Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 
 
     
 

Links

 
 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

 

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
         
         
 

Size

 
 

30,665 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

Kiosk at Visitor Contact Sta Co Rd #9 East Entrance
293rd Avenue NW
N45 30.108, W93 39.998

Refuge Headquarters (763) 389-3323
17076 293rd Avenue NW
Zimmerman, MN 55398-6000

Oak Savanna Learning Center
16797 289th Ave NW
Zimmerman, MN 55398

 
         
 

Hours

 
 

1/2 hour before sunrise - 1/2 hour after sunset

 
         
 

Fees

 
 

No fee

No National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota charges a fee

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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

   
          Sherburne County  
          Central Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

Mahnomen Trail: 2.86 miles
Blue Hill Trail: 5.05 miles
Prairie Trail: 0.42 mile
Woodland Trail: 0.5 mile

7.3 mile Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

Deer by shotgun and archery, migratory birds, small game, and spring turkey.

See Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Regulations 2020–2021 for details.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province
Laurentian Mixed Forest Province

   
  Ecological Section    

Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal
Western Superior Uplands

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Anoka Sand Plain
Mille Lacs Uplands

   
  Land Type Association    

Anoka Lake Plain

Milaca Till Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Alder - (Maple - Loosestrife) Swamp

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

Central Dry-Mesic Oak-Aspen Forest

Dry Barrens Oak Savanna (Southern)

Dry Barrens Oak Savanna (Southern): Oak Subtype

Dry Barrens Prairie (Southern)

Dry Sand - Gravel Oak Savanna (Southern)

Northern Mixed Cattail Marsh

Northwestern Wet-Mesic Aspen Woodland

Other Water Body

Prairie Rich Fen

Sedge Meadow

Southern Dry Savanna

Southern Dry-Mesic Oak (Maple) Woodland

Southern Wet Prairie

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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Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

Gerry Garcia

 
 

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Tour Today

The very knowledgeable, professional and approachable staff at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge held a "behind-the-gates" tour today to view the thousands of Sandhill Cranes taking flight to start their day.

closeups

 
    Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge   Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge  
           
 

group shots

 
    Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge   Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge  
           
 

a couple of Bald Eagles "supervising" the Sandhill Cranes

 
    Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge      
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
 

Sandhill Crane in wetlands of Sherburne Co

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in the east central region of the state, approximately 50 miles northwest of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and 30 miles southeast of St. Cloud. The refuge protects 30,700 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
    Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge   Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge  
           
    Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Sherburne NWR - April 2015
Craig A. Mullenbach
 
  Sherburne NWR - April 2015  
 
About

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Minnesota.

 
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge May 2014
Craig A. Mullenbach
 
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge May 2014  
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Craig A. Mullenbach
 
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge  
 

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
USFWS Midwest Region

 
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this destination.

 
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Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

Gerry Garcia

 
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Tour Today 1
Oct 27, 2019
 
   
 
About

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
10/23/2019
Video by Gerry Garcia

The very knowledgeable, professional and approachable staff at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge held a "behind-the-gates" tour today to view the thousands of Sandhill Cranes taking flight to start their day.

   
       
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Tour Today 2
Oct 27, 2019
 
   
 
About

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
10/23/2019
Video by Gerry Garcia

The very knowledgeable, professional and approachable staff at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge held a "behind-the-gates" tour today to view the thousands of Sandhill Cranes taking flight to start their day.

   
       
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Tour Today 3
Oct 27, 2019
 
   
 
About

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
10/23/2019
Video by Gerry Garcia

The very knowledgeable, professional and approachable staff at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge held a "behind-the-gates" tour today to view the thousands of Sandhill Cranes taking flight to start their day.

   
       
 
Other Videos
 
  That's So Minnesota: Exploring the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
KARE 11
 
   
 
About

Sep 3, 2018

The 'Twitterverse' has spoken and Ellery McCardle heads north of the metro for her latest photography adventure.

 
  Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Twin Cities NW Metro Life
 
   
 
About

Sep 22, 2020

Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

The Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive is a 7.3 mile loop in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. At the beginning of the drive is the Bur Oak Visitors Station, with pit toilets, outdoor interpretive signs and several walking paths. There is a huge replica of an eagles nest that you can enter through a wooden ramp.

https://nwmetrolife.com/prairies-edge...

