St. Louis and Lake Counties
  • Features: Cloquet River State Water Trail, Lieuna WMA, Indian Lake Campground
  • Map
  • More: “Cloquet Valley State Forest is located in southern St. Louis County about 20 miles north of Duluth. Major access routes include St. Louis County highways 4 and 44 north of Duluth, and St. Louis County Highway 52 east of Cotton. Cloquet Valley State Forest offers camping at Indian Lake Campground located on Indian Lake which features 25 drive-in sites, one group camp and access to fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing, boating, and snowmobiling. Three segments of the Cloquet River State Water Trail, totaling 33 river miles, weave through the forest.” -MN DNR

Finland

Fond du Lac

  • Location: St. Louis and Carlton Counties
  • Features: Kettle Lake WMA, Mervin WMA, Sawyer WMA, Jay Cooke State Park, Fond du Lac State Forest OHV Trails
  • Map
  • More: “Hikers and cross-country skiers can find great scenery with moderate trail variation. Trails are easy enough to bring your beginner friends, challenging enough for a good workout. Other recreational opportunities within the forest include canoeing and riding on Fond du Lac State Forest OHV Trails. Fond du Lac State Forest is a wetland/forest complex with several large, shallow wild rice lakes and extensive areas of marsh and wooded swamp. A large portion of the land that is now Fond du Lac State Forest was swept by the great Cloquet Fire of 1918 and was periodically burned after that to create or maintain clearings until the 1930s.” -MN DNR

Grand Portage

  • Location: Cook County
  • Features: Devilfish Lake Campground, Esther Lake Campground, McFarland Lake Campground, Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Spring Beauty Northern Hardwoods SNA, Hovland Woods SNA, Myhr Creek Ridge SNA
  • Map
  • More: “Grand Portage State Forest is located in Cook County about 10 miles northeast of Grand Marias. If you appreciate smaller campgrounds, Grand Portage State Forest offers you three campgrounds—Devilfish Lake, Esther Lake, and McFarland Lake—has five or fewer campsites. The forest offers a total of nine water accesses, including McFarland Lake, located at the end of the Arrowhead Trail, serves as an entry point to the eastern edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Parking lots are available. Grand Portage State Forest also offers great connections to other recreational opportunities such as the Border Route Trail, Grand Portage Trail in the Grand Portage Indian Reservation, and Judge C.R. Magney State Park.” -MN DNR

Insula Lake

  • Location: Lake County
  • Features: Superior National Forest
  • More: “This state forest is located entirely in the Superior National Forest on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at the south end of Insula Lake, making is subject to U.S. Forest Service management rules.” -MN DNR

Lake Isabella

  • Location: Lake County
  • Features: Superior National Forest, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
  • More: “Lake Isabella State Forest almost covered entirely by Lake Isabella and located in the Superior National Forest and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, making it subject to U.S. Forest Service management rules. There are no campgrounds within the forest. However, dispersed camping is allowed and campgrounds are available in the Superior National Forest.” -MN DNR

Lake Jeannette

  • Location: St. Louis County
  • Features: Superior National Forest, Lake Jeanette Campground
  • More: “This state forest is located in the Superior National Forest and surrounds Lake Jeanette in St. Louis County, making it subject to U.S. Forest Service management rules. Camping is available at Lake Jeanette Campground in the Superior National Forest. This campground offers camping beside a glacier which carved Lake Jeanette. Each and every site has a view of the Lake. The campground is only lightly wooded with spruce and has an open, spacious feeling. This is a sweet, picturesque, little campground well-worth the long drive. The two walk-in tent sites in a stand of Jack pines are perhaps the prettiest in the Forest.” -MN DNR

Nemadji

Pat Bayle

  • Location: Cook County
  • Features: Twin Lakes Campground
  • More:  ”Pat Bayle is located in the Superior National Forest and near the North Shore State Trail. Many adventurous outdoor opportunities are available to visitors in the summer. You can hike Eagle Mountain, the state’s highest point at 2,301 feet, hike other designated trails along the byway, bike the trails or canoe down the border lakes through the woods. Winter provides chances to see more wildlife, such as deer and moose that frequent the byway, and several different species of birds. Other winter activities in the area include snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dog-sledding, and ice-fishing. If relaxation is what you are looking for, visitors can look for birds and other wildlife, fish the many surrounding lakes, enjoy a night camping at Twin Lakes Campground or just appreciate nature by driving along the byway. There is something for everyone to enjoy, it’s really worth the trip.” -MN DNR

