Spooky Hike: Long Meadow Lake

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Join us at dusk as we search high and low for our nocturnal refuge friends! We will be roaming the Long Meadow Lake trail in hopes of spotting and learning about some of our night-loving residents.

This is a family friendly program that will be fully outdoors with no prior experience needed. The main focus will be a slower-paced hike centered around getting to know the refuge's nocturnal residents and the habitat they live in.

Registration is optional.

Questions? Contact MinnesotaValley@fws.gov or call (952) 854-5900 (press 1 to reach Visitor Services).

Date and Time: Friday, October 23, 2026 from 6-8pm

Location: Meet us at 6pm at the Bloomington Visitor Center.

3815 American Blvd E, Bloomington, MN 55425

Registration Information: Registration optional here

Optional registration allows us to prepare supplies and materials for the program, send reminders, and allows us to contact you in the event of inclement weather!

Activity Level: This is an easy to moderate outdoor activity. We hope to reach 2-2.5 miles in 1.5 hours. This will be guided by refuge staff and volunteers. Frequent breaks will occur.

What to Bring: Please wear appropriate clothing as this program is fully outdoors. Close-toed shoes, pants, and a full water bottle are recommended.

Accessibility: Accessibility at Bloomington Visitor Center:

Restrooms and water fountains are located inside the visitor center. Handicap parking and dropoff available. Visitor center is flat aggregate or carpeted flooring with ramps to access all areas. There are benches and rest areas around the visitor center.

Hillside and Spur trails are natural surface with steep slopes, with a wooden staircase for a portion of it. Long Meadow Lake trail is accessed via these sloped trails, but itself is mostly flat and is natural surface. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter) and may not always be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches in the trail area. Trailheads are a 0.1-0.2 mile distance from the parking lot.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Oscar Hernandez at oscar_hernandez@fws.gov.