BIG FORK STATE FOREST 74,817 ACRES • ESTABLISHED 1963 FOREST LANDSCAPE: Located between Scenic State Park and Northome, Big Fork State Forests feature boreal forests of pine, spruce, and aspen. Many lakes and streams dot the landscape, including picturesque rapids along the Big Fork River. A WORKING FOREST: From year to year, you may see changes in this forest. The DNR manages the trees, water, and wildlife in state forests to keep them healthy and meet recreational, environmental, and economic goals. Trees are harvested to make a variety of products, such as lumber and building materials, pulp for making paper, pallets, fencing, and telephone poles. Through careful planning, harvesting, and planting, land managers work to improve wildlife habitat. The DNR manages state forests for everyone to use, while preventing wildfires and ensuring forests continue to keep air and water clean. HISTORY: After the last ice age, glacial Lake Agassiz inundated the area that is today’s Big Fork State Forest. As the shallow lake slowly drained to the northwest, receding waters deposited clayey to loamy soils. Today, the landscape is mostly flat to slightly rolling. The southern part of the forest, east of Wirt, is hillier, with more lakes. A succession of Woodland Indians occupied the region for at least 2,500 years. The Dakota (or Sioux) inhabited the area until the Ojibwe (Chippewa) arrived. In the late 1800s, a group of Chippewa/Bois Forte lived along the Big Fork River in bark wigwams. Logging between the late 1880s and early 1900s profoundly transformed the area, as millions of board feet of pine logs were floated downstream (north) along the Big Fork to lumber mills in Ontario. Today’s forests represent later growth. TREES: Look for stands of white pine, red pine, and white spruce. In boggy areas, black spruce, fir, cedar, and tamarack are common. Aspen, birch, and jack pine grow in other upland sites. Oak and maple are also present. WILDLIFE: Timber wolves, bobcats, beaver, otter, bald eagle, osprey. Big game include black bear, moose, and white-tailed deer. Ruffed grouse, trumpeter swans, and many species of ducks are common. PUT THIS MAP ON YOUR DEVICE Download this map to your mobile phone or tablet to track your current location. Visit mndnr.gov/geopdf for more information. The information in this map is dynamic and may change over time. The Minnesota DNR is not liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained. The data and related graphics are not legal documents, and are protected by copyright. B&B CONNECTION ATV TRAIL WMA HIGHLIGHT: DISHPAN WMA Running just outside of the southeast The 1,555-acre Dishpan WMA has 6.5 miles corner of the Big Fork State Forest, this of hunter walking trails with opportunities popular trail connect 33 remote miles for trapping and harvesting wild rice. It is BIG FORK between the towns of Bigfork and Balsam. adjacent to the Lost Forest Scientific and http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/ohv/ Natural Area and the “Lost Forty” stand of bigfork_balsam.pdf old -growth pines. CHIPPEWA NATIONAL FOREST ROADS AND TRAILS FISHING • Detailed U.S. Forest Service maps showing Anglers may find sturgeon, muskie, walleye, allowed uses on Chippewa National small mouth bass, and northern pike. There MAP AND GUIDE Forest roads and trails are available on are no special provisions or restrictions on https://go.usa.gov/xmu3p fishing in state forests. You must have the proper license and abide by the same rules • ATVs and OHVs are not allowed for and seasons as anywhere else in Minnesota. cross -country travel, including retrieving game or accessing tree stands. Avoid spreading invasive organisms such as zebra mussel larvae or spiny waterfleas by not transporting lake or river water, including in CAMPING TRAILS HUNTING AND TRAPPING bait buckets. Pack out and dispose unused bait Dispersed camping with no amenities is All trails and roads are open to hiking, Big Fork State Forest provide habitat for and live worms in trash containers where they allowed on state forest land, without fee. horseback riding, and off-road biking, unless hunting and trapping. In the appropriate can’t reach water or soil. Follow general state forest rules. posted closed. Off-trail hiking, cross-country season, licensed hunters can hunt for • Visit mndnr.gov/fishing for up-to-date Two boat-in campsites along the Big Fork skiing, and snowshoeing are also allowed. white -tailed deer, grouse, and other game. mndnr.gov/hunting regulations. River, Harrison Landing and Little Minnow, LOST FORTY HIKING TRAIL — have a fire ring, toilet, and picnic table. • Visit mndnr.gov/lakefind for current U.S. FOREST SERVICE FIREARMS AND BOWS information on specific lakes. Please practice the “Leave No Trace” This one-mile, self-guided trail winds through Firearms and bows must be unloaded and camping ethic. 