Caldwell Forest Road runs 10.9 miles between the south end of East Gemmell Ridge Forest Road and State Highway 6, with routed DNR signs at both ends — the east entrance sits about 59 road miles from International Falls, a mile west of Highway 6. The DNR’s road inventory carries the route as the Caldwell Brook road, and along the way it crosses two named tributaries of the Big Fork River: Caldwell Brook, under a timber-deck bridge, and Plum Creek — streams that join the Big Fork at river miles 83.1 and 85.4 of the state water trail. Midway, a white regulatory sign marks the Caldwell Spur junction.
The road links two state forests: its west half lies in Pine Island State Forest, Minnesota’s largest at 900,153 acres, while its east end crosses into the 567,985-acre Koochiching State Forest. Both carry the DNR’s “managed” motor-vehicle classification — highway-licensed vehicles may drive any forest road not posted closed, and ATVs are allowed on roads, routes, and designated trails. Dispersed camping is allowed on state forest land at least a mile outside campground areas at no fee. Watch for logging trucks; the DNR posts road status weekly (road-conditions line: 218-888-9050).
Rules for this place
Camping away from a developed campground in a state forest is allowed under the DNR’s dispersed camping rules, which set how far from water, from a designated site and for how long. In a state forest the DNR’s state forest rules apply: firearms unloaded and cased near campgrounds, picnic areas and parking lots, and forest roads open to off-highway vehicles unless they are posted closed. This is public land open to hunting in season under the Minnesota hunting and trapping regulations.
Verified 2026-09-07. Rules change; check the official page before you go.
