Minnesota is blessed to have 58 state forests with nearly 4 million acres of an amazing variety of scenery. And it’s all free! From the Mississippi River to the Northwoods, there is something for everyone! Rather than spending all your time at the crowded state parks, try a trip through the forests and explore the real MN backcountry. Here is a just a sampling of what Minnesota’s State Forests have to offer.
- Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
Flickr/mara
Flickr/GSankary This southeastern MN forest spans 1,016,204 acres and contains several trails, campgrounds, and recreational areas along the Mississippi bluffs.
- Sand Dunes State Forest
Kyle Ensrude
Flickr/USFWS Midwest Wrapped around Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, the 11,040 acres of this state forest contain the 225-acre Bob Dunn Recreation Area and the Ann Lake Campground and Day-Use Area.
- Kabetogama State Forest
Flickr/Brian
Flickr/Robert Engberg The gateway to Voyageurs National Park and the BWCA, this state forest covers 619,287 acres of Northern MN.
- Birch Lakes State Forest
Flickr/USFWS Midwest
Flickr/Dalliedee One of the smaller state forests, these 710 acres nestled between Birch Lake and Little Birch Lake are where MN’s Northern woods transition to the Southern prairie.
- Nemadji State Forest
Facebook/Cathleen Anderson via Minnesota State Parks and Trails This 96,270 forest ranges from swamps and rolling hills to steep forests along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
- Northwest Angle State Forest
Flickr/Jacob Norland This 144,412-acre forest, surrounded by Canada, offers some of the most scenic driving in the state and is a true escape.
- Finland State Forest
Flickr/Doug Kerr Only a few miles from Tettegouche State Park lies this 311,970-acre wooded paradise with 50 miles of roads to access the lakes and numerous campgrounds.
- Fond du Lac State Forest
Flickr/red.raleigh This 64,505-acre forest surrounding Jay Cooke State Park has an amazing variety of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, not to mention some amazing places to canoe or ATV.
Have you ever been to a Minnesota State Forest? Which ones are closest to where you live? Share photos of your favorite forest with us on the Only In Minnesota Facebook Page so we can feature it next time!
Flickr/mara
Flickr/GSankary
This southeastern MN forest spans 1,016,204 acres and contains several trails, campgrounds, and recreational areas along the Mississippi bluffs.
Kyle Ensrude
Flickr/USFWS Midwest
Wrapped around Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, the 11,040 acres of this state forest contain the 225-acre Bob Dunn Recreation Area and the Ann Lake Campground and Day-Use Area.
Flickr/Brian
Flickr/Robert Engberg
The gateway to Voyageurs National Park and the BWCA, this state forest covers 619,287 acres of Northern MN.
Flickr/Dalliedee
One of the smaller state forests, these 710 acres nestled between Birch Lake and Little Birch Lake are where MN’s Northern woods transition to the Southern prairie.
Facebook/Cathleen Anderson via Minnesota State Parks and Trails
This 96,270 forest ranges from swamps and rolling hills to steep forests along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border.
Flickr/Jacob Norland
This 144,412-acre forest, surrounded by Canada, offers some of the most scenic driving in the state and is a true escape.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Only a few miles from Tettegouche State Park lies this 311,970-acre wooded paradise with 50 miles of roads to access the lakes and numerous campgrounds.
Flickr/red.raleigh
This 64,505-acre forest surrounding Jay Cooke State Park has an amazing variety of trails for hiking and cross-country skiing, not to mention some amazing places to canoe or ATV.
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