Celebrate Urban Wildlife Conservation Day and National Wildlife Refuge Week at Minnesota Valley from October 7 - October 15! Attend a program, explore a self-guided 5k or enjoy a visit to your local wildlife refuge!
Programs this Week:
- Candlelight Luminary Night Walk and Chalk Party at Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
- Saturday, October 7 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Beginner Hike at Black Dog Lake
- Sunday, October 8 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
- Beginner Hike at Lyndale-Sorensen Landing
- Wednesday, October 11 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
- Painting in Nature at Bloomington Education and Visitor Center* (location change due to rain)
- Thursday, October 12 from 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Meet Minnesota Valley at Old Cedar Avenue
- Friday, October 13 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
- Nature in Your Neighborhood: Fall Leave at Augsburg Park Library
- Saturday October 14th, 2:00pm-3:00pm
- Birdwatching Trek at Old Cedar Avenue
- Sunday, October 15 from 8:00 - 10:30 a.m.
- A Storywalk in Nature at Bloomington Education and Visitor Center
- Thursday, October 12 - Sunday, October 15 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m
Self-guided 5k on the Minnesota Valley State Trail
During the week we'll have wildlife-themed 5k signs along the trail to help guide your experience. Start at the trailhead just north of the Lyndale Landing parking lot. Follow the paved path through a tunnel of trees, over bridges, and through floodplain forest for a distance of about 1.6 miles. When you reach the end of the paved trail, turn around and return the way you came.
- Trail type: Out-and-back, paved.
- Suitable for: Hike, bike, wheelchair, rollerblade, stroller, wagon.
- Distance: Approximately 3.2 miles out-and-back.
- Parking: Lyndale/Sorensen Landing 11135 Lyndale Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55420. No restrooms or water are available at this site.
Visit Your Local Wildlife Refuge
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge stretches nearly 70 miles along the Minnesota River. With much to see and do, the refuge provides our visitors with opportunities to create new and fun memories. Enjoy the refuge at your own pace! To plan your visit, read our article on Four Things to Do at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.