Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center Phone: 952-854-5900 |
15865 Carver Highlands Drive, Carver
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| The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Rapids Lake Education & Visitor Center | ||
Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center, located 3 miles south of Carver, MN off of County Road 45, is part of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge's Rapids Lake Unit. The construction of the facility was financed through the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, a mitigation agent for the Minneapolis-St. Paul runway expansion settlement.
The Center is set upon a bluff overlooking the Minnesota River. The Center's quiet setting and interpretive exhibits provide great opportunities for visitors and education groups to learn about the unique wildlife conservation efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Center provides an information desk, bookstore/gift-shop and outdoor restroom and drinking water. Several miles of public hiking trails are accessible from the Center.
The Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center staff places a strong emphasis on environmental education. When high volumes of outdoor field trip activities occur the Center may briefly close during business hours to accommodate education needs. Prior to visiting, visitors are encouraged to call the center at 952-361-4500 to confirm building hours.
The Rapids Lake Education & Visitor Center is open:
May 1 through August 31: Tuesday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
September 1 through April 30: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
A BIG THANKS to Clover Ridge Elementary School in Chaska, MN on behalf of the feathered feeder visitors at the Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center. As part of their "I Love to Read" month, each student donated one tablespoon of black oil sunflower seed to the refuge for every week that they met their reading goal. The grand total: 70 pounds of bird seed! WOW! Great work students.
From Hwy 169 in Jordan, proceed north 3.5 miles on CR9 across the Minnesota River (where it becomes CR11) to Carver Highlands
Drive, turn right and drive to the end of the road.
From westbound Hwy. 212 in the Chaska area, exit on Jonathan Carver Parkway (County Road 11) and turn south. Proceed 2.5 miles,
continuing on CR 11 by turning left (CR 40 proceeds straight at this point). Proceed 1.9 miles and turn left on Carver Highlands
Drive, continuing east to the end of the road.
