Brownsville Bluff SNA

286 acres

N43 40.700, W91 16.702

There are no maintained hiking trails. An access road leads from the parking area (walk around the gate) 0.67 miles to the top of the bluff. A footpath follows the cleared fields on the bluff top to the northern boundary. Another footpath leads east from there to an overlook at the northeast corner of the SNA, a dizzying 400 feet above the road below. The Gopherland Trail snowmobile trail passes through the sanctuary portion of the SNA and may be used by snowmobiles when covered with snow.

Whitetail deer. See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.

Minnesota DNR

This SNA lies within the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.

History
This site was designated Brownsville Bluff Scientific and Natural Area on January 19, 2016.

Sanctuary
The 39-acre south section of this SNA is a wildlife sanctuary. It is closed to the public except to those with a research permit.

Overview
Brownsville Bluff Scientific and Natural Area, in Houston County, was designated on January 19, 2016. The 39-acre south section is a wildlife sanctuary that is closed to the public. The site consists of 286 acres bedrock bluff covered with windblown sediment. The eastern-facing slopes are moderately steep to very steep. They have a mature, moderately moist forest of sugar maple, basswood, ironwood, northern red oak, and white oak. The west-facing slopes are less steep. They have a dry to moderately moist mature forest of bur oak, northern pin oak, northern red oak, and paper birch, with some shagbark hickory, white oak, and black walnut. At the top of the bluff there is a prairie that has been used as an agricultural field. It will be restored to prairie and savanna.

An access road leads from the parking area (walk around the gate) 0.67 miles to the top of the bluff. A footpath follows the cleared fields on the bluff top to the northern boundary. Another footpath leads east from there to a spectacular overlook at the northeast corner of the SNA, a dizzying 400 feet above the road below.

Entrance

Parking

Access road leads to the top of the bluff

State Wildlife Sanctuary

Old field on the bluff top

Oak Forest

Overlook

One bird species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here:

One plant species on the watch list is found here:

One reptile species with conservation status in Minnesota and one tracked species have been seen here: