To find American Beaver and Muskrat, check the water impoundment, as both species live there. There are additional beaver dams along the roadway, assuming they survived the winter. Gray Wolf, Black Bear, Fisher, White-tailed Deer, Porcupine, Bobcat and the occasional Moose can be found along the Hedbom Forest Road.

Even before reaching the Hedbom Forest Road, County Road 36 offers ample opportunities to find birds. There are two additional Forest Roads that intersect with County Road 36 that have good birding possibilities. The Aitkin Lake Forest Road, located 3.2 miles from Highway 14, turns left shortly after passing Twin Lakes. The Aitkin Lake Forest Road is on the west side and winds around the hardwood hills to Aitkin Lake. The road is good for finding warblers, flycatchers and common breeding birds of the area. The Remote Lake Forest Road, 5.4 miles from County Road 14, is a 2.6-mile road to a carry-in lake access on Remote Lake. Look for American Woodcock, Ruffed Grouse, American Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Common Raven and more. The forest road intersects the hiking/ski trail to the Savanna Portage State Park near the parking lot access. Like much of this part of Aitkin County, the fall colors are spectacular along the roadway.

County Road 36 turns left 6.9 miles from the turn-off from County Road 14, and continues back to State Highway 65, passing bogs and mixed forests along the way. Continue ahead on Loon Avenue or County Road 65 to reach the Hedbom Forest Road. County Road 65 passes Boot Lake, where the Aitkin County Land Department has an overlook. Stop to check for waterfowl, Common Loon and Bald Eagle at this site. North of the Hedbom Forest Road, County Road 65 continues for approximately five miles before reaching State Highway 65. Fall colors along the road and surrounding picturesque Blackface Lake are worth the drive. Blackface Lake is home to Wood Duck and many species of migrating waterfowl in season. Just before reaching State Highway 65, there is an access on the south to Little Ball Bluff Lake.

Directions: From McGregor, seven miles, north on State Highway 65, right on County Road 14, six miles to County Road 36 (Loon Ave). The Hedbom Forest Road is 9.5 miles from the junction of County Road 14 & County Road 36.

Contact Information: Minnesota DNR, Sandy Lake Forestry Station, 44928 Lake Ave, McGregor, MN 55760, Phone: 218-426-3407; Aitkin County Land Department, 209 – 2nd Street NW, Aitkin, MN 56431, Phone: 218-927-7364, E-mail: acld@co.aitkin.mn.us.