Forest Service plans prescribed burns and road maintenance projects amidst storm damage repair efforts
As winter in the Arrowhead finally seems to be over, the U.S. Forest Service is gearing up for maintenance efforts on two fronts. They recently announced several upcoming prescribed burns in the area, and published information on roadwork that may impact travel on USFS roads.
The planned maintenance and improvements come after recent weather has caused the closure and emergency work on several other USFS roads in the area. For the latest on the status of area roads, the USFS maintains an alerts page on their website. Roads that were closed due to weather damage will remain closed until repairs have been made.
According to a press release from the USFS, roads closed as of April 30 are:
- Forest Road 313-Shoe Lake Road, from the intersection of the Arrowhead Trail (Cook County 16) west to Loft Lake carry-down access.
- Forest Road 325-South Brule River Road at Fiddle Creek, from the junction of Forest Road 152-Lima Grade to FR325D Spur.
- An alternative route to recreation sites – East and West Twin Lakes, Bower Trout (BWCAW entry point 43) and Ram Lake (BWCAW entry point 44) is Forest Road 152-Lima Mountain Road, approximately 4 miles north of the FR325-South Brule River Road intersection on the Gunflint Trail (Cook County 12).
- South Farm Lake culvert washout, on Kawishiwi Trail/Prospector ATV/OHV Trail, road closure is near end of Lake County Road 16 to Gate No. 3 of Prospector ATV Trail.
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Forest Road 166-Cross River Road, closed at the junction of the Temperance River Road (approximately 5.15 miles northwest of State Highway 61) going east (approximately 4.9 miles) to County Road 2.
Prescribed burning
Beginning May 1 the USFS will be burning brush piles near Flour and Wampus Lakes, near Squint Lake, and along the Gunflint Trail between South Brule River and Greenwood Lake roads, referred to as the Atlas area.
The burns are planned from May 1 through May 6, but are subject to change based on weather conditions. In a notice from the Superior National Forest Gunflint Ranger District, Amber Huse wrote, “As is the case with all our prescribed burns, we will need to ensure that the weather and the environmental conditions are in line with being able to meet our objectives and to do so safely. We consult with the National Weather Service in Duluth daily when we are igniting piles to be sure that forecasts are aligned with the conditions needed.”
As with any prescribed burns, the USFS will post signs in the impacted areas notifying people of the planned burning. In her notice of the burns, Huse said that some slow spread is possible from the piles, but that the fire staff are anticipating this and will be monitoring spread.
Maps of the areas where burns will take place are below.
Forest Service road projects
Several USFS roads will be closed during maintenance work beginning in May and lasting potentially into the fall. A press release from the USFS lists three projects that will take place over construction season. In all three cases there will be at least partial road closure..
The project planned for Forest Road 304, or Kimball Creek Road, will replace a large culvert. The press release stated that the complete closure will last for two weeks during the summer, but should not impact access to recreation areas. The project is located in the Gunflint Ranger District
Another culvert will be replaced on Forest Road 459, or Grassy Lake Road in the Kawishiwi Ranger District. That project will begin in October, and will include a two-week complete closure along with potential intermittent closures. The USFS advises that the Mudro Lake entry point to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness will not be accessible from Grassy Lake Road. Alternative routes have been identified by the USFS for those who are planning to leave the BWCAW through Mudro Lake.
Also in the Gunflint Ranger District, the USFS is planning a bridge replacement on Forest Road 152, or South Brule River Road. The construction is expected to begin in the spring and last into the fall with intermittent closures. No recreation areas are expected to be impacted however, because the USFS will establish a temporary bypass lane.
More information and updates on the road projects can be found on the USFS website.
Kirsten Wisniewski May 1, 2026
