Local News

900+ acres permanently protected, including Wolf Ridge learning center land

KAXE

Published June 8, 2026 at 1:30 PM CDT

A counselor with Wolf Ridge Environmental Learn Center shows students wild edible plants on Marshall Mountain, within property permanently protected with a conservation easement along Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior.

A conservation easement will protect the property spanning forests, wetlands, cliffs and streams. Half of the protected acreage is considered to be "high biodiversity."

ILLGEN CITY — A newly designated conservation easement will permanently protect 928 acres of forest, lakes and streams along Minnesota's North Shore.

The Nature Conservancy and Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center announced the easement in a Thursday, June 4, news release. Nearly half of the protected acres are recognized by the state of Minnesota as high biodiversity, with rare plants, mammals and birds, along with some older, undisturbed forest.

The protected land has high-quality freshwater resources, including the Baptism River, Sawmill Creek and Johnson Lake — all flowing to Lake Superior and supporting aquatic habitat and the health of the Great Lakes.

A map shows a new conservation easement announced June 4, 2026, that permanently protects 928 acres of land along Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior.

The property spans forests, wetlands, cliffs and streams that provide habitat for wildlife, including moose, black bear, wolves, pine martens, beavers, bald eagles, peregrine falcons and migratory songbirds.

“This place is special not just because of its forests and clean water, but because of how many people have experienced it,” stated Rich Biske, The Nature Conservancy's director of land protection in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

“By protecting this land, we’re safeguarding habitat and making sure kids can keep coming here to explore, learn and build a connection to nature.”

Founded in 1971, Wolf Ridge has welcomed thousands of students and visitors each year for hands-on outdoor learning. This conservation effort protects a world-class setting for future generations and supports Wolf Ridge’s long-standing work to restore native and climate-resilient habitats, the release stated.

Students of Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center explore Sawmill Creek, within permanently protected conservation land along Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior.

“As steward of nearly 2,000 acres of some of the most beautiful land in Minnesota, this commitment ensures the ecological protection of the land where our students are immersed in environmental learning — forever,” stated Pete Smerud, executive director of Wolf Ridge. “Wolf Ridge’s classroom is the outdoors, and it is simply a spectacular place to learn.”

The conservation easement limits development, protects sensitive areas like shorelines and wetlands, and guides long-term forest management. Funds from the easement will support an endowment aimed a strengthening Wolf Ridge’s long-term sustainability and educational mission.

Funding for the project comes from Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage Fund, which was created under the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment and approved by Minnesota voters in 2008.

The view from a cliff within permanently protected conservation land near Illgen City on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The property is part of the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.

“Projects like this show what’s possible when Minnesota invests in conservation,” stated Jim Manolis, The Nature Conservancy's director of forest strategy and stewardship, who attended the center as a child and started his career in conservation at Wolf Ridge as an intern in 1987. “This is exactly what the Legacy Amendment was designed to do — deliver lasting benefits for both people and nature.”

“Every student who comes to Wolf Ridge will learn on land protected in perpetuity,” Smerud added. “As they pass the Legacy sign on the trail and enter the conserved land, they will be introduced to the importance of conservation and stewardship for future generations.”