Never Miss a Thing in the NW Metro! Join a strong tribe of Twin Cities NW Metro residents who get weekly information about the best restaurants, hot spots, events, outdoors and other fun activities in and around the NW Metro. We are just getting started - sign up to receive our weekly updates and find out what is great about living in the Twin Cities NW Metro!

https://nwmetrolife.com/Events-Guide

Myra Jensen
BRIX Real Estate
hello@nwmetro.com

 
  Explore 30K Acres of Nature at Sherbune County National Wildlife Refuge
AM 1240 WJON
 
   
 
About

Jun 26, 2017

Over one-million people live within an hours drive of our next stop on our hometown tourist series: Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.~~~

 
  Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota.
Travel with Priya
 
   
 
About

Nov 6, 2020

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge of the United States in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Our to go place for bird watching and photography. The whole video is shot on GoPro 8, without gimbal. We love going there and hope you like the video.

This is one of the good places for people who are interested in birding, suggested time to visit and experience the best out of it would be early morning when the birds are most active.

Please let us know your comments in the comment section.

 
  4/17/2009 Prescribed Burn Grass Fire Footage, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
StormChasingVideo
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 9, 2010

4/17/2009 Prescribed Burn Grass Fire Footage. With fire dangers in the area under control due to higher humidity, the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge decided that it was a good window of opportunity for a prescribed burn to try and eliminate a potentially explosive situation.

Catalog #: 04172009A
Total Run Time 07;21;26
Screen Format: 16:9

Video Format: High Definition
License Type: Rights Managed

To license this footage, contact http://www.StormChasingVideo.com

   

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Share your sightings or comments about of this destination.

 
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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
 
 

Lane Keller

 
 

Reptiles

 
 

plains hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus)

  plains hognose snake  
 

Gerry Garcia

 
 

Birds

 
 

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis tabida)

  Sandhill Crane  
 

Wayne Rasmussen

 
 

Birds

 
  Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis tabida)   Sandhill Crane  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

7/21/2010                
 
 

Amphibians

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 
         
 

Birds

 
 

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

Endangered

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Threatened

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)

Special Concern

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus)

Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)

Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)

Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)

Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Purple Martin (Progne subis)

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Birds List

eBird Field Checklist – Sherburne NWR

eBird Field Checklist – northwest area

eBird Field Checklist – Blue Hill Trail

eBird Field Checklist – Oak Savanna Learning Center

eBird Field Checklist – Refuge Headquarters

eBird Field Checklist – Mahnomen Trail

eBird Field Checklist – Wildlife Drive

 
 

American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)

American Coot (Fulica americana)

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Common Loon (Gavia immer)

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

 

Brown-headed Cowbird

Canada Goose

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Sandhill Crane

 
 

Fishes

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

 
         
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungi List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Lichens List

 
         
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

Minnesota Bee Atlas

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

 
         
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
         
 

Plants

 
 

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

Endangered

tall nutrush (Scleria triglomerata)

Threatened

beaked skeletonweed (Shinnersoseris rostrata)

lance-leaved violet (Viola lanceolata ssp. lanceolata)

pale green orchid (Platanthera flava var. herbiola)

seaside three-awn (Aristida tuberculosa)

swamp blackberry (Rubus semisetosus)

woolly beachheather (Hudsonia tomentosa)

Special Concern

blue toadflax (Nuttallanthus canadensis)

Canada frostweed (Crocanthemum canadense)

deer sedge (Carex hallii)

Kinnickinnick dewberry (Rubus multifer)

least moonwort (Botrychium simplex)

small-leaved pussytoes (Antennaria parvifolia)

western white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. oligophylla)

white wild indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Alder - (Maple - Loosestrife) Swamp FPn73a

Black Ash - Yellow Birch - Red Maple - Basswood Swamp (Eastcentral) WFn55b

Central Dry-Mesic Oak-Aspen Forest MHc26

Dry Barrens Oak Savanna (Southern) UPs14a2

Dry Barrens Oak Savanna (Southern): Oak Subtype UPs14a2

Dry Barrens Prairie (Southern) UPs13a

Dry Sand - Gravel Oak Savanna (Southern) UPs14ab

Northern Mixed Cattail Marsh MRn83

Northwestern Wet-Mesic Aspen Woodland FDw44

Prairie Rich Fen OPp91

Sedge Meadow WMn82b

Southern Dry Savanna UPs14

Southern Dry-Mesic Oak (Maple) Woodland FDs37

Southern Wet Prairie WPs54

Tamarack Swamp (Southern) FPs63a

Wet Prairie (Southern) WPs54b

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp WMn82a

     
    round-headed bush clover  
 

Reptiles

 
 

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

Threatened

Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

Special Concern

bull snake (Pituophis catenifer sayi)

bull snake (Pituophis catenifer sayi)

plains hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 
         

 

 

Binoculars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandhill Cranes

Thousands of Sandhill Cranes stage in and around this refuge in October. Numbers usually peak the third week in October.

 

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