Superior National Forest's Wildflower Viewing Areas

By jan schultz on Jul 7, 2012

Where to find rare native plants and flowers on the Superior.

Wildflower Viewing Areas are sites of high botanic interest selected by botanists for the native plants and flowers found within them. Six of these areas can be found on the Superior National Forest. Consider visiting these sites during your next trip to the forest. Don't forget your camera!

Echo Lake Campground Hiking Trail (La Croix District): The hiking trail at the Echo Lake Campground on the Superior National Forest provides a great opportunity for viewing North Woods wildflowers from spring to mid-summer. The 1.5 mile long walking trail meanders across impressive Canadian Shield bedrock outcrops and passes by some enormous glacial erratics, huge boulders that glaciers left behind thousands of years ago. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area …

Fall River Patterned Fen (Gunflint District): The Fall River Patterned Fen is unique to northeastern Minnesota because it is the only patterned fen in the far northeastern part of the state. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…

Kawishiwi Native Garden (Kawishiwi District): Established in 2008, the Kawishiwi Native Garden is a great place to stop and admire northern Minnesota's native wildflowers. Whether you are picking up a Boundary Waters permit or just enjoying a stay in Ely, Minnesota, you can stop by the Kawishiwi Ranger District office and check out the native garden. Here you can see plants native to a variety of habitats, such as rock outcrops, dry, gravelly soils, and moist woods. With over thirty species, visitors can find flowers blooming from late May through early September. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…

Magnetic Rock (Gunflint District): The Magnetic Rock Trail passes through ancient bedrock outcrops of the Canadian Shield on the way to Magnetic Rock. Magnetic Rock is a 60 foot rock with strong magnetic attraction, so be sure to bring your compass to test the magnetism. Currently, the trail offers great views of the surrounding landscape as well as an abundance of wildflowers typical of rocky shallow soils. Many jack pine (Pinus banksiana) and paper birch (Betula papyrifera) have sprouted since the fire, and if you are lucky you may see a moose during your outing! More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…

Oberg Mountain Trail (Tofte District): The Superior National Forest's Oberg Mountain Trail is a wonderful place to welcome the return of spring and new growth after a northern winter. The 2 mile trail offers great wildflower viewing in early June, and at the same time is an excellent place to observe songbirds as they migrate north. Oberg Mountain, on the north shore of Lake Superior, rises 925 feet above the lake and provides spectacular views. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…

Stub Lake Trail (Kawishiwi District): The 1.5 mile long Stub Lake Trail provides opportunities for seeing some interesting and unusual wildflowers in a variety of habitats. The array of flowers in bloom varies throughout the summer, so visitors are assured of running into wildflowers no matter the time of year they hike the trail. More on this Wildflower Viewing Area…

Contact person: Jack Greenlee jackgreenlee@fs.fed.us or (218) 229-8817.