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Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in Sherburne County, in east central Minnesota, about 50 miles northwest of the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The 30,700 acre refuge was established in 1965 at the urging of local conservationists and hunters interested in restoring the wildlife values of the St. Francis River Basin, which had been altered by a series of drainage ditches and agricultural production. Following that, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge became and remains the largest public land holding in Sherburne County. The refuge is now a wild remnant at the meeting of the western prairies and the northern woods, with oak savanna, prairie opening, forest, wetland and riverine habitats.

Additionally, the refuge is designated as a state Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Located within the Mississippi Flyway, the refuge hosts countless migratory waterfowl, songbirds and sandhill cranes in the spring and fall, along with hosting a wide variety of breeding and resident bird species.

Directions

* Take I-94 west to the Highway 101 (Rogers) exit * Follow Highway 101 north until it turns into Highway 169 * Follow Highway 169 north through Elk River and Zimmerman to County Road 9, an exit located four miles north of Zimmerman * Turn left and follow County Road 9 west for four miles * Once you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue west on County Road 9 to access the hiking trails, Oak Savanna Learning Center and refuge headquarters * To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, take County Road 9 for 3.5 miles and take a left at the stop sign to go south on County Road 5. In two miles, take the first left to enter the Wildlife Drive. * Take Highway 23 east through St. Cloud to Highway 95 * Follow Highway 95 east 15 miles to Mille Lacs County Road 7 * Look for the large brown information sign for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge * Go south 4 miles on Mille Lacs County Road 7, which becomes Sherburne County Road 5 * Once you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue south on County Road 5 three miles further to County Road 9 * Turn left to go east on County Road 9 to access the hiking trails, Oak Savanna Learning Center and refuge headquarters. To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, continue straight on County Road 5 for an additional two miles and take the first left. * From Highway 10 in Big Lake, take Sherburne County Road 5 north approximately eight miles to Orrock * Once you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue north on County Road 5 * The entrance to the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive will be on your right in one mile, otherwise continue north another two miles to County Road 9 * Turn right to go east on County Road 9 to access the hiking trails, Oak Savanna Learning Center and refuge headquarters * Follow Highway 169 north (Zimmerman) or south (Princeton) to County Road 9 * Turn left and follow County Road 9 west for four miles * Once you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue on County Road 9 west to access the hiking trails, Oak Savanna Learning Center and refuge headquarters * To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, take County Road 9 for 3.5 miles and take a left at the stop sign to go south on County Road 5. In two miles, take the first left to enter the Wildlife Drive.

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