Dorer Forest 50th anniversary celebration features family fun April 30

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Dorer Forest 50th anniversary celebration features family fun April 30
(Released April 14, 2011)


In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Richard J. Dorer State Forest, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting an outdoor family fun day at the Kruger Recreation Area near Wabasha on Saturday, April 30.

A variety of outdoor recreational activities and presentations will be offered:

try your hand at archery
canoe a short stretch of the Zumbro River
see a DNR electrofishing demonstration
fish from shore (equipment provided)
go on a high-tech treasure hunt using GPS devices (geocaching)
see live native snakes
take a guided nature walk and learn about local plants and animals
learn about logging history.
The event, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., also will include fun games for children, as well as a visit from Smokey Bear. All activities are free. Food will be available for purchase on site.

At 1.7 million acres, the Dorer State Forest has the largest total area of Minnesota’s 58 state forests, covering all or parts of seven counties. Only about 45,000 acres, however, is state- owned forest land.

The Dorer’s rolling hills and valleys are home to a rich diversity of plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the state. This unique landscape also provides a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, mushroom- and berry-picking, off-highway vehicle riding and wildlife watching.

These activities, as well as timber production, contribute significantly to the local economies of southeast Minnesota communities. The conservation and sound management of lands in the Dorer Forest also has played an important role in improving water quality in the southeast’s many trout streams and other waters.

The Kruger Recreation Area is located approximately 5 miles west of Wabasha, a half mile south of State Highway 60 on Wabasha County Road 81.