Foot Hills State Forest
Foot Hills State Forest | |
---|---|
Western Great Lakes Forests | |
EPA Classification | Northern Lakes and Forests |
Dominant tree species | Northern hardwoods |
Fauna | Red-shouldered hawk |
The Foot Hills State Forest is a
Minneapolis – Saint Paul metropolitan area
.
History and overview
At the turn of the twentieth century the land where the forest is now located, along with the majority of Minnesota, was
bur oak, established and are now the principal tree species in the forest. Although the species are no longer common in the forest, 36 acres (15 ha) of red pine and 30 acres (12 ha) of black ash are designated old-growth and are exempt from harvesting
.
Recreation
The hundreds of small
waterfowl species. Rookeries for the great blue heron are present in the forest, as are mallards and wood ducks. North American beavers also use the abundance of aspen
in the forest to build dens.
Other outdoor recreational activities include hiking and mountain biking on provided trails, as well as backcountry camping. Trails include 40 miles (64 km) available for Class I and II all-terrain vehicle use as well as dirt biking, and 11 miles (18 km) designated for other off-road vehicles. 8.6 miles (13.8 km) are also designated for cross-country skiing.[1]
See also
External links
References
- ^ "Foot Hills State Forest". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-09-12.