Moe Woods

From Brooten:

• Travel west on Pope County Highway 8 for three miles, then south for a half mile after the road bends.
• At this point County 8 turns west again. Rather than follow County 8, continue south on Pope County 37 for 4.0 miles.
• At this point County 37 turns east. At the corner, follow a gravel township road to the south for 0.25 mile, then west for about a half mile after it bends.
• At this point a degraded dirt road turns to the south, marked by a small State Wildlife Management Area sign. Park here, on the side of the township road, unless you have a high-suspension vehicle. The degraded road dead-ends into a grassy parking lot for the Little Jo WMA.
• A rough track leads east out of the parking lot through tall grass and sumac and into a patch of forest where the trail is clearer. The track emerges from the forest into another field, and then through an aspen grove. Head toward the eastern side of Crook Lake.
• The trail enters the forest about 50 feet uphill from the lake. After crossing an old barbed-wire fence, head east (left) on a trail toward Round Lake, which is visible through the trees.
• Follow an overgrown trail to the south that climbs onto the high ground between the two lakes and continue.
• Pass an open swamp on the right and take a trail that leaves to the north (left) toward Round Lake. (Continuing on the first trail leads onto private property.)
• Follow the new trail as it curves along the ridge above the lake. The trail ends quickly, but continuing along the ridge leads into the northwest corner of Moe Woods Preserve and provides beautiful views of Round Lake.