Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Wilkie Unit is one of eight units that make up the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. It lies on the south bank of the Minnesota River in an outer Twin Cities suburb. North of the river is the Bloomington Ferry Unit. This site is part of a much larger area that has been designated as the Lower Minnesota River Valley Important Bird Area (IBA). The Wilkie Unit is an important stopover for migrating waterfowl, including Tundra Swans and American White Pelicans. The largest Great Blue Heron rookery in Minnesota is on this unit. A hiking trail passes through bottomland forest along the bank of the Minnesota River.

Bloomington Ferry and Wilkie Units Trail Map

2,100 acres

N44 47.732, W93 25.194

Sunrise to Sunset for approved activities, including federal holidays

No fee

No National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota charges a fee

The Fischer Lake Trail (Minnesota River Trail on the printed map) is accessed from the paved Minnesota River Valley State Trail 0.3 mile west of the parking area. There is a small parking lot at that spot with room for a few cars. The natural surface trail follows an administrative road north 0.6 miles to the Minnesota River and an intersection of two trails. The trail to the right of the intersection is a 0.9 mile footpath that leads east along the river and eventually loops back to the main trail. The north leg of the loop is overgrown in spots. The west and south legs of this loop are on a raised berm surrounding a shallow man-made pool. To the left of the intersection the Blue Lake Trail follows an administrative road along the river west 0.9 mile to a sharp bend in the river. A downed tree at this point blocks the road. The refuge west of the Fischer Lake Trail, including the Blue Lake Trail, is closed to the public March 1 to August 31 to protect nesting great blue herons.

The Minnesota River Valley State Trail (“State Corridor Trail” on the printed map) is a paved bike trail. It leads from the parking lot east to the Bloomington Ferry Unit parking lot and west to the Minnesota River Trail.

West of US 169: Archery Only: Deer & Upland Game

East of US 169, West of Eagle Creek: Firearms & Archery: Waterfowl, Archery Only: Deer & Upland Game

East of US 169, West of Eagle Creek: No hunting

See Hunting - Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge for details.

Bottomland forest, marsh, three lakes.

Refuge Entrance

Parking

Fischer Lake Trail

Blue Lake Trail

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Birds List

eBird Field Checklist

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List