Established 1961 Elevation 390 m Phone +1 651-296-6157 | Fauna White-tailed deer Area 27.56 km² | |
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Location Itasca County, Minnesota, United States Governing body Minnesota DNR, Itasca County, private Website www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00022/index.html EPA Classification Northern Lakes and Forests Address Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA WWF classification Western Great Lakes forests Similar Sam Brown Memorial State Wa, Joseph Brown House R, Traverse Gap, Greenleaf Lake State Recreatio, Marine Mill | ||
The Golden Anniversary State Forest is a state forest located near Grand Rapids in southern Itasca County, Minnesota. The forest was established in 1961 in celebration of the golden anniversary of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources's Division of Forestry, which is responsible for the management of the majority of the state forests in Minnesota.
An abundance of wildlife is present in the forest with its variety of tree species, namely aspen, Northern Whitecedar, northern hardwoods, White Spruce, Balsam Fir, Red Pine, and Eastern White Pine. Management efforts in the forest are currently working towards creating more habitat for Ruffed Grouse. White-tailed deer are common in the forest and have established a deer yard near Cowhorn Lake, where waterfowl species are also present.
Other outdoor recreational activities include hunting, picnicking, and backcountry camping. A boat launch makes Cowhorn Lake accessible for fishing, as well as swimming. Trails include 7 miles (11 km) designated for cross-country skiing, of which 5.5 miles (8.9 km) are open for mountain biking in the summertime.