Purvis Lake-Ober Foundation SNA

140 Acres Located from Ely 12 miles W on MN Hwy 169, then 4 miles S on Co Hwy 128, then 2 miles E on a forest road. St. Louis County Twp 62N Rng 13W Sec 28 Type: Coniferous Forest ECS Subsection: Border Lakes

Description:

Purvis Lake-Ober Foundation SNA bears the name of its early owner, who defended its forest and wolf population with a shotgun for many years. He eventually gifted the property to The Nature Conservancy as a wolf sanctuary at a time when wolves had few defenders. The Conservancy later transferred the property, with its diverse plant communities, to the state as an SNA. The topography reflects the effects of numerous glacial advances, with alternating lakes, bogs, and rocky ridges. Walk the length of the forest to the Beaver River for a memorable hike through big pine and wildflowers. A beautiful old forest of white and red pine has escaped both burning and extensive logging. A great time to visit is during winter and early spring for skiing or snowshoeing into the site.

Plant List