Recreation Opportunities

Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center

Boulder Lake Environmental Learning Center provides comprehensive educational programs that contribute to increased understanding and appreciation of natural resource management practices through the Boulder Lake Management Area (BLMA) which provides an interpretive window to showcase resource management and hydropower generation in a working forest, and illustrates the many social, biological, and economic benefits of that forest.

The area is cooperatively managed for natural resources by the BLMA "partners": Minnesota Power (a broadly diversified company headquartered in Duluth), the St. Louis County Land & Minerals Department, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).

In the early years of its management of tax forfeited lands, St. Louis County established a program whereby the County issued leases to individuals or groups of individuals for the purpose of placing small cabins (traditionally called “hunting shacks”) on tax forfeited land. Minnesota statutes authorize such leases for temporary use. There are no new leases being issued.

Leaseholder Information:

Recreation Cabin Construction and Remodeling Authorization Request Form

Shoreland Cabin Construction and Remodeling Authorization Request Form

Recreation Lease Newsletter 2025

Sample Recreation Cabin Lease Agreement

Lease Violations and Penalties

St. Louis County has many motorized and non-motorized trails.

Motorized trails used by off-highway vehicles (OHVs) include all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), off-highway motorcycles (OHMs) and off-road vehicles (ORVs), such as 4x4 trucks or Jeeps.

The same rules apply for riding on St. Louis County Administered Lands as for State DNR Administered Lands.  Make sure you have read and understand the State Forest Riding Rules. For more information visit the Recreation portion of the MN DNR website.