In Sherburne County, trails pass through prairie, oak woodland, and wetlands; several places also offer a glimpse into the region’s history. When planning, it’s worth considering the different landscapes and types of trails: one gravel route can be used by different modes of transportation, while some parks offer loop trails, boardwalks, or horseback riding trails.

Prairie, Wetlands, and Trails along the Mississippi

The Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is 7.3 miles long and is a gravel route that can be traveled by vehicle or bicycle, or on foot. Along the way, it passes through a mosaic of oak savanna, prairie, oak woodland, shallow wetlands, sedge meadows, and tamarack swamps. For those who prefer hiking, the Refuge’s trails are open year-round, from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. Seasonal restrictions may apply to other facilities and activities.

At Bridgeview Park Reserve, a one-mile hike passes through restored prairie, oak savanna, and oak woodland. Viewpoints line 1,200 feet of the Mississippi River’s Wild and Scenic Corridor. Within the one-mile loop is a 0.25-mile paved, accessible section. This makes it easy to distinguish the longer loop from a shorter paved segment.

At Island View Park, the shoreline stretches for 1,300 feet. Its trails form two loops totaling nearly two miles. At Grams Park, nearly two miles of trails and boardwalks pass through wetlands, a tamarack bog, and oak woodland. The park also has a nature play area, created in 2023, with a boulder course, crawl tunnels, rope course, and balancing logs.

Oak Savanna Park offers more than four miles of hiking trails through native prairie, a pine plantation, oak woodland, and oak savanna. Nearly 2.5 miles of horseback riding trails also pass through these landscape types. Another trail option is the accessible limestone-gravel loop: It starts at the Sherburne History Center parking lot and leads to a viewpoint overlooking Clitty Lake, as well as historic outdoor features, including the Fox House and the remains of the Stuve Farmstead. By contrast, the original footpath at Grams Park is steep and leads to viewpoints overlooking Lake Fremont and Blue Hill, 10 miles west.

The Great Northern Regional Trail is also suitable for biking, inline skating, and hiking. The 8.5-mile paved multi-use trail starts at its southern endpoint in Elk River and continues to Lion’s Park in Zimmerman.

Regional History and Cultural Landscapes

Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park encompasses a small portion of the ancestral lands of Dakhóta Oyáte and Anishinaabe and offers one mile of natural-surface trails. At Two Inlets Regional Park, the heart+land interpretive trail follows the 1.0-mile Lower Prairie Loop. Signs and a mobile phone application share historical, cultural, and ecological information about the landscape through its native plants. The interpretive program is connected with the Minnesota Parks Artist-in-Residence Program 2024–2025.

The Sherburne History Center preserves more than 4,000 artifacts, photographs, and archival materials documenting the county’s history. Its award-winning permanent exhibit covers, among other subjects, Dakota and Ojibwe, early settlers, 19th-century agriculture, the planting of the state forest, and electricity generation. Alongside trails and landscapes, visitors can explore various chapters of regional history.

Oliver Kelley Farm is an open-air museum about rural life in the 1860s. It focuses on the life and work of Oliver Hudson Kelley, founder of the National Grange. Visitors can meet farm animals and interact with staff as they work in the house, barn, garden, and fields. Seasonal activities related to the agricultural cycle are also offered. The farm’s nature trails run along the Mississippi River and through woodlands and restored prairie.

For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.