The forest's network of roads and hiking trails were largely created by the Civilian Conservation Corps.

[4] The Civilian Conservation Corps worked at Laurel Lake from 1933 to 1937, constructing a beach, campground, picnic area, and new dam among other features.

Laurel Lake is home to large mouth bass, rainbow trout, brook trout, yellow perch, pickerel, eel, and blue gill, snapping and painted turtles, heron, beaver, eastern newt, bullfrog, and leopard frog.

The forest itself is home to many animals including black bear, white tail deer, porcupine, coyote, fox, raccoon, and ground squirrel.

The state forest is open to hiking, swimming, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, and seasonal hunting.