Save
You must be signed in to save park lists.
Your Park Lists
add New List
Add Photo
You must be signed in to add photos.
state route ranger badge
Minnesota
52

State of Minnesota Parks

responsive menu icon
USA Parks
Minnesota
Heartland Region
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
start slideshow
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Eastern Towhee © Doug Berlin
The SNWR is great for birdwatching, especially in the spring and fall. Eastern Towhees will hang around all summer.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Trumpeter Swans © John Casey
Trumpeter Swans looking over their back at Nelson Pool, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Prairie Drive, Zimmerman, MN
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge White-Tailed Deer, Doe © John Casey
White-Tailed Doe in tall grass during late afternoon on Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Prairie Drive, Zimmerman, MN
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Sunset over Nelson Pool © John Casey
Sunset over frozen Nelson Pool, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman, MN.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Sunset over Nelson Pool © John Casey
Sunset over frozen Nelson Pool, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman, MN
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Super Moonrise © John Casey
December Supermoon over near-frozen Bergerson Pool, pushing the pink sunset sky out of the way, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman, MN
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Early Morning Sunrise © John Casey
Early morning sunrise over Bergerson Pool, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman, MN
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Great Blue Heron © John Casey
Great Blue Heron fishing at Nelson Pool, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Zimmerman, MN
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Great Egret with Fish © John Casey
Great Egret after successfully catching a small fish.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Whitetail deer © Nancy Bauer
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge raccoon © Nancy Bauer
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Snowscape © Nancy Bauer
Search
Availability
Calendars
Availability Search
SHERBURNE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
SHERBURNE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
17076 293rd Ave.
Zimmerman, Minnesota   55398
Email: park email button icon
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in the St. Francis River Valley, which is known as one of the finest wildlife areas in the state. The wildlife value of the valley was severely reduced in the early 1900s, when the area was drained for agriculture. Congress established this 30,600-acre refuge in 1965 with Federal Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp (Duck Stamp) funds. Land acquisition continued for the next decade. Restoration of wetlands was completed in the mid-1980s, and upland restoration is on-going. <P>With 23 impoundments and numerous natural lakes and wetlands, the refuge provides habitat for a variety of waterfowl, wading/water birds, and bald eagles. White-tailed deer, eastern bluebirds, gopher snakes, and other species associated with oak savanna and prairie habitats benefit from upland management. The refuge is a major greater sandhill crane nesting and staging area. <P>The flat-to-gently-rolling topography of the refuge lies within the transition zone of two major ecosystems - deciduous hardwood forest and tallgrass prairie. There are approximately 14,000 acres of wetlands and natural lakes, 8,000 acres grassland openings, 8,000 acres of woodlands and oak savanna, and 35 river miles on the St. Francis River. <P>
FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW
Day-UseFishingyes
 Huntingyes
 Hiking Trailyes




Visitor Comments, Memories and Reviews
April 22 wildlife drive by Mark W
park review stars; one to five Take the wildlife drive just a mile or so North of Orrock. 5 miles and well worth the scenery. closed in the winter
February 11 Well Kept Secret by Myrna Krueger
park review stars; one to five Sherburne is an outstanding refuge with an amazing number of large birds like trumpeter swans and sandhill cranes. My personal favorite thing to do is to help the volunteers with the wildflower seed collection. For info on events this summer, go to ExploreSherburne.org
write a review
Share On

Nearby Hotels
Booking.com

Directions
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in east central Minnesota, approximately 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 30 miles southeast of St. Cloud. <P>From Minneapolis, take Interstate 94 west to Highway 101 at Rogers. Go north on 101 to Highway 169 north, then follow Highway 169 north four miles past Zimmerman to County Road 9. Go west on County Road 9 four miles to the refuge entrance and one additional mile to the refuge office. <P>From St. Cloud, take Highway 23 north to Highway 95, then east on Highway 95 approximately 15 miles. After the sign for Sherburne Refuge, take the first right, which is Mille Lacs County Road 7. Go south on County 7 four miles to the refuge entrance then three more miles to County 9. Go east 2.5 miles on County 9 to the refuge office. <P>For directions from Big Lake, Zimmerman, and Princeton, <a href="http://midwest.fws.gov/sherburne/GETTO.HTM">click here</a>. <P>

state route ranger badge
Minnesota
52

State of Minnesota Parks

X