Visit Us
Visit Us
Wetland management districts offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visitors to waterfowl production areas will find numerous ways to engage with nature. The prairies and wetlands of waterfowl production areas are teeming with life, and often a short hike through the tall grass to the wetland edge will expose numerous species of plants, insects and animals to careful observers. Even in the cold winter months, a short hike, ski or snowshoe trek will reveal numerous tracks, indicating how persistent wildlife can be.
Those wanting to engage with nature through hunting, foraging or trapping will also find numerous opportunities on waterfowl production areas. Plentiful wetlands of varying size and depth provide habitat for fish, waterfowl, beavers, muskrat and more. The surrounding grasslands, sometimes with grass over seven feet tall, provide nesting habitat for waterfowl and ring-necked pheasants, which can be pursued in the fall. Adventurous eaters may forage wild edibles, including nuts, berries and mushrooms for personal use among the various habitats found on waterfowl production areas.
Rare and disappearing habitats are found on waterfowl production areas as well, and each acre provides unique and necessary conditions for various specialist plants and animals. Oak savannas and native prairie remnants are windows into the past, and several plant species are restricted to these habitats, while birds such as the red-headed woodpecker rely on the mast produced within oak savannas.
Driving Directions
To visit the district headquarters and Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
3815 American Blvd. East
Bloomington, MN 55425
Phone: 952-854-5900
TTY: 1-800-877-8339
From Interstate 494: From Interstate 494, exit at 34th Avenue and head south. At the stop light on American Blvd. East, proceed east for 1/4 mile around a small bend in the road to arrive at the entrance and parking lot. Visitors can also take the Metro Transit Blue Line train south to the American Blvd. stop, and cross 34th Avenue to the east. Follow the sidewalk 1/4 mile around the bend and up a small rise to find the entrance and parking lot.
To visit the district contact station and Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center
15865 Rapids Lake Road (formerly Carver Highlands Drive)
Carver, MN 55315
Phone: 952-361-4500
TTY: 1-800-877-8339
Driving directions from Highway 169: From Highway 169 in Jordan, proceed north 3.5 miles on County Road 9 across the Minnesota River (where it becomes County Road 11) to Carver Highlands Drive and turn right. Continue onto Rapids Lake Road. Follow to the visitor center.
Driving directions from Highway 212: From Highway 212, exit on Jonathan Carver Parkway (County Road 11) and turn south. Proceed 2.5 miles, continuing on County Road 11 by turning left. Proceed 1.9 miles and turn left on Carver Highlands Drive. Continue onto Rapids Lake Road. Follow to the visitor center.
Fees
There is no charge to visit.
Restrooms
Restrooms are available inside the Bloomington and Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Centers during open hours. There is a comfort station accessible seasonally from outside the Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center.
Points of Interest
There are 33 tracts of land called waterfowl production areas on the district that offer great opportunities for wildlife dependent recreation, viewing and observation in Blue Earth, Dakota, Scott, Le Sueur, Rice, Sibley, Carver, Steele and Waseca counties.
Lincoln, Cobb River and Watonwan waterfowl production areas, in Blue Earth County, have been recently restored and provide prairie and wetland habitat for shorebirds, waterfowl, deer and grassland songbirds.
Cobb River Waterfowl Production Area is a diverse unit containing prairie, wetland and floodplain forest habitat. This unit is a prime example of the transition zone between northern tallgrass prairie and the forested floodplains of the Cobb River.
Watonwan Waterfowl Production Area contains remnant oak savannas and designated parking areas on this unit offer a beautiful hilltop view of the wetlands and surrounding prairie.
Closer to the metro, Tiger Lake Waterfowl Production Area, near Norwood Young America, provides an easy opportunity to escape the city and experience a young grassland and wetland restoration.
Soberg Waterfowl Production Area, the first waterfowl production area in the district, is also located a short drive south of the Twin Cities Metro Area, in Lakeville, where numerous wetlands and plentiful wildlife can be found throughout the rolling topography of this waterfowl production area.
What To Do
If you have 15 minutes
- Visit the Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center
- View a vast array of native flowers blooming in the prairie in summer
- Take in views of the frozen river in winter or changing leaves in the fall
If you have one hour
- Visit a waterfowl production area near you - hike the prairie, look for birds or forage for mushrooms
- Create a life list of birds to see. Head out for just an hour to see how many you can check off your list today!
If you have half a day or more
- Visit a waterfowl production area (or two!) near you – hunt, trap, birdwatch, forage for wild edibles, hike, cross-country ski or snowshoe
- Create a scavenger hunt for the kids and head out for a fun adventure for the family or a group of friends
Know Before You Go
Be prepared for your visit. We recommend wearing a sturdy pair of boots as you may encounter flooding, wet or muddy areas, thorny vegetation and rough ground during your visit. There are generally no maintained trails beyond the parking lots of waterfowl production areas, so dress appropriately. During warm weather, wear bug spray and sunscreen and bring drinking water. Waterfowl production areas are open to fishing, hunting and trapping per Minnesota state regulations. We recommend wearing blaze orange during hunting seasons.
Visitor Tips
Waterfowl production areas are least busy on weekdays and outside of state hunting seasons. Lands farther from the metropolitan area also see significantly fewer visitors. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the day, but mornings and evenings are usually the best time for observing wildlife.
April - May is a great time for a hike and a special time to see migrating songbirds just before the leaves pop out. You might even find morel mushrooms as the weather warms.
June - August is perfect for learning new wildflowers and 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 lots of tracks from winter loving mammals. See if you can decipher what the wildlife are up to by the tracks they leave.
Other Facilities in the Complex
Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District is part of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, headquartered at the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center.
The wildlife refuge is part of a corridor of land and water stretching nearly 70 miles along the Minnesota River from Bloomington to Henderson, Minnesota. Comprised of more than 14,000 acres, the refuge spans across both rural and urban communities, and offers a variety of free outdoor recreational experiences for individuals and families.
Together, the refuge and wetland management district conserve 25,000 acres of land for wildlife habitat and recreation around the Twin Cities metro area.
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a thriving urban refuge where nature connects people, communities and wildlife. Where communities are welcomed through meaningful connections, educational opportunities and recreational experiences, while conserving wildlife habitat in the Minnesota...
National Wildlife Refuge
Bloomington,MN
Carver,MN