Today’s Events

No events today, but take a look below to see what's coming up.

MRVAC Programs

Thursday, March 28, 7:00 pm The Effects of a Honey Bee Pathogen on Colony Resiliency by Michael Goblirsch, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota

Thursday, April 25, 7:00 pm Effects of Harvesting Native Grasslands for Alternative Fuels on Birds and Small Mammals in Western Minnesota by Bob Dunlap, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota

Upcoming Events

Trailhead Locations

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Bloomington

  • Bloomington Visitor Center (Bloomington): Trail maps, Hillside Trail, interpretive and education exhibits, auditorium with wildlife videos, art gallery, observation platform, Blufftop Bookshop.
  • Long Meadow Lake (Bloomington): Bass ponds, Old Cedar Avenue, Russell A. Sorenson Landing (Lyndale Ave.)
  • Wilkie (Shakopee): Marshes, bottomland hardwood forest and three lakes. Great Blue Heron rookery.
  • Upgrala (Shakopee/Eden Prairie): Proposed refuge area. Closed to public.
  • Chaska (Between Chaska and Carver): Marsh-edged lake, old farm fields and floodplain forest. Edge habitat.
  • Rapids Lake (Carver): Prairie restoration, oak savanna, goat prairies clinging to steep bluffs, bottomland forests.
  • Louisville Swamp (Shakopee): Old fields, prairie remnants, oak savanna, floodplain forest, and stone farmsteads.

Nine Mile Creek Bluff Prairie

From I-35W, exit at 106th Street, go West to Morgan Avenue. Turn Left (South) on Morgan and continue to the Life Church parking lot. If you are late or wish to visit another time, you can go around the church on the right to a large lawn area. Cross the lawn to the back right to get to the trail. Follow the trail until you come to openings in the woods. The first area is savanna. Next, at the top of the bluff, is the prairie and Pasque flowers.