Lost River Forest Road runs 3.3 miles north from its junction with West Gemmell Ridge Forest Road, deep in the red pine country of southern Pine Island State Forest. A fire-number sign and a destination board pointing toward Kelliher and Waskish stand at the junction, and northward the road narrows to a grassy two-track through dense aspen. It shares its name with the Lost River, the only stream of that name in Koochiching County, which rises a few miles south of the road’s course.
Pine Island is Minnesota’s largest state forest at 900,153 acres, a country of pine “islands” amid peatlands and bogs left by glacial Lake Agassiz. Its roads 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 — and dispersed camping is allowed at least a mile outside campground areas at no fee. The DNR posts current 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.
