A nearby day-use area on the shore of Flagstaff Lake offers opportunities for swimming and picnicking. A hand-carry boat or canoe may be launched from the beach. The Preserve is a popular three season recreation area, with spring being the only time when there are few visitors. Fall foliage can be viewed from the roads and trails. Hunting and trapping opportunities range from easy vehicle access to foot access only in the backcountry areas.
Fishing is available in man y small ponds and brooks.
Snowmobilers can travel over twenty miles of designated trails. Those traveling on snowshoes or cross-country skis can find opportunities to enjoy solitude on the hiking trails and unplowed roads. A spacious lodge, located near the Round Barn Campsites, is kept open on winter weekends as a warming stopover for skiers and snowmobilers. An Act to create the Preserve was passed in June of 1976, by public referendum, authorizing acquisition of up to 40,000 acres of land. The management objectives for the Preserve are to maintain its largely undeveloped character, while providing for outdoor recreational activities, and for the careful management and harvest of forest products.