144 acres of towering, old-growth red and cased while in or within 200 feet of a state white pines untouched by loggers. The recreation area (campground, day-use area, NEARBY RECREATION SCENIC STATE PARK trailhead is off the parking lot on Lost 40 Road. parking area, boat launch, etc.) or 450 feet LOST FORTY SCIENTIFIC AND Just east of the forest, Scenic State Park of a national forest recreation area. Exception: MAP FOREST STATE offers several camping opportunities, including Great Minnesota Ski Pass required on all ski NATURAL AREA During seasons open for hunting, a person The Lost Forty SNA owes its old-growth pine FORK BIG sites with electric hook-ups, group sites, cabin, trails. mndnr.gov/licenses/skipass may carry an unloaded, uncased firearm or forest to a surveying error that occurred and canoe campsites. mndnr.gov/state_parks SNOWMOBILE TRAILS strung bow from a forest recreation area to during the Public Lands Survey in 1882. As NOMA LAKE CAMPGROUND — The Caldwell/Blue Ox and West Bowstring hunt outside of the area. the story goes, loggers missed the pines U.S. FOREST SERVICE trails run just outside the forest. Snowmobile • Cutting shooting lanes is not allowed. because surveyors mistakenly mapped the trails (state trails and grant-in-aid) are open area as Coddington Lake. The main feature This campground has 14 sites surrounded by • Building permanent structures, including and groomed between December 1 and April 1 of this SNA is nearly 32 acres of old-growth a beautiful stand of paper birch and white deer stands, is prohibited. pine. Noma Lake offers good fishing for bass, depending on snow conditions. Use caution white pine-red pine forest estimated to at all times as logging operations often share • For regulations about hunting, trapping, FOR MORE INFORMATION GENERAL STATE FOREST RULES northern pike, and panfish. A county boat be between 230 and 240 years old. An Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Whether you are camping, hunting, riding, geocaching, skiing, or gathering berries, take care to the trails. Trails are marked with orange firearms, bows, limits, seasons, and deer ramp is located at the south end of the lake. interpretive trail runs through the site, which [email protected] leave the forest in good condition. Fishing platforms and picnic area are available. directional signs. stands on state-managed land, visit is also an “Audubon Important Bird Area” and mnndr.gov/regulations/hunting 651-296-6157 | 888-646-6367 • Forest lands are open at all times unless otherwise posted. No reservations needed. Fee charged. The Marcell Snowmobile Trail passes the “Watchable Wildlife Viewing Area.” To prevent TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) southeast corner of the Big Fork State Forest • For regulations about shooting on federally the spread of invasive species, please clean • Dispersed camping is allowed on state forest land at least 1 mile outside of campground areas www.fs.usda.gov/chippewa 651-296-5484 | 800-657-3929 and runs north to Effie, east to Scenic State managed land, visit fs.fed.us/visit/know- shoes and gear before entering. for no fee. BACKCOUNTRY CAMPSITES — Park, or south to Grand Rapids. before-you-go/shooting DNR TIP LINE (Turn in Poachers) • On state forest land, summer camping is limited to 14 days, and winter camping is limited to U.S. FOREST SERVICE 800-652-9093 • Snowmobiles must be registered 21 days between the second Sunday in September and the first Saturday in May. For rules about Some campsites are accessible by foot or mndnr.gov/regulations/snowmobile camping on federal land within the Chippewa National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/chippewa canoe only. Camping on National Forest EMERGENCY SERVICE - DIAL 911 • Detailed trail maps are on • Pack out what you pack in. Remove all personal property. Do not burn litter or garbage. Service Lands is limited to 14 days in one ITASCA COUNTY SHERIFF location. For more information about camping mndnr.gov/state_trails/list.html 218-326-3477 • Don’t leave equipment unattended for more than 24 hours. on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service, RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY AREAS WITH LIMITATIONS Many state forests contain private These areas are designated to protect • Building any permanent structures, including deer stands, is prohibited. visit www.fs.usda.gov/chippewa OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE (OHV) TRAIL NEAREST HOSPITAL SERVICES CLASSIFICATION: MANAGED land within their boundaries, so know unique natural resources and provide other Bigfork Valley Hospital • Use firewood purchased from vendors who harvested firewood in the same county as the state All trails on state-managed lands are classified where you are. Watch for posted “No non-motorized recreation opportunities. 258 Pine Tree Dr. forest or harvested in Minnesota and certified by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture or BOATING regarding motor vehicles. The Big Fork State Trespassing” and “No Hunting” signs and Motorized vehicles may not operate Bigfork, MN 56628 USDA.