The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has completed its evaluation and will retain the “limited” classification for the 20,000 acre Rum River State Forest. The forest is located in east-central Mille Lacs, and western Kanabec, and eastern Morrison counties. The classification will also apply to state forest lands outside the forest boundaries in Mille Lacs County. No new recreational trail designations are proposed for the forest.

A “limited” classification means that motor vehicle use is allowed only on roads and trails that are signed “open” to motor vehicle use. Under the plan, 61.6 miles of unsigned, non-designated routes will be closed to most vehicle use, except for seasonal hunting and trapping activities.

The plan calls for the creation of a 570-acre non-motorized area in West-Central Kanabec County. In this area (see map), motorized use of nondesignated trails is prohibited year-round to protect this geologically rare and ecologically sensitive area.

There are 18.1 miles of state forest roads that will be open for all-terrain vehicles (ATV), off-highway motorcycles (ORHM), off-road vehicles (ORMV) which include 4x4 trucks, and highway licensed vehicles (HLV)