Hubachek Wilderness Research Center
Welcome to the University of Minnesota’s Hubachek Wilderness Research Center (HWRC). This new center, located in Minnesota's beautiful Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Ely, offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for wilderness research and education. Situated on about 350 acres of boreal forest and fronting two lakes on the edge of the BWCAW, it is primarily used for research on climate change's effects on northern forests and for teaching classes.
A gift of $2.5 million from the Chicago family of Frank Brooks Hubachek Sr., who established the Wilderness Research Center and Foundation, ensures continuation of wilderness research in northern Minnesota. The gift creates an endowment to be used to fund ecological and forestry research and education, with a focus on the forests of northeastern Minnesota.
The HWRC is part of the Cloquet Forestry Center within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. It is one of 10 such facilities in the Research & Outreach Center network located around Minnesota.
Research and Programs
The center sits on Fall Lake, a popular entrance to the BWCAW, and looks over Browns Lake, which is just outside the wilderness area. At present, the Hubachek laboratory is a three-season facility.