Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary SNA
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1,580 Acres Located in Itasca State Park, 20 miles N of Park Rapids. Sanctuary can be accessed along Wilderness Drive. Clearwater County Twp 143N Rng 36W Sec 03-04 & 08-11 & 15-17 Type: Coniferous Forest ECS Subsection: Pine Moraines & Outwash Plains |
Description:
Through a 1938 agreement between the Minnesota Academy of Science and the Conservation Commission, the Itasca Wilderness Sanctuary became the first site in Minnesota set aside for research and interpretation of its natural attributes. The Sanctuary contains a large virgin stand of white and red pine, mostly 100 to 300 years old. It provides habitat for two of the state's rarer plant species, bog adder's mouth and matricary grape-fern, and two rare bird species, the bald eagle and northern goshawk. The Bohall Wilderness Trail leads to a lovely overlook on Bohall Lake. The best time to visit is when woodland wildflowers are blooming, though a walk through the majestic pines is rewarding any time of the year.
