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Chippewa National Forest
Marcell Office
49554 State Highway 38
Marcell, MN 56657
Phone: (218) 832-3161
 Nature's
beauty awaits in the towering pines, diverse wetlands and pristine waters of the Chippewa National Forest. Established in 1908 and originally known as the Minnesota National Forest, the Chippewa National Forest encompasses about 1.8 million acres managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The name was changed in 1928 to honor the forest's original inhabitants, the Chippewa Indians. As a visitor, you may catch a glimpse of bald eagles soaring in flight. The Chippewa National Forest is home to the largest breeding population of bald eagles in the lower 48 states. Hike into the Joyce Estate and see a Chicago millionaire's vast wilderness hideaway. The Lost 40 also awaits, a majestic stand of old-growth white pine ignored by the lumber companies during the logging era. The forest is also home to more than 720 lakes, 920 miles of streams and 150,000 acres of wetlands. A portion of the Edge of the Wilderness National Scenic Byway runs through its boundaries. Suomi Hills features miles of hiking, biking and Nordic skiing trails running through rolling forests and calm lakes.
Chippewa National Forest offices are located in Blackduck, Cass Lake, Deer River, Marcell and Walker.
For more information, call (218) 335-8600.
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S cenic State Park
56956 Scenic Hwy 7
Bigfork, MN 56628
Phone: (218) 743-3362
The awesome beauty of tall, magnificent virgin
white and red pines, coupled with the pristine,
undeveloped lake shores of Coon and Sandwick
Lakes gives park visitors the opportunity to
experience the true scenic beauty of Scenic
State Park. This wilderness-like park is popular
for camping, hiking, cross-country skiing,
canoeing, fishing, and bird watching. Scenic
State Park is located 7 miles east of Bigfork on
County Road 7, or 32 miles north of Hwy 169. |
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Bass Lake Park
State Trunk Highway 1
11 miles east of Effie and 11 miles west of Togo.
Phone: (218) 327-2876
Itasca County's Bass Lake Park consists of 720 acres of untamed wilderness and surrounds four lakes. This secluded recreation area offers two campgrounds for both tents and trailers. Bass Lake has a regular boat launch and swimming beach. Erskine Lake, Sucker Lake and Duck Lake all have carry-in access and offer excellent fishing opportunities. Take advantage of hiking, wildlife observation, Nordic skiing, snowmobiling and four-wheeling.
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Schoolcraft State Park
(c/o) Hill Annex Mine State Park
Phone: (218) 247-7215
Located along the bank of the Mighty Mississippi
in northern Cass County, the park maintains 295
acres of pristine wilderness, much of which is
virgin pine. Waterfowl abound in the park and are
often seen among the slender stalks of wild rice.
Rustic campsites, a group camp, and canoe
campsites along the river are available to the
public. Hiking trails and picnic areas provide
opportunities to explore the giant pines and river
environment. A boat launch is available for those
who want to cast a line or canoe the Mississippi
and Vermillion Rivers. |
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Pokegama Dam &
Recreation Area
34385 West Hwy 2
(218)326-6128
 The Pokegama Dam is located on the Mississippi
River, 3 miles upstream of Grand Rapids.
Construction began at this dam site in 1882, and
the dam was put into operation in 1885. The first
dam consisted of earthen embankments filled with
puddled clay. The control structure, through
which the water flowed, was made of timber. Stop
logs, wooden bear trap gates, or steel Tainter
gates regulated the sluiceways. The Corps of
Engineers completed reconstruction in concrete in
1904. Since then, many improvements have been
made to the structure to maintain its integrity.
Pokegama Dam stores
water into Pokegama Lake through Little Jay Gould
and Jay Gould Lakes. Pokegama Lake serves many
functions today. While originally built to aide
navigation downstream, it is now primarily a flood
control reservoir to help protect the city of
Aitkin, MN. Boaters, fishermen, and lakeshore
homeowners use the lake extensively for
recreational pursuits. Tribal Trust agreements
also exist with the Chippewa Indians regarding
wild rice and water level concerns.
In addition to the
dam itself, other facilities at the site attract
visitors from everywhere. A picnic shelter for
large groups can be reserved at the site.
Campsites with electricity are available for
overnight and extended visits. A playground helps
the younger crowd burn off the extra energy they
always seem to have. Shore fishing is very
popular and recently a handicapped accessible
fishing pier with adjoining sidewalk was
completed, to aid special populations who wish to
fish.
Our park entrance
is always open, ready to welcome you to an
enjoyable day. Come for a picnic, camp overnight,
fish from shore, or go sightseeing
to take in nature's bounty. |
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