New bridge installed in Nemadji State Forest
Net River Forest Road Bridge
(Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
NICKERSON TOWNSHIP, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has completed a bridge replacement and road improvement project on the Net River Forest Road in the Nemadji State Forest.
It was the final phase of a multiyear project to reconstruct the road to make it safer and more accessible for both recreation and forest management.
The Net River Forest Road, approximately 20 miles south of Cloquet, is the main access into the north side of the state forest and the primary access to the state forest’s recreational amenities.
Improvements to the road will make it easier to access recreational opportunities such as hunter walking trails, a campground and day-use area, and the Pickerel Lake Public Water Access.
The project area is also part of a large network of snowmobile and off-highway vehicle trails in the north side of the state forest.
Net River Forest Road Bridge
(Minnesota Department of Natural Resources)
“This is a very rewarding project to see completed,” said Matt Huseby, DNR’s Forestry Roads Program coordinator. “State forests offer so many outdoor recreational opportunities, including trails, hunting, fishing and camping. The improved road and bridge make it safer and easier for everyone to access those opportunities.”
This project also included realignment of the Net River Forest Road to improve visibility for enhanced public safety.
In addition to improving access, the new bridge is designed to improve stream ecology and river hydrology.
The Nemadji State Forest is located in northeastern Pine and southeastern Carlton counties along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border. It can be reached by traveling east via county highways joining State Highway 23 near the towns of Askov, Bruno, Kerrick, Duquette, Nickerson, and Holyoke.
Nemadji State Forest varies from gently rolling upland with large swamps in the south to steep stream valley and elongated swamps protruding into the forest in the northeast.
