Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, encompasses 30,700 acres of land and provides excellent opportunities for wildlife oriented recreation. The Refuge is located approximately 9 miles northwest of Zimmerman, Minnesota. Regionally it is 50 miles northwest of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and serves over 3.5 million people.
The refuge has a gently rolling landscape with a mix of tall grass prairie, oak savanna and wetland habitats. Bald eagles, sandhill cranes, trumpeter swans, ducks, geese and songbirds all nest in the Refuge and may be visible from the 7.3 mile Wildlife Drive (entrance on County Road 5, two miles north of Orrock).
The Blue Hill and Mahnomen Trails, located on County Road 9, provide 9 miles of good hiking and songbird viewing in the spring and fall, and cross-country skiing and hiking in the winter. Snowshoeing in the winter and canoeing during non-Sanctuary periods afford access to many other areas of the refuge.
Hunting and fishing are permitted in designated areas during state seasons.
Planning a visit to the refuge? Check out the great refuge activity flyer below.
