Visit Us
Visit Us
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. With more than 45 miles of trails open to hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, you can easily find a trailhead within minutes of Bloomington, Burnsville, Shakopee, Chaska, Carver, Jordan and Henderson, Minnesota. The Minnesota River valley unfolds in front of you, and moments later you can find safe, quiet and beautiful lands filled with wildlife. Visitors can easily find opportunities to try out fishing in ponds, lakes and the Minnesota River, and there are also portions of the refuge open for hunting.
Fees
There is no charge to visit.
What To Do If You Have…
30 Minutes
- Visit the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center at Bloomington:
- Bird watch at the bird feeders and catch a sunset at the overlook
- Chat with a volunteer, explore the exhibits, watch our film in the auditorium and find local artists’ work in the Confluence Gallery
- Take a walk along the Hillside Trail to reach the wetlands
- Visit the Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center at Carver:
- View a vast array of native flowers blooming in the prairie in summer
- Visitor center offers historical and nature exhibits
- View the historic Gehl-Mittelstead homestead along the riverbank
- Hike through oak and hickory forest at the Forest Loop Trail
1-2 Hours
- Go fishing along the Long Meadow Lake or fishing dock at Bass Ponds in Bloomington
- Enjoy an afternoon of free play and picnicking at the Nature Play Area at Old Cedar Trailhead in Bloomington
- Bike along the Minnesota River on the River Bottoms Trail - departing from Sorenson Landing in Bloomington
- Hike to the glacial erratic at Louisville Swamp starting from the Middle Road Trail parking spot
- Hike the Rapids Lake Trail to walk through scenic bottomland forests and along the Minnesota River valley. When water levels are low you can view river rapids.
2+ Hours
- Explore the paved trail via bike or stroller along the Minnesota River Greenway Trail in Burnsville. This is a great spot for fishing too!
- Explore the marshes of the Blue Lake Trail a nesting and resting area for waterfowl year-round.
- Hike through the Mazomani Trail to see wetlands and upland forests to encounter historic sites at the Louisville Swamp Unit
Know Before You Go
Bring the following with you:
- Refuge Maps - Intersections are well marked but will not make sense without a map. Maps are available at trail heads, both visitor centers and online for download. We are also found on Avenza Maps.
- Water - No potable water is available on the trails. Bottle filling stations are available inside the visitor centers during open hours.
- Protective Clothing - Weather can change quickly and biting insects can be abundant.
Plan on fishing? The Minnesota fish consumption guidelines advise all persons do not eat any fish from Bass Ponds and Long Meadow Lake on the refuge. We encourage all anglers review the fish consumption guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health prior to consuming any fish.
Plan to pack out what you pack in. Trash receptacles are only available at a few trailheads, and we ask that you practice Leave No Trace ethics while visiting the refuge.
Bringing your dog? Bring up to a 6-foot leash and bags for packing out dog waste with you when you leave.
Be aware, some areas may be closed during peak bird migration or due to maintenance or management activities. Trails are also prone to seasonal flooding. You can check conditions on our Trails section of the website, at the visitor centers, watch for closure and warning signs at trail heads or call us at 952-854-5900 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visitor Tips
You can discover hundreds of species of birds, numerous plants, mammals, reptiles and insects during your visit. Seasons bring different opportunities to experience nearby nature, and every time you visit can bring a new discovery.
Wildlife viewing is best in the morning, or in the evening before dusk. Be aware that trailhead parking is limited and becomes very busy on weekends.
We have a variety of items available as part of our free outdoor equipment lending program. Binoculars, snowshoes and explorer backpacks are available at both visitor centers during operating hours.
- April - May is a great time for a hike and a special time to see migrating song birds just before the leaves pop out. You might even find morel mushrooms as the weather warms.
- June - August is perfect for fishing and biking. Make a list of wildflowers and enjoy identifying native plants in our prairies.
- September - November is cooler and provides enjoyable hikes with fewer biting insects.
- December - March provides snow for a snowshoe hike and view trumpeter swans and eagles near wetlands.
Restrooms
- Bloomington Education and Visitor Center at the Long Meadow Lake Unit in Bloomington
- Indoor bathrooms available during open hours
- Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center at the Rapids Lake Unit in Carver
- Indoor bathrooms available during open hours
- Outdoor heated restroom open daily
- Old Cedar Avenue Trailhead at the Long Meadow Lake Unit in Bloomington
- Restroom facility with running water in partnership with the City of Bloomington, open from May – October 15
- Outdoor portable restroom open when flush toilets are not available
- Vault toilets are available at:
- Bass Ponds lower trailhead at the Long Meadow Lake Unit in Bloomington
- Jonathon Carver Parkway North Hunter parking lot at the Rapids Lake Unit in Carver
- Louisville Swamp North Trailhead parking lot at the Louisville Swamp Unit in Shakopee
Activities
There are many ways to enjoy the refuge! Visitors can explore more than 45 miles of trails on foot or by bicycle year-round, find a multitude of birds and other wildlife to watch or photograph, shore fish for native Minnesota freshwater species, hunt in select areas of the refuge or take part in free educational programs about nature.