Superior National Forest is listed as one of the 50 greatest places to visit in a lifetime (along with places such as Antarctica, Amazon, Grand Canyon, Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal) by the National Geographic Society, and is  the eighth most visited National Forest in the National Forest System.  It contains more than 2,000 lakes which total 440,000 lakes acres (20% of the NFS) and 3400 miles of streams and is the only wilderness of substantial size east of the Rocky Mountains and north of the Everglades.  Its abundant natural habitat is home to bald eagles, osprey and gray wolf.  It is known for its miles and miles of canoe routes and remote hiking and camping opportunities.

The U.S. Forest Service is undertaking a restoration of woodlands burned in the Ham Lake Fire of 2007, along with other seeding and conservation efforts throughout the forest and will seed the affected areas mostly with red and white pine, Jack pine, white and black spruce, paper and yellow birch, red oak and Northern white cedar. As they grow, these trees will help restore the forest, stabilize soil against erosion, create new habitats for forest creatures and preserve some of the finest wilderness areas within the United States.