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Crow Wing State Forest

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Established
  
1935

Area
  
126.7 kmĀ²

Disturbance
  
Wildfire

Crow Wing State Forest

Location
  
Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States

Governing body
  
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Crow Wing County, Potlatch Corp.

Website
  
www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00014/index.html

EPA Classification
  
Northern Lakes and Forests

WWF classification
  
Western Great Lakes forests

Crow wing state forest atv riding 2012


The Crow Wing State Forest is a state forest located near Fairfield Township in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. It is about 20 miles (32 km) northeast of the tourism-based town of Brainerd. Approximately 14,072 acres (5,695 ha) (44%) of the forest of 31,307 acres (12,669 ha) is actively managed. The managed acres are split nearly equally between the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Crow Wing County, and the privately owned Potlatch Corp.

Contents

Map of Crow Wing State Forest, Mission Township, MN 56465, USA

Prior to European settlement the area was mainly oak forests and barrens interspersed with pine stands and prairie. Today, Eastern white pine and Norway pine dominate, although stands of oak, aspen, and jack pine occur upland, with wet prairies and conifer bogs in the lowlands.

The interactive Bass Lake Nature Trail (either .75 or 1.75 miles (1.21 or 2.82 km)) introduces users to the forest dynamics present in the forest, including wildfire, snags and its effects on wildlife, and the oak canker, Diplodia quercina. Additional trails located throughout the forest accommodate separate activities, including 1.7 miles (2.7 km) designated for hiking, 33 miles (53 km) for mountain biking, 17.3 miles (27.8 km) each for Class I and Class II All-terrain vehicle (ATV) use, and 17.3 miles (27.8 km) for off-highway motorcycling. Picnicking, fishing, and hunting are also commonly practiced outdoor recreation activities. Waterways within the forest also allow canoers, kayakers, and boaters access to the Pine and Mississippi Rivers.

References

Crow Wing State Forest Wikipedia