USFWS · Minnesota

Tamarac Wilderness

There is a special feeling of wildness about this place, Tamarac, best expressed by the eerie howl of a wolf, the mournful wail of a loon, or the drumming of a ruffed grouse from deep within the forest. Tamarac Wilderness is located within the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in the glacial lake country of northwestern Minnesota, established as a refuge breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The Wilderness consists of four sections within the refuge: three islands in Tamarac Lake and a larger section in the northwest corner. Tamarac is a land of rolling forested hills interspersed with lakes, rivers, marshes, bogs, and shrub swamps.

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Tamarac Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
StateMinnesota
Size2,180 acres
Designated1976, by Congress
Center point47.07° N, 95.60° W
Night skyAbout as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10)

Boundary map

4 outlines

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Tamarac Wilderness0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 7.0°F averageFebruary: 11.1°F averageMarch: 26.3°F averageApril: 40.9°F averageMay: 55.0°F averageJune: 65.0°F averageJuly: 69.5°F averageAugust: 67.5°F averageSeptember: 59.0°F averageOctober: 44.5°F averageNovember: 29.9°F averageDecember: 15.2°F averageTemp °F
The line is the average temperature at Tamarac Wildlife Re, 8 miles from the center point at 1,508 feet, station USC00218191 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 6 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Guidebooks for Minnesota

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Tamarac Wilderness?

2,180 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Tamarac Wilderness?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Tamarac Wilderness in?

Minnesota.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Tamarac Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1976.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How do I get to Tamarac Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 47.069° N, 95.598° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Are there historic places near Tamarac Wilderness?

The National Register has 6 listings within 15 miles, including Detroit Lakes Carnegie Library and Northern Pacific Passenger Depot.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.