Activities abound Camping in State www.mndnr.gov/state_forests in a state forest. Forests... Choose your fun: Your Way Minnesota There are four different ways of • Hiking camping in a state forest. State • Mountain biking 1. Individual Campsites- campsites designated for individuals or single Forest • Horseback riding families. The sites are designed to furnish • Geocaching only the basic needs of the camper. Most consist of a cleared area, fire ring, table, • Canoeing vault toilets, garbage cans, and drinking Recreation water. Campsites are all on a first-come, • Snowmobiling first-served basis. Fees are collected at the sites. Guide • Cross-County Skiing 2. Group Campsites- campsites designated • Biking for larger groups.The sites are designed to furnish only the basic needs of the • OHV riding camper. Most consist of a cleared area, • Camping fire ring, table, vault toilets, garbage cans, and drinking water. Group sites are all on • Fishing a first-come, first-served basis. Fees are collected at the sites. • Hunting 3. Horse Campsites- campsites where • Berry picking horses are allowed. The sites are designed to furnish only the basic needs of the • Birding camper. Most consist of a cleared area, fire ring, table, vault toilets, garbage cans, • Wildlife viewing and drinking water. In addition, these • Wildflower viewing campsites also may have picket lines and compost bins for manure disposal. The State Forest Recreation Guide is published by the Minnesota Department of Campsites are all on a first-come, first- Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, 500 Lafaytte Road, St.Paul, Mn 55155- 4039. Phone 651-259-5600. Written by Kim Lanahan-Lahti; Graphic Design by served basis. Fees are collected at the sites. Steve Seefeldt. ©2009 Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Minnesota 4. Dispersed Camping- camping outside Department of Natural Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, public assistance status, the designated campsites and campgrounds age, sexual orientation, disability, or activity on behalf of a local human rights on state forest land. There are no furnished commission. Discrimination inquiries should be sent to Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4049; or the Equal Opportunity Office, amenities. These campsites are free and Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. no permit is required. Please practice the This information is available in an alternative format upon request. “leave no trace” camping and pack out Printed on 50 percent recycled, elemental chlorine-free paper containing a minimum what you packed in. of 25 percent postconsumer waste and manufactured using an acid-free process. This poster is printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which ensures that the paper came from wood grown in an environmentally responsible, socially acceptable, and economically viable forest. Northwest Angle Minnesota Lost River Lake of Woods Beltrami Island Pine Smokey Bear state forests Island Kabetogama Lake Jeanette Red Lake are open for Koochiching Insula Lake Grand Portage Burntside Pat Bayle Big Fork Sturgeon Lake River Isabella Bear Island Blackduck George all to enjoy Mississippi Buena Washington Finland Headwaters Vista Bowstring Welsh Whiteface Towering pines and fish-filled lakes. Family-friendly White Earth Lake Battleground River Remer Cloquet Valley campgrounds with beaches and hiking trails nearby. Land Golden Two Inlets Paul O’ Lakes Anniversary Miles of trails to accommodate every kind of activity: Bunyan Hill Smoky Hills Badoura River hiking, hunting, mountain biking, OHV riding, Savanna Huntersville Foot Emily cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, Fond du Lac Hills Crow Wing Lyons and more. What are you waiting for? Minnesota 94 Waukenabo Solana state forests are open to all to enjoy - whatever your Pillsbury General Wealthwood Andrews Nemadji location or vacation destination. D.A.R. Map Key Snake River Natural Communities 35 St. Croix Coniferous Forest Rum River Chengwatana Admission: Free! Birch Lakes Deciduous Forest Do you know Minnesota is the 16th most forested Sand Dunes state in the nation? Do you know nearly 4 million Prairie Grassland acres in 58 state forests are open to explore for free? 94 Tallgrass Aspen That’s right — wherever you are, you can find a state Parkland forest nearby that’s open to explore at no cost to you. No vehicle permit required. State Forest State Forest with designated campsites 35 90 Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood 90 M=Managed Forest roads, trails, and nondesignated access routes are open to recreational motor vehicle use unless posted closed. No vehicle use off road, trail, or access route is permitted. For hunting/trapping exceptions, see hunting regulations at