DNR auction for 5 parcels in Northern MN starts Dec. 2

DULUTH — Looking for recreational property in Northern Minnesota? Try checking the Department of Natural Resources.

The agency will offer five parcels in a public land auction beginning Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The land in Carlton, Clearwater, St. Louis and Wadena counties may appeal to adjacent landowners or may be good hunting or camping properties, the DNR said in its announcement.

All but 2 of the 190 acres for sale are school trust lands, which generate revenue for a statewide education fund.

The DNR actively manages its land portfolio of 5.6 million acres and regularly offers to sell land that no longer meets the state's needs. The agency has a fiduciary responsibility to manage school trust lands for the benefit of education and said the five parcels it's auctioning off have limited opportunities to generate income.

The largest parcel is 67.9 acres in Fredenberg Township, about 15 miles northwest of Duluth. A corner of it may be suitable for a home or other development, but the rest of the property may be challenging to build on because of wetlands.

Three 40-acre parcels will also be auctioned off: two adjacent lots northwest of Bagley in Popple Township and one 14 miles northeast of Sebeka.

The Clearwater County parcels are a mix of woods, shrub swamp and upland, and the Wadena County parcel is mostly wetland. But all three properties lack legal access.

The final parcel is a 2.57-acre triangular parcel off Highway 23 northeast of Wrenshall, across the road from Jay Cooke State Park. It's mostly taken up by road right of ways and an overhead utility line.

The properties will be available for online bidding for two weeks beginning Tuesday.