Superior National Forest
Winter on the Forest
Seasonal changes are a constant in the boreal forests of the Superior National Forest. The days darken, the temperatures cool, and snow falls to land and insulate the forest floor. The Superior embraces these winter months. With three-million acres to recreate and play in, why wait until summer to explore!
Superior National Forest in Minnesota's Arrowhead
Your Northland National Forest
Established in 1909, the three-million acre Superior National Forest is the largest national forest east of the Mississippi River. The Forest is located at the southernmost edge of the boreal forest ecosystem and is home to thousands of clean lakes, rocky landscapes, iconic megafauna, colorful fall foliage and has a rich cultural history. Within the bounds of the Forest is the beloved one million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Bordered by Canada, Lake Superior and Voyageurs National Park, there's truly a superior experience waiting for you.
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Winter Recreation
Learn more about winter recreation on the Forest.
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Wilderness
Explore the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
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Employment
Apply for a wide variety of positions on the Forest.
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Plan Ahead for Your Trip
Features
Biden-Harris Administration Protects Boundary Waters Area Watershed

National Forest System lands in northern Minnesota withdrawn from future mineral leasing
January 26, 2023
Released by the Bureau of Land Management
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov
WASHINGTON – Today, the Biden-Harris administration took action to protect the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounding watershed, a spectacular network of rivers, lakes and forests in northeastern Minnesota that comprise the most heavily visited wilderness area in the United States.
A Century Later, Arthur Carhart’s Recreation Plan for the Superior

On November 8, 1922, Regional Forester A.S. Peck approved a recreation plan for the Superior National Forest drafted and submitted in May 1922 by Arthur Carhart (1892-1978), a young landscape architect from Iowa that worked for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) from 1919-1923.