Governor Knowles

Governor Knowles State Forest stretches 55 miles along the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, encompassing 32,500 wooded acres of northwestern Wisconsin in Burnett and Polk counties. This linear forest serves as an extended resource protection zone for the federally designated Wild and Scenic River while providing exceptional opportunities for camping, paddling, hiking, horseback riding, biking, hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling. Originally established in 1970 as the St. Croix River State Forest, it was renamed in 1981 to honor former Governor Warren P. Knowles for his administration's remarkable progress in conservation and his personal commitment to outdoor recreation. The forest extends from Danbury in the north to Wolf Creek in the south, maintaining a width of up to two miles in places, and acts as a continuous green corridor protecting the scenic values of one of America's original Wild and Scenic Rivers. Three campgrounds and nine primitive backpack campsites provide overnight accommodations for visitors seeking to immerse themselves in this river valley wilderness.

The varied habitats of Governor Knowles State Forest afford opportunities to observe a wide variety of birds and animals adapted to the diverse ecosystems of the St. Croix River corridor. Sharp-tailed grouse, increasingly rare across much of their former range, maintain populations in the forest's brushland habitats managed specifically to support this species. Bald eagles nest along the St. Croix River and are frequently observed soaring over the water or perched in riverside trees scanning for fish. Mink and muskrat patrol the riverbanks and wetlands, while pocket gophers create their characteristic soil mounds in sandy upland areas. Hunters pursuing whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, black bear, snowshoe hare, squirrel, and woodcock find excellent opportunities throughout the forest's diverse terrain. The St. Croix River itself supports exceptional fish populations including smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, musky, and the prehistoric lake sturgeon that can exceed 100 pounds. Common yellowthroat warblers and dozens of other songbird species nest throughout the forest, with the river corridor serving as an important migration pathway during spring and fall.

The forests of Governor Knowles State Forest display a mosaic of community types reflecting the varied soils, topography, and disturbance history of the St. Croix River valley. Upland forests include extensive stands of jack pine, red pine, and oak on well-drained sandy soils deposited by glacial meltwater. Northern hardwoods including sugar maple, basswood, and yellow birch occupy richer sites, particularly in the more protected valleys and along stream corridors. Lowland forests of black spruce, tamarack, and white cedar occupy poorly drained wetlands that provide crucial habitat for species requiring these specialized environments. The forest's brushland habitats, maintained through management including prescribed fire, support sharp-tailed grouse and other species dependent on early successional conditions. Wildflowers bloom prolifically in spring, with large-flowered trillium, bloodroot, and hepatica carpeting the forest floor in northern hardwood stands. The river terraces and floodplains support distinctive floodplain forest communities adapted to periodic inundation, while sandy openings host prairie-like vegetation including little bluestem grass and various wildflowers.

The landscape of Governor Knowles State Forest reflects the dramatic geological history of the St. Croix River valley, carved through glacial deposits and bedrock by torrential meltwater floods during the retreat of the last continental ice sheet. The St. Croix River once served as the primary outlet for Glacial Lake Duluth, the precursor to modern Lake Superior, channeling tremendous volumes of water that scoured the valley to its current form approximately 10,000 years ago. The sandy soils that dominate much of the forest were deposited as glacial outwash, sorted and stratified by flowing meltwater into the coarse sands and gravels that support the pine and oak forests. Bedrock underlying these sediments includes some of Wisconsin's oldest rocks, Precambrian formations over a billion years old that occasionally outcrop along the river corridor. The Dalles of the St. Croix, located along the river though not within the forest proper, provide the most dramatic examples of bedrock geology carved by these ancient floods. The flat to gently rolling topography reflects the nature of the glacial outwash plain, with steeper slopes occurring primarily along the immediate river bluffs.

Governor Knowles State Forest experiences a continental climate with cold winters, warm summers, and pronounced seasonal variation that influences recreational opportunities throughout the year. Winter brings extended cold periods with temperatures frequently dropping below zero and substantial snowfall averaging 40-50 inches, supporting snowmobiling on 32 miles of designated trails and cross-country skiing on 8 miles of groomed trails. Summer temperatures range from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit, with the river providing cooling relief during hot spells and excellent conditions for paddling, swimming, and fishing. Spring and fall bring spectacular natural displays, with spring wildflowers blooming abundantly in April and May while fall colors transform the hardwoods in late September and early October. The river freezes during winter, typically becoming safe for ice fishing by late December, and breaks up in spring with occasional ice jam flooding along lower reaches. Annual precipitation averages approximately 30-32 inches, with summer thunderstorms occasionally creating dramatic weather events that experienced paddlers must monitor carefully.

