Prairie Coteau SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Detail map (MN DNR)

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
 

Complete

 

 

 
  Printable map      
         
 

North Section

 

South Section

 
  Printable map   Printable map  
         
 

Size

 
 

420 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

North: 191st St., park at dead end
N44 7.460, W96 9.263

Central: MN Hwy. 23, parking lot and interpretive sign
N44 6.878, W96 9.011

There are two field accesses permitting dry entry into the southeast section. The first is directly across MN Hwy 23 from the parking lot and interpretive sign. The second is on 181st St. ¼ mile east of MN Hwy 23.

South: County Road 84, park on shoulder
N44 6.594, W96 8.758

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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

   
          Pipestone County  
          Southwest Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

No maintained trails

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

All hunting and trapping. See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Prairie Parkland Province

   
  Ecological Section    

North Central Glaciated Plains

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Coteau Moraines

Inner Coteau

   
  Land Type Association    

Buffalo Ridge

Trosky Till Plain

Woodstock Till Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Dry Hill Prairie (Southern)

Prairie Meadow/Carr

Wet Prairie (Southern)

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

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

coteau

A hilly upland including the divide between two valleys.

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

North Parking

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA      
           
 

Central Parking Lot

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Interpretive Sign

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA      
           
 

Wood Routed Sign

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA      
           
 

South Field Access

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA      
           
 

Dry Hill Prairie (Southern)

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Prairie Meadow/Carr

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Wet Prairie (Southern)

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Other Prairie

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Bemis Moraine

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Shallow Lake

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Wind Turbines

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
 

Southeast Section

 
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  
           
    Prairie Coteau SNA   Prairie Coteau SNA  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Prairie Coteau SNA
minnesota_snas
  Prairie Coteau SNA  
 
About

Prairie Coteau SNA is one of the most important and stunning prairies in southwestern Minnesota. It occupies an area of steep slopes and valleys that cut through the Bemis glacial moraine, and takes its name from the larger, 20,000 square mile plateau of which it is a part, the ‘Coteau des Prairies,' or prairie highlands. Painter George Catlin, traveling to the region in the 1830s, offered a description of the approach from the surrounding plains that still holds true today: "For many miles we had the Coteau in view in the distance before us, which looked like a blue cloud settling down in the horizon."

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Prairie Coteau Scientific and Natural Area Virtual Hike
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
 
   
 
About

Dec 7, 2020

Prairie Coteau SNA is one of the most important and stunning prairies in southwestern Minnesota. It occupies an area of steep slopes and valleys that cut through the Bemis glacial moraine, and takes its name from the larger, 20,000 square mile plateau of which it is a part, the Coteau des Prairies,' or prairie highlands.

mndnr.gov/snas/sna01026

 
  Prairie Coteau
Dale Bohlke
 
   
 
About

Sep 30, 2018

This beautiful prairie valley is best described by the French word: coteau. Hence the name Prairie Coteau Scientific and Natural Area. Filmed with permission of the Scientific and Natural Program. Lost Within by Music by A Himitsu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

 

 

Camcorder

           
 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

6/13/2009

  9/14/2010   8/16/2013        
 
 

Amphibians

 
  northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens)   northern leopard frog  
 

Birds

 
 

Four bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Endangered

Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)

Special Concern

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)

  Red-winged Blackbird  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

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

Endangered

Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae)

Ottoe skipper (Hesperia ottoe)

Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)

Special Concern

Iowa skipper (Atrytone arogos iowa)

leadplant flower moth (Schinia lucens)

phlox moth (Schinia indiana)

regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

 
 

band-winged meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)

black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina)

goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus)

great black digger wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus)

Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina)

horsemint tortoise beetle (Physonota unipunctata)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)

viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

 

goldenrod bunch gall midge

monarch

regal fritillary

 
 

Mammals

 
 

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  plains pocket gopher  
 

Plants

 
 

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

Special Concern

prairie moonwort (Botrychium campestre)

red three-awn (Aristida purpurea var. longiseta)

small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

western white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. oligophylla)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Dry Hill Prairie (Southern) UPs13d

Prairie Meadow/Carr WMp73a

Wet Prairie (Southern) WPs54b

     
 

 

alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa)

American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus)

American plum (Prunus americana)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

blue lettuce (Lactuca pulchella)

blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

broad-leaved arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)

broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia)

bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canadian horseweed (Erigeron canadensis)

Canadian milkvetch (Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis)

Canadian tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica)

common blue violet (Viola sororia)

common boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum)

common bur-reed (Sparganium eurycarpum)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

curly-cup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa)

cylindric blazing star (Liatris cylindracea)

dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata var. punctata)

downy gentian (Gentiana puberulenta)

downy phlox (Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida)

early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

field sagewort (Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata)

field thistle (Cirsium discolor)

Flodman’s thistle (Cirsium flodmanii)

foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum)

fringed loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

giant sumpweed (Cyclachaena xanthiifolia)

giant sunflower (Helianthus giganteus)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)

gray goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis)

gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

great water dock (Rumex britannica)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

grooved yellow flax (Linum sulcatum var. sulcatum)

hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa)

hairy four o’clock (Mirabilis albida)

heart-leaved four o’clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea)

heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera)

hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

long-headed coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)

lowland hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa)

marsh vetchling (Lathyrus palustris)

Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)

musk thistle (Carduus nutans)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis)

plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides ssp. acanthoides)

prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)

prairie goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides)

prairie lettuce (Lactuca ludoviciana)

prairie onion (Allium stellatum)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

prairie turnip (Pediomelum esculentum)

prickly sow thistle (Sonchus asper)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

purple rattlesnake root (Nabalus racemosus)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

roadside agrimony (Agrimonia striata)

rope dodder (Cuscuta glomerata)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

rough bugleweed (Lycopus asper)

rough false foxglove (Agalinis aspera)

rough rattlesnake root (Nabalus asper)

round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata)

sandbar willow (Salix interior)

sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)

sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula)

silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum)

smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)

smooth oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra)

smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum)

spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus)

swamp betony (Pedicularis lanceolata)

swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata)

tall thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana)

timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense)

toothed evening primrose (Oenothera serrulata)

Virginia groundcherry (Physalis virginiana var. virginiana)

water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile)

water smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)

western marbleseed (Lithospermum occidentale)

white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota)

wild mint (Mentha arvensis)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

woundwort (Stachys pilosa var. arenicola)

yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila ssp. pumila)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)

 

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Agalinis aspera (rough false foxglove)

Agastache foeniculum (blue giant hyssop)

Agrimonia striata (roadside agrimony)

Allium stellatum (prairie onion)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Amphicarpaea bracteata var. comosa (lowland hog peanut)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone)

Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone)

Anemone virginiana (tall thimbleweed)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata (field sagewort)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Astragalus canadensis var. canadensis (Canadian milkvetch)

Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula (sideoats grama)

Carduus acanthoides (plumeless thistle)

Carduus nutans (musk thistle)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium discolor (field thistle)

Cirsium flodmanii (Flodman’s thistle)

Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle)

Cuscuta glomerata (rope dodder)

Cyclachaena xanthiifolia (giant sumpweed)

Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Desmodium canadense (Canadian tick-trefoil)

Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum fluviatile (water horsetail)

Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush)

Erigeron canadensis (Canadian horseweed)

Erigeron strigosus (prairie fleabane)

Eupatorium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum (common boneset)

Euthamia graminifolia (grass-leaved goldenrod)

Eutrochium maculatum (spotted Joe Pye weed)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Gentiana puberulenta (downy gentian)

Glycyrrhiza lepidota (wild licorice)

Grindelia squarrosa (curly-cup gumweed)

Helenium autumnale (common sneezeweed)

Helianthus giganteus (giant sunflower)

Helianthus grosseserratus (sawtooth sunflower)

Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian’s sunflower)

Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus (stiff sunflower)

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (smooth oxeye)

Heterotheca villosa (hairy false goldenaster)

Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot)

Hordeum jubatum ssp. jubatum (foxtail barley)

Lactuca ludoviciana (prairie lettuce)

Lactuca pulchella (blue lettuce)

Lathyrus palustris (marsh vetchling)

Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris cylindracea (cylindric blazing star)

Liatris punctata var. punctata (dotted blazing star)

Linum sulcatum var. sulcatum (grooved yellow flax)

Lithospermum occidentale (western marbleseed)

Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)

Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil)

Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed)

Lycopus asper (rough bugleweed)

Lysimachia ciliata (fringed loosestrife)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (alfalfa)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover)

Mentha arvensis (wild mint)

Mirabilis albida (hairy four o’clock)

Mirabilis nyctaginea (heart-leaved four o’clock)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Nabalus asper (rough rattlesnake root)

Nabalus racemosus (purple rattlesnake root)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Oenothera serrulata (toothed evening primrose)

Pedicularis lanceolata (swamp betony)

Pediomelum argophyllum (silverleaf scurfpea)

Pediomelum esculentum (prairie turnip)

Persicaria amphibia (water smartweed)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Phleum pratense ssp. pratense (timothy)

Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida (downy phlox)

Physalis virginiana var. virginiana (Virginia groundcherry)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Prunus americana (American plum)

Ratibida columnifera (long-headed coneflower)

Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima (black-eyed Susan)

Rumex britannica (great water dock)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Sagittaria latifolia (broad-leaved arrowhead)

Salix interior (sandbar willow)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort)

Setaria pumila ssp. pumila (yellow foxtail)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod)

Solidago ptarmicoides (prairie goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Sonchus arvensis (perennial sow thistle)

Sonchus asper (prickly sow thistle)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Sparganium eurycarpum (common bur-reed)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Stachys pilosa var. arenicola (woundwort)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Symphyotrichum laeve (smooth blue aster)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Verbena hastata (blue vervain)

Verbena stricta (hoary vervain)

Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root)

Viola sororia (common blue violet)

Zizia aptera (heart-leaved golden alexanders)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

alfalfa

American plum

black-eyed Susan

broad-leaved arrowhead

Canada anemone

Canadian milkvetch

Canadian tick-trefoil

common blue violet

common sneezeweed

Culver’s root

downy gentian

downy phlox

perennial sow thistle

fringed loosestrife

golden alexanders

gray-headed coneflower

hoary vervain

leadplant

long-headed coneflower

musk thistle

northern bedstraw

prairie onion

prairie rose

purple prairie clover

red clover

rough bugleweed

round-headed bush clover

silverleaf scurfpea

swamp milkweed

purple meadow-rue

toothed evening primrose

wild mint

yellow goat’s beard

yellow sweet clover

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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