Chengwatana State Forest

Mixed feelings about this one. Saw grass everywhere - YOU WILL NEED PANTS AND SOCKS. Biting gnats, saddle flys, and the Minnesota state bird mosquito. Flys and gnats weren’t too bad but it’s been a drought this year. Also of course poison ivy that snuck up on us by the snake River. There is a shooting range so you may be treated to the sounds of gunfire in the distance at any time. Some folks camping along the river by us played horrible pop music loud enough for us to hear clearly from over 100 yards distance until after 10:30 pm. All that said we saw white tail deer, River muscles, signal crayfish, leopard frogs, toads, grass snakes, bald eagles, and unidentified owl. It’s a state forest so you get what you get. We had fun and it’s nice that it’s only 1.25 hours from Minneapolis.

Nice trails and scenery along the rivers.

Beautiful park. Hunter/hiking trails could use to be cleared at least once a year. Love that there are 2 shooter benches in the pit.

More for ATV type as far as I could tell, A LOT OF TICKS right now so do thorough checks. Was sad to see people's discarded trash computers/car seats. Great to see the various animal tracks and wild flowers.

Beautiful place I boondocked in for 2 weeks. The only drawback was people trashing it and way too many target shooters. It was a great time anyway.

I love being out of the cities and in the woods. Nature says alot if you know how to listen clearly and thats why i love being up north so much.

The atrocious scum that kept hauling in appliances, couches, computers, freon containers from air conditioners, propane tanks, cardboard, old target stands, old car parts, tires, beer bottles, old ammo boxes, and stuffed animals, as well as entirely destroying the donated shooting benches, enclosed fiberglass signage, and nice enclosed concrete floored outhouses have finally ruined it for everyone. The road to the range is now closed to all highway vehicles from January to November each year because jerks couldn't just haul away their trash and stop themselves from shooting up nice things. So its a great range, if you don't mind hauling in targets and guns from 3 miles down the road. Thanks, jerks.

Did some hiking and picture taking there. Wonderful place to get to experience the peace and quiet. Drive a 4x4 vehicle out there in the winter season

Great place we go here all the time unfortunately it's starting to get way overused by people that don't clean up after themselves or take care of things.

It's a beautiful state forest! It has a decent gun range. Sadly people don't pick up after themselves. If you visit please do so. Decent deer and small game hunting. Great bear hunting. Decent ATV trails as well. Good camping too.