Best Picks for Recreation

Maps are available for many state forests, showing trails and other facilities. For maps and more information, contact a DNR forestry office or the DNR Information Center, listed on page 65. State forest information also appears on the DNR web site: www.dnr.state.mn.us.

Fall Color Touring

Finland State Forest off the North Shore, follow the Baptism River valley north and east of Finland.

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest south of Red Wing, spectacular bluffs on the Mississippi River, follow Highway 61 from Red Wing to La Crescent.

Savanna State Forest Hay Lake Campground 20 miles east of Hill City, remote forest roads in mixed hardwood forests, off the beaten path.

Fishing

Kabetogama State Forest Woodenfrog Campground 25 miles southeast of International Falls on Lake Kabetogama, adjacent to Voyageurs National Park.

Huntersville State Forest campground 20 miles southeast of Park Rapids, fishing on the Crow Wing River.

Grand Portage State Forest Esther Lake campsites 18 miles off the North Shore from Hovland, remote sites on a designated trout lake, close to Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Birdwatching

Huntersville State Forest Shell City Campground nine miles east of Menahga on the Shell River, 150 miles of logging trails with water and land access to diverse forest types.

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest Kruger Campground five miles west of Wabasha on the Zumbro River, access to southeastern hardwoods and meadows.

St. Croix State Forest Boulder Campground 35 miles east and north of Hinckley on Rock Lake, access to central hardwood forests and boreal lakes and bogs.

Motorized Trail Riding

Foot Hills State Forest Spider Lake trails 10 miles west of Pine River, 30 miles of multiuse ATV, OHM, and ORV trails.

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest Snake Creek Unit four miles south and west of Kellogg, 14 miles of ATV and OHM trails.

Nemadji State Forest Gafvert Campground four miles south and east of Nickerson, campsites with direct access to dozens of miles of ATV and OHM trails.

Snowmobiling

Beltrami Island State Forest near Warroad, 138 miles of groomed trail, connected to Manitoba and Ontario systems.

Finland State Forest off the North Shore at Finland, connected to North Shore State Trail.

Nemadji State Forest east of Moose Lake, includes parts of Willard Munger and Gandy Dancer state trails, connected to Wisconsin snowmobile trails.

Cross-Country Skiing

Fond du Lac State Forest 30 miles west of Duluth, 18 miles of groomed trails.

George Washington State Forest Thistledew Ski Trails 24 miles east of Effie, 11 miles of groomed trails.

Land O' Lakes State Forest Washburn Lake Ski Trails 25 miles north of Crosby, 11 miles of groomed trails.

Hunting

Beltrami Island State Forest Faunce Campground 12 miles south of Williams, remote wooded sites, access to uncrowded forest lands.

Paul Bunyan State Forest Gulch Lake Campground and Recreation Area eight miles west and south of La Porte, nonmotorized hunter/walking trails and miles of forest roads.

George Washington State Forest Buttonbox Lake Campground eight miles northwest of Togo, miles of forest roads and logging trails.

Horseback Riding

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest Zumbro Bottoms Horse Campground 10 miles south of Lake City, 46 miles of trails, Zumbro River bluff country.

St. Croix State Forest Tamarack Horse Campground 40 miles east and north of Hinckley, 25 miles of trails, Tamarack and St. Croix rivers.

Pillsbury State Forest Walter Stark Horse Campground 20 miles west of Brainerd, 27 miles of trails, Brainerd lakes country.

Mountain Biking

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest Bronk Unit eight miles west of Winona, Plowline Trail, six miles of trail, challenging riding.

Birch Lakes State Forest Birch Lake Campground 10 miles northeast of Melrose, camp and ride six miles of forest trails, moderate difficulty.

Land O' Lakes State Forest Clint Converse Campground, four miles north and west of Outing, camp and ride six miles of easy to moderate trail.

Drive-in Camping

Finland State Forest Finland Campground eight miles off the North Shore at Finland, 39 campsites on the Baptism River.

Paul Bunyan State Forest Mantrap Campground 14 miles north and east of Park Rapids, 38 campsites, swimming beach, fishing on designated muskie lake.

Crow Wing State Forest Greer Lake Campground 18 miles north of Crosby, 29 campsites, swimming beach, fishing, nature trail.

Berry Picking

Beltrami Island State Forest Blueberry Hill Campground four miles west of Williams, jack pine and blueberry area.

General C.C. Andrews State Forest Willow River Campground near the town of Willow River, access to pine stands and meadows.

George Washington State Forest Owen Lake Campground, 19 miles south and east of Bigfork, in mixed pine and aspen area, miles of trails.