41 Acres on the Sturgeon River, With a Fully Furnished 1900 Cabin
$169,900
Eight miles west of Big Falls, in the lake-and-forest country of Koochiching County, the Sturgeon River forms one boundary of this 41-acre property. The river is accessible right from the yard — no long hike, no portage, just a walk to the water's edge for fishing or a quiet place to sit.
The 41.52 acres split across County Road 30: the cabin, its yard, and the Sturgeon River frontage on one side; the larger hunting parcel on the other. That arrangement gives you a riverfront retreat with a separate block of wooded hunting land, without one eating into the other. The 1900 cabin itself is 2 bedrooms upstairs, a 3/4 bath, a full kitchen with generous counter space, and large family and dining rooms — 936 square feet that feel intentional for north woods use. A screened-in entry porch faces the river. The property comes fully furnished, meaning the first weekend up north doesn't require a single trip to the hardware store. Snowmobile and ATV trails run nearby, and a recent update round covered painted siding, yard cleanup, and selective tree removal to open up the river views. The driveway is lined with mature trees. The large acreage across the road is unimproved and carries good deer and waterfowl habitat typical of northern Minnesota’s lake-and-forest border country.
Listed at $169,900. Listing courtesy of Kaila Juntunen Wass, Pemberton RE.
Homestead Potential
Water & Infrastructure
The Sturgeon River runs along the property with easy yard-to-water access — no trail required. The Sturgeon is a recognized paddling and fishing river in northern Minnesota, with walleye, northern pike, and smallmouth bass in its corridor. Buyers should confirm the exact extent of river frontage from a current survey, and verify whether any Koochiching County or Minnesota DNR shoreland zoning setback requirements apply to the cabin's current position or any future additions. Domestic water for the cabin should be confirmed — rural Koochiching County properties typically rely on private wells or holding tanks.
Crop & Income Potential
The cabin sits in the north woods, not on tillable agricultural land — the 41 acres are primarily forested, with the yard providing the only cleared space around the structure. That limits conventional crop production but opens the door for wild harvesting: morel mushrooms, ramps, wild blueberries, and fiddleheads are all found in the Koochiching County forest understory in season. The wooded acreage across the road supports deer and waterfowl, making hunting a practical food-production activity rather than a hobby. A raised-bed kitchen garden is possible in the cleared yard area with adequate sun exposure.
Sustainability
The fully furnished condition means a buyer can use the property immediately without capital outlay for furniture or equipment — a meaningful advantage at this price point. The screened porch extends livable space through the buggy north woods summer without mechanical cooling. Snowmobile and ATV trail access keeps the property accessible and functional through Minnesota's long winter. The hunting land across the road provides a protein source for residents willing to use it. Buyers should assess the 1900 cabin's mechanical systems — heating, electrical, and plumbing — for current condition and efficiency, since a structure of this age in a climate this demanding warrants a full inspection before assuming ongoing costs.
The Boundaries
County Road 30 splits the 41.52 acres into two pieces — the riverfront cabin lot on one side, the larger wooded hunting parcel on the other. A current survey will settle both parcels' boundaries and confirm whether they're legally combined or deeded separately, plus what access rights exist for crossing the road between them. Minnesota DNR shoreland regulations kick in for river-frontage properties like this one, so it's worth confirming the setback requirements before you plan any additions near the Sturgeon River. Koochiching County zoning is the last box to check, especially if cabin expansion or a new accessory structure is somewhere in your plans.
Beyond the Property Line
Local Flavor & Small-Town Character
Big Falls is a small township in Koochiching County, deep in the Minnesota north woods near the Canadian border. The town is the county's informal center for the river corridor — it sits where the Big Fork River meets the logging and resort economy that has defined this region for generations. The area is honest north woods: outfitters, sporting goods, a small-town hardware store, and the kind of community where everyone knows when the walleye are biting. International Falls, the county seat and border crossing into Ontario, is about 40 miles north, providing a full-service hub for larger supply runs and medical care.
Agricultural Resources & Neighbor Networks
University of Minnesota Extension maintains resources relevant to north woods property ownership, including guidance on forest management, wildlife habitat improvement, and rural property stewardship applicable to a 41-acre wooded parcel in Koochiching County. The Minnesota DNR's Private Lands Wildlife program offers free technical assistance for landowners interested in improving deer, waterfowl, or turkey habitat on private property — directly applicable to the hunting parcel across the road. The USDA Forest Service manages the surrounding Superior National Forest and Chippewa National Forest regions; local offices can advise on compatible uses for privately owned wooded parcels adjacent to managed public land.
Outdoor Recreation & Natural Surroundings
The Sturgeon River is a recognized paddling route in northern Minnesota, with canoe and kayak access points along its length through Koochiching County — the river runs directly along this property's edge. The statewide snowmobile and ATV trail network touches this property directly, connecting it to hundreds of miles of groomed trail in northern Minnesota. Fishing for walleye, northern pike, and bass is the defining outdoor activity in the county, and the Sturgeon River corridor holds consistent populations. Deer hunting is a serious pursuit in Koochiching County, where the wooded acreage and river edges support healthy white-tail populations. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness — one of the most celebrated wilderness paddling destinations in North America — is accessible within a few hours' drive east.
Listed on Zillow
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