State Forests
Please come, see, enjoy and appreciate Minnesota State Forests.
Please take a few minutes to read and familiarize yourself with the State Forest rules, a partial summary list is linked below.
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Camping | Hunting, trapping and fishing | Nonmotorized trails| Motor vehicles and off-road vehicles | |
State forest lands are generally open for hunting and other types of
outdoor recreation. Hunting on private land within a state forest is subject
to state trespass laws.
Camping
DNR Forestry asks all overnight campers to help protect state forests by only using designated campsites. Camping on forest lands outside of developed campgrounds is allowed with some conditions. No permit is required. If camping outside of designated areas, please practice the "leave no trace" camping ethic.
Special rules apply in developed forest campgrounds. See the complete text of the rules and observe signs posted in campgrounds.
Camping Fees
- Camping fees are charged in campgrounds with developed facilities that include drinking water, garbage containers and toilets. No fees are charged for other recreational uses of state forests. More information about camping in state forests.
Campfires
- No permit is required for recreational campfires of less than 3 feet in diameter in an area cleared of combustible materials for 5 feet around the fire.
Firewood
- Protect our state forests- Don't move firewood. Wood that is dead and lying on the ground may be gathered for campfire use on site.
Day use
- Designated day-use areas are open for picnicking, swimming, and boating where applicable. Alcohol consumption is not allowed in these areas. They are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Personal property
- Personal property may not be left or positioned so as to obstruct use of a road or trail. Personal property left unattended for 14 days shall be deemed abandoned.
Hunting, trapping, and fishing
Hunting, trapping, and fishing in state forests is allowed during the appropriate season and with the correct license. State game refuges within state forests are closed to hunting unless listed as open. State forests do contain private holdings within their boundaries, many of which are signed "no hunting." Hunting on private land within a state forest is subject to state trespass laws. Maps are available to aid in the identification of these areas and help you to plan your hunt around them.
Firearms
- Firearms may be discharged in compliance with the law on forest lands not posted closed to firearms discharge.
- Shooting ranges, where designated, have special rules. Observe postings on site.
- Firearms must be unloaded and cased bows must be unstrung and cased while in or within 200 feet of a forest recreation area (campground, day-use area, parking area, etc.). Exception: During seasons open for hunting, a person may carry an unloaded, uncased firearm or strung bow from a forest recreation area to hunt outside of the area. More about hunting in state forests
Elevated scaffolds
- Temporary tree stands are allowed in state forests, including portable and constructed stands, but marketable trees greater than 4 inches in diameter at 4 feet off the ground cannot be cut to construct an elevated hunting scaffold. However, shrubs, lateral tree branches, and saplings smaller than 4 inches in diameter at 4 feet off the ground may be removed if used for scaffold construction. Cutting shooting lanes is not allowed.
- Construction of permanent shelters is prohibited in state forests. This applies to permanent enclosed deer stands and structures associated with their use such as toilets and camp shelters.
- Deer stands on state forest lands are considered available for public use and must remain accessible to all. More about hunting in state forests
Trail and road usage information
Nonmotorized trails
- State forest land is generally open to all nonmotorized activities, but may be limited by postings. Organized, large-scale nonmotorized events may require a special-event permit. Contact the local area forest supervisor for specific details.
- In the Richard J, Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest, horses and bicycles may travel only on designated trails.
- Most nonmotorized activities can be conducted free of charge on state forest land. However, some nonmotorized activities such as cross-country skiing and horseback riding on designated trails require a ski pass or horse pass.
Motor vehicles and off-road vehicles
State forest lands are classified by the commissioner for purposes of
motor vehicle use. For a synopsis of these rules, see rules relating to motor vehicle operations on state forest lands. Motor vehicle use is regulated as follows:
State Forest Lands Classified as “Managed”:
- Motor vehicles may operate only on forest roads and forest trails
unless they are posted or designated closed. - For a listing of state forests that are classified as Managed.
State Forest Lands Classified as “Limited”:
- Motor vehicles may operate on forest roads, unless they are
posted or designated closed. - A person may use motor vehicles on forest trails that are not designated
for a specific use when:- hunting big game or transporting or installing hunting stands during October, November, and December, when in possession of a valid big game hunting license;
- retrieving big game in September, when in possession of a valid
big game hunting license; - tending traps during an open trapping season for protected furbearers, when in possession of a valid trapping license; or
- trapping minnows, when in possession of a valid minnow dealer, private fish hatchery, or aquatic farm license.
- For a listing of state forests that are classified as Limited.
State Forest Lands Classified as “Closed”:
- Motor vehicles and snowmobiles are not allowed except:
- Vehicles licensed for highway use may use forest roads that are not
posted or gated closed. - Vehicles may operate on frozen public waters where it is not otherwise
prohibited. - Snowmobiles may operate on designated trails.
- For a listing of state forests that are classified as Closed.
Note: these lists are subject to change as additional forest review is
completed. See OHV for the most current status.
General Motor Vehicle Operating Restrictions
Anywhere on state forest lands and county lands within state forests that motor vehicles are allowed
- No motor vehicle operation is allowed on designated nonmotorized
trails, unless also posted open for a motorized use. - Motor vehicles or snowmobiles may not operate on forest lands
in a manner that causes erosion or rutting, or that damages or
destroys trees or growing crops. The no-rutting provision does not
apply on designated motorized trails. - Motor vehicles or snowmobiles may not operate within the boundaries
of an area that is posted and designated as closed to such use. - Motor vehicles on state forest roads must: travel at a reasonable
and prudent speed; obey posted speed limits, parking and traffic
regulation signs; observe road closures; and may not operate in
a manner that causes damage to the road, land or other natural
resources. - Cross country travel is prohibited. Cross country travel is travel
off roads and trails. Exceptions to the cross-country travel ban (for
both limited and managed forests) are:- ATV use for big game hunting or constructing stands during
October through December is allowed; - ATV use for retrieving harvested big game is allowed during
September through December; and - ATV use for trapping is allowed during open seasons.
Note: These exceptions apply only to Class 1 All Terrain Vehicles
(ATVs) less than 800 cc engine displacement and 900 pounds total
weight— motorcycles and trucks are not allowed to travel cross-country.
- ATV use for big game hunting or constructing stands during
- No person may construct an unauthorized permanent trail on
forest lands. - In the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood Forest, motor
vehicles and snowmobiles may operate only on forest roads that
are not posted closed and on forest trails that are designated for
motorized use. No motorized travel is allowed off of designated
trails under any circumstances. Motorized trails are open to ATVs
and OHMs from May 1 to November 1.
Removing trees or other plants from state forests
Trees may not be cut without a permit. Trees may not be cut for Christmas trees and no plant may be dug up and removed. In some areas, certain trees may be cut for fuelwood, but you must obtain a permit from the local DNR Forestry office, if you want to take wood out of state land boundaries. Similarly, you must obtain a special-use permit from the local DNR Forestry office to harvest boughs for holiday decorations. You may pick up pine cones from the ground to take home.
Picking fruit and mushrooms
Gathering fruits and mushrooms is allowed.
Firewood
Dead wood may be gathered for campfires in a state forest. Cutting fuelwood for home use requires a permit from the local DNR Forestry office.
Protect Our State Forests – Don’t Move Firewood!
Moving firewood from one location to another may also move harmful pests. Restrictions are now in place that allow only approved firewood to be brought into state parks, state forests, and other DNR facilities. Check out the approved vendor listing to determine where you can get approved firewood close to where you will be recreating.
This is only a summary of permitted and regulated activities. A complete copy of the rules is available; see Minnesota Rules Chapter 6100.0100 to 6100.1950.
