Cook County News Herald

DNR COVID-19 response: What you need to know


In accordance with guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health, we have adjusted our services, events and operations to protect Minnesotans and prevent further spread of COVID-19. Our public lands remain open but we have closed some buildings. We have canceled or postponed many public events and meetings. You will find the latest details below.

What’s open?

State parks, state forests, recreation areas, and other public lands remain open. The following facilities will remain open at state parks:

Outdoor areas, campgrounds, camper cabins, yurts, remote campsites, overnight lodging facilities and some group centers

Highway rest areas at Grand Portage, Gooseberry Falls and Tettegouche state parks.

Bathrooms, shower buildings and vault toilets that are already open for the season will remain open.

What’s closed?

Park offices, visitor centers, nature stores, trail centers, indoor interpretive exhibits and enclosed picnic shelters.

Most park bathrooms with running water are still closed for the season and will remain closed.

Postponed events

All safety education training, including firearms safety training.

Deer open houses.

Elk input meetings in northwest Minnesota.

Canceled events

All naturalist programs and public events at state parks are canceled until further notice. This includes visitor center programs and school group activities.

Online and phone options

We urge the public to do business with us by phone, email, or online. Here are some of your options:

Buy or renew licenses online.

Make or change camping and lodging reservations online or by phone at 866- 857-2757.

Call your local DNR office

Use email or phone (888-646-6367) to request information from the DNR Information Center

Updates on our website: Please check our COVID-19 webpage regularly for additions and modifications to this list.

Updates available by email

To receive future updates by email on impacts to specific public lands and facilities, go to our signup page and subscribe to the DNR topics you are interested in.

Questions?

Contact the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (646- 6367). Email the center at info.dnr@state. mn.us. Hours are 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday- Friday and 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

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