www.mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting. L=Limited Forest roads are open to motor vehicle use unless posted closed. Trails and nondesignated routes are closed to motor vehicle use, except where designated and signed to permit specific motor vehicle use. No vehicle use off road or trail is permitted. For hunting/trapping exceptions, see hunting regulations at www.mndnr.gov/regulations/hunting. C=Closed Forest roads are open to motor vehicles licensed for highway use. No OHVs are permitted, except that OHVs may operate on frozen public waters (e.g., across lakes for ice fishing). Areas closed to motor vehicle use by statute or regulations (e.g., state forest lands within the BWCAW) are automatically classified as “closed.” The hunting/trapping exceptions do not apply in “closed” forests. FOREST 1 Room for Everyone Almost one-third of Minnesota’s land area is covered with forest, providing unlimited opportunities to pursue a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, picnicking, berry picking, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, mushroom hunting, wildflower identification, nature photography, and hunting to name a few. State forests offer opportunities for camping, including 20 campgrounds, 18 day-use areas, and seven horse campgrounds. No reservations are needed for state forest recreational facilities; camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. State forests also serve as a great starting point for visiting various state parks, state trails, and state canoe routes. State Forests are here for you to use and enjoy on your schedule. 2 DECIDUOUS Minnesota State Forests Minnesota is home to 16.3 million acres of forest land. Much of this land is located within the boundaries of Minnesota’s 58 state forests. The first state forest was established in 1900, when Governor John Pillsbury donated 1,000 acres of land in Cass County to the state, and the land was designated Pillsbury State Forest. Our newest state forest, the 15,000- acre Waukenabo State Forest in north-central Minnesota, was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2000. Land ownership within Minnesota’s state forests is varied and includes state, county, municipal, tribal, and private holdings. FOREST 3 Contents State Forests by Biome • Deciduous forest .........................................6 • Coniferous forest .......................................12 Special Features • Horse Pass .................................................10 • Ski Pass .....................................................39 • State Parks and Other Getaways ...............46 • State Forest Grid .......................................52 For More Information DNR Information www.mndnr.gov/contact 1-888-MINNDNR (1-888-646-6367) Toll Free TTY: 1-866-672-8213 Toll Free International calls: 1-317-249-9327 Minnesota State Forests www.mndnr.gov/state_forests Minnesota State Parks www.mndnr.gov/state_parks Minnesota State Trails www.mndnr.gov/state_trails Minnesota State Water Trails www.mndnr.gov/watertrails Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs) www.mndnr.gov/snas Minnesota Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) www.mndnr.gov/wmas Explore Minnesota Tourism www.exploreminnesota.com 1-888-TOURISM (1-888-868-7476) Toll Free 651-296-5029 in the Twin Cities area Minnesota Historical Society www.mnhs.org 1-800-657-3773 Toll Free 651-259-3000 in the Twin Cities area Minnesota Forest History Center www.mnhs.org/places/sites/fhc 218-327-4482 4 DECIDUOUS Biomes Information and Guide Key Biomes are natural communities where certain kinds of plants and animals can be found, based on the type of soil and climate. Minnesota is home to four biomes: coniferous forest, deciduous forest, tallgrass aspen parkland, and prairie grassland. Each biome offers unique experiences, from abundant spring flowers in the prairie to magnificent fall colors in deciduous forests. Symbols used throughout this publication indicate the biome represented by each state forest. For more information on Minnesota’s biomes, visit www.mndnr.gov/biomes. Guide Key Prairie Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Tallgrass Aspen Parkland FOREST 5 Remember what Smokey Bear says— Only you can prevent wildfires. As a state forest visitor, you may have campfires in designated fire WILDFIRESCOST rings at campsites or in an area cleared of combustible materials 5 feet in all directions YOU! around the fire. All fires must be 3 feet or less in diameter. Building and Putting Out a Campfire • Think before you strike. Check the burning restrictions for your state forest before lighting a campfire: www.mndnr.gov/forestry/fire. • Clear all combustible material 5 feet in all directions around the fire. Select a level spot a safe distance away from trees, overhead