The Hedbom Forest Road is now plowed and easily passable, at least coming in from the east or St Louis Co side. I was there yesterday, Jan 3, and there were no problems with driving or turning around as far as I went, which was 7 miles west of the yellow gate & state forest road sign. (I would assume the road is plowed its entire length west to Aitkin Co Rd 65.) It was plowed on Jan 2, according to a Wisconsin birder I met who was also there on Tuesday when a pickup truck with attached plow went through. Whether the truck was hired by a logging operation, the county, or the state forest is not known, and it's unknown if the plowing will continue all season.
Yesterday was the first time I had to check this area, and I must say I was disappointed. Given the number of postings about this road recently, birders might be under the impression that this area is something special. Actually, the habitat along the portion of the road I drove is typical of much of NE Minnesota, with most of it ordinary mixed boreal forest, with more of it deciduous than coniferous in nature. (While I did not drive the entire road, I feel safe in assuming from looking at the county map that the habitat farther west along the road is no better.) The only interesting part of the 7 miles I traveled is the mile-long stretch of solid tamarack bog where the woodpecker sightings have been, 2-3 miles west of the gate, but there dozens (hundreds?) of places with similar and extensive stands of tamaracks nearby in Aitkin and St. Louis Co's. Yes, there have been some interesting birds seen there, especially the Great Grays and the two woodpeckers, but note that all of them have been found recently elsewhere in these counties. (Great Grays have also been reported in at least two other areas, and Am Three-toed and Black-backed woodpeckers are being reported at several places.) So, while the Hedbom Forest Road is currently worth a visit, by itself it may not be worth driving too far out of your way for, don't expect to find an extraordinary or unique area, and driving its entire length would probably not be worthwhile if you're short of time. - Kim Eckert
