The Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a stunning urban oasis that provides habitats for diverse wildlife along the Minnesota River. Spanning over 14,000 acres, it offers visitors opportunities for birdwatching, hiking, and nature photography amidst beautiful wetlands and woodlands. Just minutes from the Twin Cities, this refuge is a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers year-round.
Nature & Wildlife Area
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
593 Google Reviews
We had a great experience here today. We got inside and got to see a lot of information about the animals and the habitats around. There was a nice area with bird feeders that had a lot of activity. They had backpacks that you could check out for the kids that had journals, binoculars, and lots of other information on the plant life and wildlife around. We took the trails but didn’t come across a lot of birds, but we sure did hear a lot! Overall, it was a great experience with the kids and they loved trying to look for all sorts of different things on the path.
Wonderful place to take a walk and get away from the noise of the city without actually leaving the city! Short trails near the visitors center at the Headquarters building, longer trails down in the Minnesota River Valley. Warning on those hikes – there are usually lots of bugs when it is wet, and I have had to bypass snapping turtles on the longer trail that ends at the Cedar Avenue bridge. No fees required to visit.
Not only is this a great place to actually enjoy the outdoors, but it also has exhibits and a store in the Headquarters building. This is also the only place I am aware of that you can buy an America the Beautiful pass in the Twin Cities area ($80 – cash, check, or credit card based on my most recent experience), which is an all access pass to those National Parks and Monuments that do require entry fees (note that all national sites in Minnesota are free entry). There aren’t many places that you can buy these in person, and it is very nice to have here when planning adventures out of the state 🙂
A wonderful visitor center with large observation windows & bird feeders that draw a wide variety of nesting and migratory birds for endless entertainment.
The staff are a very welcoming and are a wealth of knowledge. The building contains several different spaces that serve different purposes. It is clean and well kept. Highly recommend a visit!
The trail system is wonderful, well maintained, and full of wildlife.
Always a fun visit with helpful staff! I love hiling in the various trails and units, with the bass ponds trail as a favorite. The visitor center bird feeders are interesting to watch how many different birds interact. There’s almost always at least one species of woodpecker on them at all times. Wild turkeys are also common.
Lovely area to hike, roam, watch birds, and enjoy nature. Very easy to navigate to. Lots of gnats today, but otherwise a pleasant visit!
Great place for a little hike or some time in nature without having to drive far out of the cities. I was able to see a hawk and a possum pretty close up from their observation deck!
Date of Visit: 02.23.25 – Clean & modern visitor center with restrooms, a wonderful gift shop (w/ bird enamel pins!), and an auditorium with a 7-minute movie on the area. If you go beyond the Visitor Center outside, you’ll find some awesome walking trails (some include steps with significant incline). Unfortunately, at the time we visited, the snow was melting so the trails were quite slick – we’re excited to return in the spring after the trails dry up. Lost a star because the gift shop didn’t have any postcards (they had folding greeting cards instead) – tough to find postcards in today’s day & age but folks still like to receive them.
Closed Monday and Tuesday (Aaarg!). I enjoyed walking the trails, viewing the prairie gardens, and viewing the vistas and close-ups of the Minnesota River Valley. Cool and powerful telescope on deck–no quarters needed!