Sturgeon River

  • Location: St. Louis and Itasca Counties
  • Features: Little Fork River State Water Trail, Taconite State Trail, Superior National Forest, McCarthy Beach State Park, Peloquin WMA, Arrowhead State Trail
  • Map
  • More: “View beautiful second-growth northern forest as well as lots of wildlife. Bald eagles, hairy wood peckers, kingfishers, wood ducks, beavers, and river otters all can be found within this forest. Mountain bikers can take their pick between Taconite and Arrowhead state trails to ride through upland portions of this state forest or if you prefer the water, you can take a trip on Little Fork River State Water Trail, the choice is yours. There are no campgrounds within the forest. However, camping is available at McCarthy Beach State Park or in the George Washington and Kabetogama state forests.” -MN DNR

Whiteface River

  • Location: St. Louis County
  • Features: Little Whiteface River WMA
  • Map
  • More: “The Little Whiteface River Wildlife Area (WMA) borders the north side of the forest. This WMA is mostly wet, lowland area and is difficult to access. There are no campgrounds within the forest. However, dispersed camping is allowed and campgrounds are available both at Savanna Portage State Park or Indian lake Campground located in the Cloquet Valley State Forest.” -MN DNR

Northern Wisconsin State Forests

Brule River

  • Location: Douglas County
  • Features: Brule River, Check out the Brule River Visitor Guide for more information
  • Map 1/Map 2
  • More: “Established in 1907, the 47,000-acre Brule River State Forest is rich in natural and cultural history. Located in eastern Douglas County in northwestern Wisconsin, the property is approximately 30 miles north to south, containing the entire 44 miles of the Bois Brule River. The Brule River State Forest offers exceptional recreational opportunities, including wildlife viewing, five State Natural Areas, a 16-mile stretch of the North Country National Scenic Trail, eight miles of frontage on Lake Superior, the Bois Brule State Fish Hatchery, and much more.” -WI DNR

Flambeau River

  • Location: Price County
  • Features: North and South Forks of the Flambeau River
  • Map
  • More: “The Flambeau River State Forest was officially established in 1930. Beginning with 3,600 acres in public ownership, the forest has since grown to include 90,000 acres. Northern hardwood species such as sugar maple, red maple, yellow birch and white ash dominate the forest, which creates a spectacular fall display. The North and South Forks of the Flambeau River combine within the forest to provide over 75 miles of nearly uninterrupted natural beauty and whitewater excitement. The river is a major life force of the forest and along its tree-lined shores one can see deer, wolves, raccoon, black bear, otter, bald eagles and ospreys. The forest offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Canoeing is the most popular activity on the forest. Different portions of the river offer varying degrees of difficulty. The North Fork is ideal for the novice, while South Fork is for the advanced paddler. Musky, sturgeon, trout, walleye, bass, and panfish can be caught from the river as well as the lakes in the forest. The forest is open to public hunting for bear, waterfowl, deer and grouse, just to name a few.” -WI DNR

Governor Knowles

  • Location: Burnett County
  • Features: Fish Lake Wildlife Area, Crex Meadow Wildlife Area, St. Croix River
  • Map
  • More: “The Governor Knowles State Forest acts as a resource protection zone for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The forest is 55 miles long and up to two miles wide. It encompasses 32,500 acres, of which 19,343 acres are currently state-owned. More than 100,000 acres of county forests and two large wildlife areas, the Fish Lake Wildlife Area and Crex Meadow Wildlife Area, border the forest.  The St. Croix River winds the canoeist through a wild and scenic countryside. This is an excellent way to view geologic formations left by two ice ages. Wildlife is the focus of attention for both the hunter and sightseer. Hunters will find whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, black bear, snowshoe hare, squirrel and woodcock on the forest. For visitors more interested in watching wildlife, the varied habitat on the forest afford opportunities to see a wide variety of animals, including sharp-tailed grouse, common yellow throat, bald eagles, pocket gopher, mink and muskrat.” -WI DNR

Northern Highland-American Legion

  • Location: Vilas, Oneida and Iron counties
  • Features: Check out the Visitor Newsletter
  • Map
  • More: “Established in 1925 to protect the headwaters of the Wisconsin, Flambeau and Manitowish rivers, the Northern Highland-American Legion (NH-AL) State Forest occupies more than 225,000 acres in Vilas, Oneida and Iron counties. The NH-AL State Forest is important to many people because it has the unique ability to meet many different needs. The NH-AL State Forest provides employment and supports the economic well-being of rural and urban communities alike through the production of forest products we use daily, and recreation and tourism generated by the property’s fantastic forests and lakes. The forest also offers a diverse array of recreational opportunities, such as camping, canoeing, hiking, bird watching, snowmobiling, biking and hunting, as well as the chance to simply sit quietly and enjoy its natural beauty. In addition, the forest cleans our air and water, provides habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species, and helps us sustain our quality of life.” -WI DNR