Temporary Trail Closure - Bass Ponds
Trail access near Ike's Creek will be limited from May 11th through May 15th. Access to both Little Bass Ponds and Big Bass Pond will be affected due to trail improvements. Please use only designated parking spaces only from May 11th through May 13th, to ensure safe and efficient operation of heavy equipment in upper parking lot. Your cooperation during this period will help maintain clear access and support ongoing trail improvements. Learn more about trail updates on the refuge.
Habitat Restoration - Goats on the Refuge
Over the summer season, visitors may see a team of goats grazing to clear invasive plants near the North Hunter Lot on our Rapids Lake Unit and near the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center. We ask visitors to enjoy the goats from a distance, respecting the herd and their work by staying on trail and outside of the fence, and do not attempt to feed or pet them. Learn more about Invasive Species Work on the refuge.
Contact the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center with questions at: 952-854-5900.
Visit Us
With more than 45 miles of trails open to hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, in the south metro you can easily find an adventure for all levels of experience. The Minnesota River Valley unfolds in front of you, and moments later you can find safe, quiet lands filled with wildlife. Visitors can easily find opportunities to try out fishing in ponds, lakes and the Minnesota River, and there are also portions of the refuge open for hunting.
See our Visit Us page to find out what the refuge has to offer, including:
- Trails
- Visitor Centers
- Hiking
- Fishing & Hunting
- Snowshoeing
- Environmental Education
Location and Contact Information
What We Do
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. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge.
Our Species
The tallgrass prairie, floodplain forests and wetlands found within the refuge provide exceptional opportunities to find iconic and rare species of plants, birds, insects and freshwater mussels. Moments from the busy Twin Cities core you can find bald eagles, wood ducks, river otters, prairie skinks, and white-tailed deer. Endangered and threatened species such as the northern long-eared bat, rusty-patched bumblebee and rare freshwater mussels benefit from the protected habitats found throughout the refuge.