Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge—Bloomington Education and Visitor Center — Attraction in Bloomington

I've been coming here almost weekly for 15+ years. It's great in ALL seasons. The hiking is wonderful and the trails vary in length from just a mile or more to 6 miles. You can also combine them. The views are varied and quite pleasant. The hike pass through several types of terrain including lowland swamps, open fields, oak savannah & river bottoms. There are a few old homesteads that are fun to explore.

Its a great place to get in tune with the seasonal fluctuations of Minnesota. You can witness the ebb & flows of low water, high water, snows, the heats of the summer, bird migrations, nesting season, hunting seasons, etc. It's a great place to bring your kids to see how the water cycle works.

You are likely to see hikers, mountain bikers, people on horseback, hunters, X-country skiers and the occasional rock climber. There is one BIG boulder around the midpoint of one of the hikes. Though fortunately never that many people over all. It's still pretty quiet.

An earlier review mentioned the bridge out & muddy sneakers- The bridge was washed away by one of the more severe seasonal floods, but was replaced a few years later with money from the America Recovery Act. The trails are generally very well maintained & have even had a few minor re-routes where they were frequently flooded.

Yes, you are likely to get muddy in the spring and summer, deal with ticks & other denizens of the woods. Also, the western end of the swamp can be an obstacle depending on the water level. You may end up making a 20-40 foot stream crossing. It ranges from very simple to potentially quite dangerous. The footing is not great & if the water is high & fast, you might want to consider going back the way you came. If you are not comfortable with those possibilities, you may want to find a different...

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...

Beautiful place. Many flowers, birds, butterflies. Many free programs to attend to learn about nature. Take a map with if you are going to use the trails! The signage for the trails is incomplete or non existent. The staff was not helpful in an emergency as my hiking partner was getting dehydrated. I called them after going too far on a trail that had near zero map signage. I wanted them to come pick us up. I was directed to a supervisor who said we dont do that. She said once you're out there you are on your own. I called 911 after that and recieved help very quickly. Thank you bloomington emergency services. They were very aware of the lack of signage as they said it is a common call they receive. Come on National Park Service! You need to step up your game when it comes to trails and signs! This isnt the only place ive ran into this problem with our national...