About Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in Sherburne County, in east central Minnesota, about 50 miles northwest of the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area. The 30,700 acre refuge was established in 1965 at the urging of local conservationists and hunters interested in restoring the wildlife values of the St. Francis River Basin, which had been altered by a series of drainage ditches and agricultural production. Following that, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge became and remains the largest public land holding in Sherburne County. The refuge is now a wild remnant at the meeting of the western prairies and the northern woods, with oak savanna, prairie opening, forest, wetland and riverine habitats.Additionally, the refuge is designated as a state Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Located within the Mississippi Flyway, the refuge hosts countless migratory waterfowl, songbirds and sandhill cranes in the spring and fall, along with hosting a wide variety of breeding and resident bird species.
How to Get There
Take I-94 west to the Highway 101 (Rogers) exitFollow Highway 101 north until it turns into Highway 169Follow Highway 169 north through Elk River and Zimmerman to County Road 9, an exit located four miles north of ZimmermanTurn left and follow County Road 9 west for four milesOnce you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue west on County Road 9 to access the hiking trails, Oak Savanna Learning Center and refuge headquartersTo access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, take County Road 9 for 3.5 miles and take a left at the stop sign to go south on County Road 5. In two miles, take the first left to enter the Wildlife Drive.Take Highway 23 east through St. Cloud to Highway 95Follow Highway 95 east 15 miles to Mille Lacs County Road 7Look for the large brown information sign for Sherburne National Wildlife RefugeGo south 4 miles on Mille Lacs County Road 7, which becomes Sherburne County Road 5Once you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue south on County Road 5 three miles further to County Road 9Turn left to go east on County Road 9 to access the hiking trails, Oak Savanna Learning Center and refuge headquarters. To access the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive, continue straight on County Road 5 for an additional two miles and take the first left.From Highway 10 in Big Lake, take Sherburne County Road 5 north approximately eight miles to OrrockOnce you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue north on County Road 5The entrance to the Pra
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/1612) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge?
Take I-94 west to the Highway 101 (Rogers) exitFollow Highway 101 north until it turns into Highway 169Follow Highway 169 north through Elk River and Zimmerman to County Road 9, an exit located four miles north of ZimmermanTurn left and follow County Road 9 west for four milesOnce you see the entrance sign and information kiosk, continue west on County Road 9 to access the hiking trails, Oak Savan…
How do I contact Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 763-389-3323 or email: sherburne@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
