Big Bog State Recreation Area

Big Bog State Recreation Area is a wetland preserve covering nearly 9,500 acres with varied ecosystems throughout. Tamarack trees, black spruce, and rare plant species create the varied landscape adapted to wet conditions.

The land formed from glacial Lake Agassiz and remained untouched during the 1920s logging era. Its swampy nature protected it from the timber harvest that affected surrounding areas.

The Anishinaabe traditionally gathered blueberries, fished, and hunted here until the late 1800s, leaving a lasting connection to the land. Visitors walking through the area can sense how this place remained central to their way of life for generations.

A raised boardwalk about one mile long lets visitors walk into the bog without stepping on delicate plants. The path stays dry even in wet weather and offers firm footing throughout.

The bog contains carnivorous plants like sundews and pitcher plants that have adapted to nutrient-poor conditions by hunting insects. These plants trap and digest bugs to get the nutrients they cannot find in the soil.

Location: Waskish Township

Inception: 2006

Website: https://dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/park.html?id=sra00308

GPS coordinates: 48.19280,-94.51190

Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:41