Indigenous peoples traveled and lived along the St. Croix River for thousands of years before European contact, utilizing this waterway as a vital corridor for transportation, trade, and access to hunting and fishing grounds. The Ojibwe name for the river, translated roughly as 'Snake River,' reflects their long connection to these waters. French explorers and fur traders arrived in the 17th century, establishing trading relationships with native peoples and beginning centuries of resource extraction from the region. The logging era transformed the St. Croix valley during the 19th century, with vast rafts of white pine logs floated downstream to mills at Stillwater and beyond, feeding the building boom of expanding American cities. Logging camps and river drives employed thousands of workers and stripped the old-growth forests, though the landscape has since regenerated into the diverse second-growth forest visible today. Adjacent to the forest boundary, over 100,000 acres of county forests and two large wildlife areas, Fish Lake Wildlife Area and Crex Meadow Wildlife Area, extend the protected landscape.

Governor Knowles State Forest was established in 1970 as the St. Croix River State Forest, created to protect a buffer zone along the Wisconsin side of the newly designated St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 had recognized the St. Croix as one of America's first Wild and Scenic Rivers, and Wisconsin responded by establishing this linear forest to protect the scenic and natural values of the state's portion of the corridor. In 1981, the forest was redesignated Governor Knowles State Forest to honor Warren P. Knowles, who had served in Wisconsin's State Senate from 1940-1955, then as lieutenant governor before beginning three terms as governor in 1964. Knowles played a pivotal role in creating the Outdoor Recreation Act Program (ORAP) in 1961, which funded land purchases including many that eventually became part of this forest. He also established the Governor's Fishing Opener in 1968 to promote Wisconsin's angling opportunities. Knowles died during a break from fishing on opening day in 1993, maintaining his commitment to outdoor recreation until his final moments.

Governor Knowles State Forest features 40 miles of hiking trails that stretch through the wild and scenic St. Croix River Valley, divided into a north segment of 23 miles and a south segment of 17 miles offering diverse terrain and experiences. The Brandt Pines Trail System ranks among the most popular hiking destinations, weaving through stands of towering pines and along scenic overlooks of the river valley. Canoeing the St. Croix River winds paddlers through wild and scenic countryside, with the forest providing access points and primitive campsites along one of the Midwest's most treasured paddling destinations. The river is known for excellent fishing, with smallmouth bass, walleye, catfish, musky, and sturgeon attracting anglers throughout the open-water season. Winter transforms the forest with 32 miles of designated ATV and snowmobile trails plus 8 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails providing cold-weather recreation. Horseback riders enjoy designated equestrian trails and specialized camping facilities at the Trade River Equestrian Campground designed specifically to accommodate horse camping.

Governor Knowles State Forest offers three developed campgrounds providing varied camping experiences, with St. Croix Campground, Trade River Equestrian Campground, and Sioux Portage Group Camp accommodating different visitor needs. Nine primitive backpack campsites scattered through the 32,500-acre forest provide wilderness-style camping for hikers seeking solitude and connection with the natural landscape. The Trade River Equestrian Campground specifically accommodates horse camping, with specialized facilities making this a popular destination for riders exploring the forest's extensive trail network. The forest is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., with seasonal activities varying from paddling and hiking in summer to snowmobiling and skiing in winter. Access points are distributed along the 55-mile length of the forest, with primary access via Wisconsin Highway 35 and various county roads. A Wisconsin State Park vehicle admission sticker is required for entry, and camping reservations can be made through wisconsin.goingtocamp.com. The nearby communities of Grantsburg, St. Croix Falls, and others along the corridor offer supplies, lodging, and river outfitters.

Conservation management at Governor Knowles State Forest focuses on protecting the scenic and natural values of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway while providing sustainable recreational access and maintaining productive forestlands. The forest serves as an extended resource protection zone for the federally designated Wild and Scenic River, buffering the corridor from development that could diminish its exceptional character. Habitat management including prescribed fire maintains the brushland communities that support sharp-tailed grouse, a species of conservation concern that depends on early successional habitats. Sustainable forestry practices produce timber revenue while maintaining wildlife habitat diversity and protecting water quality flowing into the St. Croix River. Invasive species management addresses threats from terrestrial and aquatic invasives that could alter the native ecosystems protected within the forest. The proximity to the Fish Lake Wildlife Area and Crex Meadow Wildlife Area creates a landscape-scale conservation complex protecting diverse habitats across over 100,000 combined acres. Climate change monitoring tracks shifts in forest composition and wildlife populations that may require adaptive management responses in this ecologically significant river corridor.