Sherburne County: Nature, Trails and Mississippi Experiences
Accommodation in Sherburne County
Sherburne County combines unspoiled landscapes, riverfront areas and diverse trails with insights into regional history. Those who want to plan a trip with nature experiences, physical activity and culture will find a variety of ideas for day trips here: a short hike through prairie and oak woodland, a longer cycling route or a visit to historical exhibits and a farm. When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home, it helps to decide on your preferred travel focus in advance.
Prairie, Wetlands and Trails along the Mississippi River
Bridgeview Park Reserve offers a 1-mile hike through restored prairie, oak savanna and oak woodland. Along the way, viewpoints overlook 1,200 feet of the Mississippi River’s Wild and Scenic Corridor. The loop also includes a 0.25-mile paved and accessible section. This allows you to choose the route according to your preferred pace for the day without having to plan for the entire loop.
Island View Park also places a clear focus on the riverfront. Its trails are divided into two loops totaling nearly 2 miles, while the park extends along 1,300 feet of Mississippi River shoreline. At Grams Park, nearly 2 miles of trails and boardwalks lead through wetlands, a tamarack bog and oak woodland. An unpaved footpath passes through steep terrain to viewpoints overlooking Lake Fremont and Blue Hill, which lies 10 miles to the west.
Active Outings by Bike and on Foot
For an active vacation, the Great Northern Trail offers a clear route: the 8.5-mile paved multi-use trail begins at the southern end in Elk River and leads to Lion’s Park in Zimmerman. The Great Northern Regional Trail is suitable for cycling, inline skating and hiking. Those who prefer to experience nature through changing landscapes can plan a drive along Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. The 7.3-mile gravel route can be used by vehicles, bicycles or on foot and passes through oak savanna, prairie, oak woodland, shallow wetlands, sedge meadows and tamarack swamp.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge provides year-round access to its hiking trails from half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. This time information is important for planning your day if you want to combine the visit with additional outings.
Discover Nature and Learn about History
At Oak Savanna Park, more than 4 miles of hiking trails pass through native prairie, a pine plantation, oak woodland and oak savanna. There are also nearly 2.5 miles of equestrian trails through the same types of landscapes. An accessible limestone-gravel loop connects the Sherburne History Center parking lot with a viewpoint overlooking Clitty Lake and historic outdoor sites such as the Fox House and the remains of the Stuve Farmstead.
The heart+land interpretive trail follows the 1.0-mile Lower Prairie Loop in Two Inlets Regional Park. There, signs and a mobile phone application explain the history, cultural significance and ecological connections of the landscape in central Minnesota using native plants. Two Inlets at Bdé Heḣáka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park also encompasses a small part of the ancestral lands of Dakhóta Oyáte and Anishinaabe and offers 1 mile of natural trails.
Sherburne History Center preserves more than 4,000 objects, photographs and archival materials relating to the history of Sherburne County. The award-winning permanent exhibition covers, among other topics, Dakota and Ojibwe, early settlers, 19th-century agriculture, the planting of the state forest and electricity generation. At Oliver Kelley Farm, you can experience an open-air museum about the history of rural life in the 1860s, focusing on Oliver Hudson Kelley, the founder of the National Grange. Visitors can meet farm animals, interact with staff as they work in the house, barn, garden and fields, and learn about seasonally changing activities in the agricultural year cycle. The nature trails run along the Mississippi River and through wooded areas and restored prairie.
Places and Local Impressions
For further orientation, you can also include the communities of Big Lake, Becker and Elk River in your research. In Elk River, the farmers market takes place on Thursdays at Downtown Park Plaza, 716 Main St. The summer season runs from the second week of June through the first week of October. This allows you to complement a day in nature with a visit to a regional market or a cultural focus.
The best way to choose suitable accommodation in Sherburne County is according to your preferred combination of trails, river landscapes, history and activities. Those who want to explore a route directly in the morning should consider the destinations that are important for their vacation; those who want to combine different interests can plan several different types of experiences. The variety of landscapes and facilities makes Sherburne County a destination that can be experienced both actively and through exploration.
For the higher-level travel overview: Minnesota.
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