Chippewa National Forest

About Us

The Chippewa National Forest, located in the heart of northern Minnesota, is a celebration of seasons, cultures, and environments. Visitors come to explore the big lakes and big pines. Designated in 1908, the Chippewa National Forest holds the distinction of being the first national forest established east of the Mississippi River. Originally known as the Minnesota National Forest, the name was changed in 1928 to honor the original inhabitants – the Ojibwe people. The Leech Lake Indian Reservation and the Forest share almost 2,000 miles of boundary. The Forest and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe share goals and offer visitors a chance to experience Anishinaabe culture and learn about the past from prehistory to the early logging-era and Civilian Conservation Corps days. Water is abundant on the Chippewa National Forest, with more than 1,300 lakes, 925 miles of streams and 400,000 acres of wetlands.

The Chippewa National Forest also has a strong timber program, with nearly 120 million board feet sold in 2024. The Forest is located at the crossroads of Minnesota’s three major ecosystems: the aspen, birch, spruce-fir, and pines of the boreal forest; the maple-basswood hardwood forests; and, just west of the Forest, the prairie. The Forest's landscape is a reminder of the glaciers that blanketed northern Minnesota 10,000 years ago.