The establishment of a sawmill on the eleventh lake of the Crow Wing Chain of Lakes near Akeley by the Red River Lumber Company in 1898 led to the systematic logging of the old-growth red pine and eastern white pine which covered the land in the early twentieth century.

Aspen species became the dominant forest cover following a series of wildfires between 1913 and 1926, which nearly eliminated the remaining red and eastern white pine.

Today, around 82% of the forest is aspen, 10% is red, eastern white, and jack pine, with the remaining 8% a mix of northern hardwoods.

Popular outdoor recreational activities in the forest include dispersed camping.

In the wintertime, trails are designated for cross-country skiing and 60 miles (97 km) are set aside for snowmobiling.