Gichigami Ziibi WMA
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
551 acres1.6 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in New Independence Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in New Independence Township
The biggest trail networks: Gichigami Ziibi WMA (1.6 mi). 9% of New Independence Township’s land is conserved, about 1,935 acres. 15 miles of mapped trail cross New Independence Township, 0.4 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
9%
1,935 acres · of 34.9 sq mi of land
Trails
15 mi
0.4 per sq mi of land
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
6
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Gichigami Ziibi WMA, with 1.6 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
1,935 conserved acres
9% of New Independence Township’s land. Who manages New Independence Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources1,888 ac
State fish & wildlife44 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service2 ac
State Resource Management Area · 1,888 acState Conservation Area · 44 acConservation Easement · 2 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 2 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 1,887 | Open |
| Hellwig Creek State Aquatic Management Area (St. Louis) State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 41 | Restricted |
| Artichoke Creek State Aquatic Management Area (St. Louis) State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 3 | Restricted |
| Cloquet Valley State Forest State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 2 | Open |
Trails & water
1 named trail and 6 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Reservoir Rider Trails4.5 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The walking year in New Independence Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.9 | 10.2 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 15.0 | 15.9 | 15.5 | 14.2 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.3 | 8.5 |
| High (°F) | 18 | 24 | 37 | 51 | 64 | 73 | 78 | 76 | 67 | 53 | 36 | 23 |
| Rain (in) | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 1.2 |
January is the driest month (0.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 78 °F). 4.5 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in New Independence Township →
Next door
New Independence Township and its neighbors
New Independence Township has the second most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Grand Lake Township37 miNew Independence Township15 miAlborn Township12 miNorthland Township4.3 miIndustrial Township0.3 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Independence Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Alborn Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Northland Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Industrial Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Grand Lake Township | 4% | 0.6 | under 1 | under 1% | C− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in New Independence Township
Where can I hike in New Independence Township?
The longest trail networks: Gichigami Ziibi WMA, 1.6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on New Independence Township’s trails?
Gichigami Ziibi WMA doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near New Independence Township?
34,443 acres of parks and open public land lie inside New Independence Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 1,905 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from New Independence Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →