Pillsbury State Forest

Pillsbury State Forest is a state-managed forest in Minnesota with lakes, streams, and dense woodlands throughout its terrain. The forest contains stands of northern hardwoods, white pine, and red pine distributed across the property.

The forest began in 1900 when former Minnesota Governor John S. Pillsbury donated land, creating the state's first state-managed forest. This founding marked the start of organized state forestry management in Minnesota.

The forest functions as a place where visitors can observe working forestry and see how certain areas are deliberately kept untouched to preserve older trees. These protected zones show how people balance using the land with protecting what grows there naturally.

The forest has different trail lengths suited to different activities like mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, and winter cross-country skiing. Visitors should prepare gear based on their chosen activity and check trail conditions that change with the seasons.

The forest hosts nesting areas for great blue herons and provides habitat for wild turkeys that travel between regions. These bird populations use the woods as a central stop along their seasonal migration routes.

Location: Cass County

Inception: 1900

Website: http://dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests/sft00039

GPS coordinates: 46.41940,-94.43500

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:44