Chippewa National Forest, Mississippi River

Chippewa National Forest in north-central Minnesota stretches across more than a million acres of lakes, wetlands, and thick woodland, and it’s packed with history – around 3,000 archaeological and historic sites have been recorded so far.  One of the most famous spots is the Lost Forty.  Thanks to a surveying mistake in the late 1800s, this patch of forest was mapped as part of a nearby lake.

Loggers assumed it was underwater and left it alone, which accidentally saved a rare stand of old-growth red and white pine.  Some of the trees are now more than 300 years old.

The forest was formally established in 1908 and includes well-known lakes such as Cass Leech and Winnibigoshish.  It’s also home to one of the largest breeding populations of bald eagles in the continental United States.  Among the many historic structures is the 1936 Supervisor’s Office, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and still in use today.