Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center 2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 952-854-5900 |
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers a wide variety of activities year round. Six public priority uses have been identified as appropriate activities on all National Wildlife Refuge lands. Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge adheres to these guidelines offering: hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education and interpretation. In addition to these activities Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers other limited activities. These activities are confined to certain areas or during certain seasons to alleviate impacts on wildlife and their habitats. A list of these activities follows. For more details on these restricted activities contact the Visitor Center at 952.854.5900.
All Refuge units and Waterfowl Production Areas are open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week.
LIMITED ACTIVITIES
Canoeing/Boating:
You can launch your canoe or boat into the Minnesota River at the Russell A. Sorenson Landing at Lyndale Ave. Canoeing or boating is allowed on the Minnesota River. Neither is allowed on Refuge property.
Biking:
Biking is limited within the Refuge. You may ride your bike on a limited number of Refuge trails, and access trails to the State Corridor Trail. The State Corridor Trail is a multi-use trail operated by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). To learn more about the State Corridor Trail, contact 952.492.6400. Please refer to the individual unit maps to learn where you can and can not ride your bike in the Refuge.
Horseback Riding:
You may ride your horse at two locations within the Refuge. In Louisville Swamp Unit you can access the State Corridor Trail and the Carver Rapids Unit (managed by the Minnesota DNR) via Refuge trails from the northern parking lot.
Snowmobiling:
Snowmobiling is allowed along the State Corridor Trail only. In Louisville Swamp Unit you may use the Refuge trail from the northern parking lot to access the State Corridor Trail. Please contact 952.492.6400 to learn more about the State Corridor Trail.
Hunting & Fishing:
Hunting is limited to Wilkie Unit, Louisville Swamp Unit, and Rapids Lake Unit. Fishing is allowed throughout the Refuge. Please click on the Hunting Regulations and the Fishing Regulations for more information.
Dog Walking:
Dogs are allowed throughout the Refuge. They must be leased at all times and pet waste must be removed.
Citations and fines will be given if you are found violating Refuge rules. For more information please contact the Visitor Center at 952.854.5900.
SEASONAL ACTIVITIES
People come to the Refuge to enjoy the outdoors. The Refuge is open year round and with each season you can participate in different activities:
Fall: Enjoy the hues of fall with the changing of colors on trees throughout the Refuge, go for bug-free hikes, join Refuge interpreters on a canoe tour, watch the birds get ready for their long migration south for the winter, and hunting season begins.
Winter: Put your cross-country skis on and see parts of the Refuge that are inaccessible throughout most of the year (i.e. Mazomoni trail in Louisville Swamp), go snowshoeing (you can borrow a pair from the Visitor Center), see muskrats build their homes, look for animal tracks -- they're easy to see in the snow.
Spring: Grab your binoculars and go birdwatching, see the hundreds of species of birds that use the Refuge as a stop over in their long migration north or the birds that call the Refuge their summer home, click on Wildlife to learn more about birdwatching. With the rains comes the mud and muddy trails but it also brings flowers -- look for the many different colors of the prairie grasslands, or celebrate Earth Day at the Refuge. Spring is also when the fishing season begins.
Summer: Enjoy the long days of summer and go for a long hike, but bring the bug spray!, join us for Youth Fishing Day and learn all you ever wanted to know about fishing, join a Refuge interpreter or volunteer on an evening wildlife walk.
