Chippewa National Forest

Coordinates: 47°20′26″N 94°12′24″W / 47.34056°N 94.20667°W / 47.34056; -94.20667
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Chippewa National Forest
Map showing the location of Chippewa National Forest
Map showing the location of Chippewa National Forest
LocationItasca / Cass / Beltrami counties, Minnesota, United States
Nearest cityCass Lake, MN
Coordinates47°20′26″N 94°12′24″W / 47.34056°N 94.20667°W / 47.34056; -94.20667
Area666,623 acres (2,697.73 km2)[1]
Established1908
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service
WebsiteChippewa National Forest
Location of the Chippewa National Forest

Chippewa National Forest is a

ranger district offices in Blackduck, Deer River and Walker
.

History

Ojibwa
women in canoe, Leech Lake

The Forest was established as the Minnesota Forest Reserve on 27 June 1902, with passage of the

Forest Reserve
.

Led by

Chippewa
tribe of Native Americans from whose land the forest was created. Subsequent boundary expansions and land purchases increased the area of the forest to its present size.

The Lost Forty

The Forest contains an area known as the Lost Forty. This area, which has a total of 144 acres (0.58 km2), was accidentally mapped as part of Coddington Lake when the original maps of the region were laid out in 1882.

old growth
forest.

Historic and cultural sites

The historic Forest Supervisor's Office, built in 1936 – still in use today.

There are over 3000 archeological and historic sites located within the forest, two that are most notable and open to the public are:

  • Camp Rabideau a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp is one of the best-preserved of the nation's many CCC camps.
  • The Chippewa National Forest Historic Supervisor's Office, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and
    Works Project Administration
    .

Geography

The forest covers 667,094 acres (2,699.63 km2). Water is abundant, with over 1,300 lakes, 923 miles (1,485 km) of rivers and streams and 400,000 acres (1,600 km2) of wetlands.[6] The Forest has more lakes and wetlands than any other National Forest in the nation, boasting approximately 13% of all surface water within the entire National Forest system.[7] Inside the forest the Cut Foot Sioux Trail runs along the Laurentian Divide.

Three of the top ten largest lakes in size within the State of Minnesota are located within the forest, these are Cass Lake, Leech Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish. Approximately 44% of the Forest's land is within the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.

Fauna and flora

red squirrel, weasel, and numerous other species. In the 1960s, the bald eagle population in the forest was only 12 nesting pairs.[8] Since then the population has rebounded and the bald eagle population of the Chippewa National Forest is one of the highest density in the lower 48 states at 150 nesting pairs.[9]

Recreation

Leech Lake Dam at Leech Lake near the town of Federal Dam

The Forest contains 21 developed campgrounds, 41 miles of paved bike trails, 43 miles of unpaved bike trails, 160 miles of hiking trails, 298 miles of non-motorized trails, 380 miles of snowmobile trails, 68 dispersed camping locations, 20 miles of horse trails, 83 boat accesses.[10]

A highlight of the Forest's trail system is the 60-plus mile segment of the

North Country National Scenic Trail that parallels State Highways 34 and 200 and features backpacking campsites along its route. Find an interactive map of the Trail's route at the North Country Trail Association's website
.

Visitor Centers

The Forest operates three visitor centers in the forest, they are:[11]

  • Cut Foot Sioux Visitor Center – near Deer River, open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
  • Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center – near Marcell, open year-round.
  • Norway Beach Visitor Center – near Cass Lake, open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Scenic Byways

Many roadways, including U.S. and State Highways and county roads intersect the forest for easy access to the forest. Within the Forest are five scenic byways for scenic drives for visitors that intersect through the forest.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  2. ^ 32 Stat., 400
  3. ^ Brady, Tim (November 2004). "The Real Story of Chippewa National Forest". Minnesota DNR Conservation Volunteer magazine. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  4. ^ 35 Stat., 268
  5. ^ "Lost forty history", Forest Service, Retrieved 2 September 2015
  6. ^ www.fs.fed.us http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/chippewa/about/forest_facts/index.php. Retrieved 18 July 2006. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[title missing]
  7. ^ "Chippewa National Forest - About the Forest". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  8. ^ www.fs.fed.us http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/chippewa/recreation/wildlife_viewing/. Retrieved 18 July 2006. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[title missing]
  9. ^ "The Conservation Fund". www.conservationfund.org. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  10. ^ "Chippewa National Forest - Recreation". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  11. ^ "Chippewa National Forest - Outdoor Learning:Visitor Centers". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Chippewa National Forest - Scenic Driving". Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 16 September 2022.

External links

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