Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas: We’re visualizing Minnesota’s remaining prairie.

Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas: We’re visualizing Minnesota’s remaining prairie.

Minnesota Prairie

It’s a stark transformation: at the time of the Public Land Surey between 1847 and 1908, Minnesota had 18 million acres of prairie.

Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas: Today, a little over 2 percent of that prairie remains. Prairies build soil, clean water, and provide essential habitat. Some of Minnesota’s most unique species of plants and animals call our native prairies home! Many acres of native prairies are protected in MinnesotaSNAs, and still more are protected through conservation easements with the Native Prairie Bank program.

Adapted from the French word meaning meadow, prairie is much more than a field of grasses and wildflowers. Native prairie refers to an ecosystem of interconnected plants, animals, soils, climate and cultures. Native prairie is a landscape where climate and disturbance over thousands of years have favored grassland over forest.

Visit Minnesota Prairies

The best way to experience prairie is to get out there and visit one! See, smell, feel and hear native prairies and grasslands at public lands across the state. To get even more involved, volunteer! Then, when you need some down time, explore with your imagination by reading a prairie story or listening to the Prairie Pod.

Learn more

Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas 7 hour Road Trip

Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas 7 hour Road Trip

White pine trunks in the old-growth forest at Lost 40 SNA.

ow about a road trip?

 
Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas: Get lost in the beauty of MinnesotaSNAs with this route – literally! There are four SNAs with the word “lost” in their names, and this seven-hour route connects them all. The route starts up north with Lost Lake Peatland SNA and Lost River Peatland SNA. After that, take a short drive south to the old growth pines at Lost 40 SNA and round the trip out at Lost Valley Prairie SNA in southeast Minnesota. A word of caution though, peatlands are largely inaccessible by road, and extremely challenging to traverse on foot. Prepare wisely, as this route is a challenging adventure!

Scientific and Natural Areas are public lands open to recreational activities that do not disturb natural conditions, such as birdwatching, nature photography, and hiking. SNAs are established for their outstanding ecological features, which we want people to enjoy. You may see management activities such as prescribed burns and control of invasive species. Research equipment is also sometimes seen on sites.

A teardrop island in the Red Lake Peatland SNA

Please read and follow these visiting guidelines as well as the specific recreational opportunities provided at individual SNAs (things you can do and rules). Working together, we can keep these unique places healthy and available for everyone to visit and enjoy.

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