Being safe on our refuges and hatcheries

We are proud to provide opportunities for safe, enjoyable experiences at many of our national wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries during the coronavirus pandemic.

If visiting one of our locations, please #RecreateResponsibly and follow guidance from the CDC and state and local public health authorities on social distancing, exercising good hygiene and avoiding overcrowding:

• Plan your visit outside of peak hours
• If a parking lot is full when you visit, please continue on to another trail
• Park only in designated areas
• Pack out everything, including pet waste
• Keep your dog on a leash for the protection of your pet and other visitors
• Please only visit if you are feeling healthy - we ask you to stay home if you're feeling sick
• We discourage long-distance travel

We understand that the outdoors can help relieve stress, but these guidelines must be followed for our public health and safety. For now, refuge visitor centers and other public facilities are closed and most scheduled events have been postponed. For more information, visitor our webpage: FWS Coronavirus Response

Refuge lands remain open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset daily 

The restrooms at the Oak Savanna Learning Center and hiking trailheads are open to the public. Pit toilets at the Blue Hill and Mahnomen Trailheads are scheduled for cleaning on Monday. OSLC restrooms are scheduled for cleaning on Wednesday and Friday.

Blue Hill, Mahnomen and Oak Savanna Learning Center hiking trails remain open. Additionally, through February 28, the service roads are open to hiking or biking and we welcome you to get off the beaten path and explore the interior of the refuge. Please be aware that when you hike the service roads or venture off trail, you're likely entering areas open to hunting and that we advise wearing blaze orange and blaze pink.

The Prairie's Edge Wildlife Drive is closed to vehicle access for the season and will reopen in the spring, once the frost goes out of the road and the surface is firm enough to drive on. Meanwhile, it remains open to hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. For access, park on the shoulder of County Road 5 or the approach to the drive, ensuring that you don't block gate access.

Brande Road remains open to vehicles at this time and will close when winter weather warrants.

Refuge Headquarters has changed its operations as of 3/19/20

Fall events go virtual

In keeping with guidance from the CDC and acting out of an abundance of caution, we are joining other community organizations in shifting to virtual programming for the winter and are not planning any in-person events at this time. This includes the Sherburne NWR Photography Club monthly meeting on December 13. Reference the Events Calendar page for details!

We know many people across the community will miss gathering for these events, but we are committed to doing our part to ensure public safety and to slow the spread of COVID-19. This decision was made for the safety of our visitors, volunteers and staff, and to prevent encouraging groups of ten or more from gathering. We will continue to monitor the situation and all relevant guidance and will resume hosting in-person refuge events when it is prudent to do so.

Questions? Please email sherburne@fws.gov or call or text Alaina Larkin, Visitor Services Manager, at 763-260-3078.