Sherburne
Zimmerman, MN 55398
Plan Your Visit
Explore the roughly 30,700 acres of oak savanna, prairie opening, forest, wetland and riverine habitats at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the wide variety of activities available at the refuge including the Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive, hiking, wildlife watching and photography, paddling, fishing, hunting and more.
What To Do
If you have 15 minutes
- Stop at the Oak Savanna Learning Center and walk the 0.15 miles to the floating dock on School House Pool. Admire the wetland and take in the ever-changing prairie that surrounds the wetland edge.
- Enjoy the river overlook right outside refuge headquarters! When there’s open water, otters, muskrats, trumpeter swans, hooded mergansers and wood ducks can be seen.
If you have one hour or two hours
- Hike to the Blue Hill Overlook and take in the view! This steep and strenuous climb rewards you with a vista of the surrounding area. Blue Hill is the highest point in Sherburne County and the place on the refuge to spot natural rock deposits left behind by glaciers.
- View School House Pool and animal activity from the wildlife observation blind. Located off of the Black Bear Loop of the Oak Savanna Learning Center trails, this blind is first come, first serve.
- Bike or drive the seven mile Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive. This route winds through oak savanna, prairie and wetland habitats.
- Enjoy a free refuge program or event.
If you have half a day or more
- Paddle the St. Francis River along the designated canoe route.
- Go hunting or fishing.
- From September 1 to February 28, hike and bike the service roads or hike off-trail.
From Minneapolis and St. Paul
- Take Interstate 94 west to the Highway 101 exit in Rogers
- Follow Highway 101 north until it becomes Highway 169
- Continue north on Highway 169 through Elk River and Zimmerman to the County Road 9 exit, about four miles north of Zimmerman
- Take County Road 9 exit and turn left to drive west for four miles until you reach the blue entrance sign and information kiosk
- To access the hiking trails, Refuge Headquarters or the Oak Savanna Learning Center, continue west on County Road 9 and look for posted identification signs
- To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, continue on west on County Road 9 for 3.5 miles, turn left at the stop sign to go south on County Road 5, then go two miles and turn left to enter the Wildlife Drive
From St. Cloud
- Take Highway 23 east through St. Cloud to Highway 95
- Follow Highway 95 east for 15 miles to Mille Lacs County Road 7, marked with a large brown sign for the refuge
- Turn right to go south on Mille Lacs County Road 7, which becomes Sherburne County Road 5, and drive for four miles
- After passing the blue entrance sign and kiosk, continue south on County Road 5 for three more miles until you reach County Road 9
- To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, continue two additional miles south on County Road 5, then turn left to enter
- To access hiking trails, the Oak Savanna Learning Center or Refuge Headquarters, turn left to go east on County Road 9 and look for posted identification signs
From Big Lake and Monticello
- From Highway 10 in Big Lake, take Sherburne County Road 5 north approximately eight miles to Orrock, until you reach the blue entrance sign and information kiosk
- To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, continue north one mile on County Road 5, then take the first right
- To access hiking trails, the Oak Savanna Learning Center or Refuge Headquarters, continue north three miles, then turn right onto County Road 9 east look for posted identification signs
From Zimmerman and Princeton
- Follow Highway 169 north (Zimmerman) or south (Princeton) to County Road 9 exit
- Turn onto County Road 9 (left from Zimmerman, right from Princeton) and drive west four miles to the blue entrance sign and information kiosk
- To access the hiking trails, Refuge Headquarters or the Oak Savanna Learning Center, continue west on County Road 9 and look for posted identification signs
- To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, continue on west on County Road 9 for 3.5 miles, turn left at the stop sign to go south on County Road 5, then go two miles and turn left to enter the Wildlife Drive
Activities
More Activities
Featured Species
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National Wildlife Refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love.
Services
The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system, which uses management tools like prescribed fire, invasive species management, and conservation haying to ensure the survival of local plants and animals.
About
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in east central Minnesota and encompasses 30,700 acres of oak savanna, prairie, forest, and wetland habitats. Established in 1965, it serves as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds and is designated as a state Important Bird Area within the Mississippi Flyway. The refuge is managed as part of a complex that includes Crane Meadows, Rice Lake, and Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuges.