The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources seeks public input on proposed designated trail revisions within the Zumbro Bottoms Management Unit of the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest in Wabasha County.
Draft recommendations aim to improve long-term trail sustainability and overall management of Zumbro Bottoms’ 45.1-mile designated trail system. Proposed changes include designating approximately 1.7 miles of equestrian trail and undesignating approximately 5.7 miles of unused or unsustainable existing equestrian trail segments. The draft proposals reflect prior public engagement and technical review.
The Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest is classified as “limited” with respect to motor vehicle use, meaning motor vehicles may only operate on forest roads and trails designated open to their use. The DNR does not propose to change the limited forest classification, and the Zumbro Bottoms Management Unit does not include any designated off-highway vehicle trails.
As part of the public input process, DNR staff will host a public meeting to share these proposed changes and receive public comments from 5-7 p.m. on June 25, 2026, at Wabasha-Kellogg Public School, 2113 Hiawatha Drive NE, Wabasha.
The public may also submit written comments through 4:30 p.m. on June 29, 2026, by:
- Email to [email protected]
- Mail to Molly Lou Pintok, Minnesota DNR, Parks and Trails Division, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155.
DNR will review and consider comments received during the public comment period prior to making a final decision on the proposed designation trail revisions.
Additional information is available at mndnr.gov/forest-trail-planning or by contacting Molly Lou Pintok at 651-259-5095.