The Soo Line North Trail, a 148-mile multiple use trail cuts through the McGregor Marsh SNA and is open for ATV use from April to December and snowmobile travel in winter from December to April, hiking is allowed year-around. Traveling the Soo Line Trail gets visitors off the road and into areas that not often visited by birders. The North Trail connects with the 114-mile Soo Line South ATV Trail just southwest of Moose Lake.

Directions: Located from McGregor two miles south on State Highway 65 on east side of highway, limited parking available at the Soo Line Trail crossing

Nearest Town: Tamarack

The Salo Wildlife Management Area consists of two units; the main unit 1,990 acres, has a 200-acre wetland impoundment. Scan the open water for all types of waterfowl and water birds. The dead trees around the edge host herons, Tree Swallows and Belted Kingfishers. Red-winged Blackbirds and Swamp Sparrows call from the weedy edges of the impoundment. Look for warblers in the aspen trees with Savannah Sparrow, Brewers Blackbird and Bobolink in the open grassland. American Woodcock and Ruffed Grouse breed in the area, along with Northern Harrier and American Kestrel.

Heading south from Tamarack into the Salo area along County Road 16 watch the open fields to the east south of town for Sharp-tailed Grouse. There is a lek about .5 miles south of State Highway 210 on the east side of the road, where they can be seen dancing in the spring. In winter, look for Snowy Owl and in irruption years, Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls. In summer, Savannah, Clay-colored and Song Sparrows nest along the grassy road edges. Le Conte’s Sparrow and Sedge Wren can be heard and seen in the sedge covered, wet meadows.

The west subunit of the Salo WMA contains lowland brush areas and a beaver pond located along the Sandy River, which flows through the subunit. The east portion of the unit is an aspen forest type. Watch for White-tailed Deer, Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Kingbird, Tree Swallow and Black-capped Chickadee on this WMA. Mammals to look for here included Gray Wolf, Black Bear, River Otter and beaver.

Aitkin County and the Minnesota DNR cooperatively manage this WMA for deer, Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock and waterfowl. This subunit is a wetland/forest complex with a grass field in the southwest section. Respect private property on the adjacent lands that surround this WMA. Wild rice harvesting is not allowed on either unit of the Salo WMA.

Directions: From Tamarack, 1.5 miles south on County Road 16, one mile east on 422nd Street, 1.5 miles south on township road to the west unit or three miles south and east on 120th Place to the main unit.

Contact Information: Aitkin County Land Department, 209 – 2nd Street NW, Aitkin, MN 56431, Phone: 218-927-7364, E-mail: acld@co.aitkin.mn.us; Minnesota DNR, Area Wildlife Office, 1200 Minnesota Ave S, Aitkin, MN 56431, Phone: 218-927-6915.