Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve

 

 

About

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Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve

Cedar Creek Long Term Ecological Research Program (CDR LTER)

 

Overview

Most of Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is closed to the public. The Fish Lake Nature Trail is open to the public year-round. The Winter Savanna Loop Ski Trails and Oak Savanna Trail are open to the public seasonally.

 

History

Until 2007, the site was known as Cedar Creek Natural History Area. Visitors were required to obtain a day pass prior to visiting the site.

 

Management

University of Minnesota in cooperation with the Minnesota Academy of Science

 

Comments

 

Location

Size

2,200 hectares (5,436 acres)

 

Driving Directions

Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone.

  Area and County
    County   Anoka and Isanti Counties
    Region   Central Minnesota and Metro Area

Parking

Fish Lake Trail and Oak Savanna Trail entrance
N45 23.111, W93 9.758

Fish Lake Trail and Oak Savanna Trail parking lot
N45 23.782, W93 9.495

 

Hours

Year-round, sunrise to sunset

 

Fees

No fee

 

Maps

 

Activities

Hiking

Trail running

Biking

Mountain biking

Horseback riding

Picnicking

Camping

Swimming

Boating

Canoeing

Birding

Nature photography

Horseshoes

Volleyball

Geocaching

Cross country skiing

Skate-skiing

Winter hiking

Snowshoeing

Snowmobiling

 

Trails

Fish Lake Nature Trail

Length: 1.5 miles (one way)

Open to the public year-round, sunrise to sunset

Visitors are required to stay on the trail.

 

Oak Savanna Trail

Length: 1 mile (one way)

Open to the public June 1 to September 30, sunrise to sunset

Visitors are required to stay on the trail.

 

Winter Savanna Loop Ski Trails

Length: 2 miles (loop)

Open to the public when the ground is snow covered, sunrise to sunset

Visitors are required to stay on the trail.

   

Boardwalk

0.22 mile (380 yards)

Hiking

2.5 miles (one way)

Winter hiking

1.5 miles (one way)

Cross country skiing

2 miles

Snowshoe

2 miles

 

Hunting and Fishing

No hunting

Ecology

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification
Ecological Province Ecological Province  

Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province

 
Ecological Section Ecological Section  

Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal

 
Ecological Subsection Ecological Subsection  

Anoka Sand Plain

 
Land Type Association    

Anoka Lake Plain

 
         

Native Plant Communities*

 

Alder - (Maple - Loosestrife) Swamp

Black Ash - Yellow Birch - Red Maple - Alder Swamp (Eastcentral)

Black Ash - Yellow Birch - Red Maple - Basswood Swamp (Eastcentral)

Dry Barrens Oak Savanna (Southern): Oak Subtype

Graminoid - Sphagnum Rich Fen (Basin)

Low Shrub Poor Fen

Lowland White Cedar Forest (Northern)

Northern Bulrush - Spikerush Marsh

Northern Mixed Cattail Marsh

Northern Rich Fen (Basin)

Oak - Aspen Woodland

Poor Tamarack - Black Spruce Swamp

Poor Tamarack - Black Spruce Swamp: Black Spruce Subtype

Poor Tamarack - Black Spruce Swamp: Tamarack Subtype

Red Oak - Sugar Maple - Basswood - (Large-Flowered Trillium) Forest

Sedge Meadow

Southern Dry-Mesic Oak (Maple) Woodland

Tamarack Swamp (Southern)

Wet Prairie (Southern)

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp

 
* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources    
     

Natural Features

   

 

 

 

 

 

Visitor Photos
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve   Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
     
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve    

 

Camera

Slideshows

Cedar Creek
Glenn Allenspach

Cedar Creek
About

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, a property of the University of Minnesota, is the birthplace of ecological science. Anoka county, Minnesota USA

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, 21st August 2011
D. Hałas

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, 21st August 2011
About

A birding trip to Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, in Anoka and Isanti counties, Minnesota.

Cedar Creek
Restoration Evaluation

Cedar Creek

 

slideshow

Visitor Videos
 

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Other Videos

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Reserve
Amanda Brooks

About

Aug 16, 2017

A short documentary about the research, education, and outreach projects currently occurring at the Cedar Creek LTER in East Bethel, MN.

The Oak Savanna at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve
David Minor

About

May 3, 2021

Learn more about the organisms that call the oak savanna at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve home. From Red-headed woodpeckers, Bison, and caterpillars, to prairie grasses and burr oaks.

This is part of a group project I completed for a Big Woods Big Rivers - Minnesota Master Naturalist class.

The Red-Headed Woodpeckers of Cedar Creek
MinnesotaDNR

About

Uploaded on May 4, 2009

See the red-headed woodpeckers of the University of Minnesota's Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve—the largest remaining nesting area in Minnesota for a bird that has declined more than 50 percent across the Midwest since 1966. http://www.mndnr.gov/magazine

What Makes Cedar Creek a Unique Outdoor Laboratory?
umngiving

About

Uploaded on Jul 12, 2010

Video describing the unique qualities of the University of Minnesota's Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. Support Cedar Creek by making a gift at https://www.foundation.umn.edu/pls/dm or learn more at http://www.cedarcreek.umn.edu/

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

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Earl Bye

Birds

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)

Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)

  Blue-winged Warbler

NGCarlson

Fungi and Lichens

British Soldier Lichen (Cladonia cristatella)

  British Soldier Lichen
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

Visits

8/19/2000

5/26/2018

Amphibians

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 

Birds

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

Special Concern

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

eBird Field Checklist (Anoka County)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Birds List

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

  Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Fishes

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

Fungi and Lichens

Two fungi and lichen species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Butterball (Suillus weaverae)

Special Concern

Common Milkcap (Lactarius fuliginellus)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungi List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Lichens List

Insects and Arachnids

One insect and arachnid species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Special Concern

Iowa skipper (Atrytone arogos iowa)

Minnesota Bee Atlas

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

Mammals

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

Plants

Twenty plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Endangered

butternut (Juglans cinerea)

cross-leaved milkwort (Polygala cruciata)

tall nutrush (Scleria triglomerata)

twisted yelloweyed grass (Xyris torta)

wild chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

yellow bartonia (Bartonia virginica)

Threatened

black huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata)

Fuller’s bristly dewberry (Rubus fulleri)

Clinton’s bulrush (Trichophorum clintonii)

lance-leaved violet (Viola lanceolata ssp. lanceolata)

ram’s head lady’s slipper (Cypripedium arietinum)

seaside three-awn (Aristida tuberculosa)

woolly beachheather (Hudsonia tomentosa)

Special Concern

Guadalupe waternymph (Najas guadalupensis ssp. olivacea)

rhombic evening primrose (Oenothera rhombipetala)

small green wood orchid (Gymnadeniopsis clavellata)

small-leaved pussytoes (Antennaria parvifolia)

waterwillow (Decodon verticillatus var. laevigatus)

white wild indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla)

snow trillium (Trillium nivale)

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 

butter and eggs

Common False Solomon’s Seal

common mullein

New England aster

Reptiles

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 

 

Binoculars

 

Created: 10/3/2018

Last Updated:

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