Special Places

There may be a little something for everyone within the boundaries of more than one million acres of land and lakes of the Chippewa National Forest. The Forest invites visitors to visit our SPECIAL PLACES!

Big Lakes

• Cass Lake: Gaa-miskwaawaakominis (Ojibwe for island of red cedar) is the eighth largest lake in the state at 15,596 acres.
• Star Island:Boat out to the island and take the short hike to Lake Windigo. Explore the island trails or set up at a backcountry beach campsite. Star Island is a National Historic District. It was also home to Ozawindib, a guide on the Schoolcraft Expedition to find the source of the Mississippi River.
• Norway Beach Recreation Area: Camp at one of the four campground loops, hike through tall pines, bike the paved Migizi (Ojibwe for bald eagle) trail, and relax along this beautiful stretch of beach. The historic CCC-built Norway Beach Visitor Center is open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• Bimijiwan (Knutson Dam) (Ojibwe for flowing water): The Mississippi River flows out of Cass Lake here at Bimijiwan and continues east across the center of the Forest. This site ties cultural and natural resources together.  Set up camp, throw a line in at the fishing pier or start your canoe journey down the river. Great wildlife viewing!
• Leech Lake: Gaa-zagaskwaajimekaag (Ojibwe for where the leeches are) is the third largest lake in Minnesota at 111,527 acres.
• Stony Point Campground: Make an effort to visit Stony Point every season. This is an excellent spring wildflower and birding area, a popular summer campground and a colorful autumn hiking area. Look for signs of iskigamizigan, an old maple sugar camp.
• Winnibigoshish: Winnebaghoshish (Ojibwe for muddy water) is the fourth largest lake in Minnesota at 58,544 acres.
• West Winnie Campground: It is a popular early summer access site for walleye fishermen. This campground also offers a scenic view from the west shore of “Big Winnie.”
• Birches Picnic Area: Travel the Highbanks road to reach this scenic location and visit the National Arbor Day memorial tree planting site. Birches Picnic Area is located just down the road and includes a log shelter built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Big lake view from the east shore of Winnie.

Big Trees

• Lost Forty: Old growth forest of red and white pine and white spruce
• A short one-mile loop trail leads visitors through the tall pines, but don’t forget to admire the abundance of wildflowers along the path. The Lost Forty is a Minnesota Scientific and Natural Area.
• The largest red pine in Minnesota was discovered in the Lost Forty in 2010. This old growth tree is 115 inches in circumference, 120 feet tall with a 38-foot crown.
• In the Ojibwe language, red pine is bapakwanagemag and white pine is bissandago zhingwaak.

National Historic Sites

• Camp Rabideau: This National Historic Landmark is one of three standing Civilian Conservation Corps camps in the country. A volunteer host leads tours inside the buildings during the summer.
• Joyce Estate: Hike, boat or ski to the Joyce Estate located along the shore of Trout Lake near Marcell, Minn. Visitors to this lumber baron’s estate will find remnants of an Adirondack-style resort from the early 1900s.
• Chippewa National Forest Supervisor’s Office:  Built in 1936, this three-story log lodge is a monument to the craftsmanship of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The office has remained as the headquarters of the Chippewa National Forest since it was first built. Tours are available upon request.
• Marcell Ranger Station: This renovated log lodge, originally built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is available to rent through the Edge of the Wilderness Discovery Center. It is one of several CCC buildings on the site, which also includes a fishing pier, visitor center and outdoor program amphitheater.
• Old Cut Foot Sioux Ranger Station: This small log cabin was the first ranger station east of the Mississippi River. The old ranger station was built in 1908. It is located on the shores of Little Cut Foot Sioux Lake along a historic portage.
• Star Island National Historic District: Star Island was incorporated into the Minnesota (Chippewa) National Forest in 1908. Three areas of the island were made available for summer homes in 1909 under the Forest Service permit program. These became the East Beach, Sandy Beach and Norway Bluff summer home groups. The summer home program played an important role in promoting tourism and recreation in the national forests, both nationally and in Minnesota.
• Other historic sites not to miss: Norway Beach Visitor Center, Shingobee Hills and Cut Foot Sioux CCC camp.