Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas

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Minnesota Scientific & Natural Areas

Preserving natural features and rare resources of exceptional scientific and educational value. Research equipment is also sometimes seen on sites.

Scientific and Natural Areas are exceptional places where native plants and animals flourish; where rare species are protected; and where we can know, and study, Minnesota's fascinating natural features. They protect natural features of exceptional scientific or educational value including: native plant communities, populations of rare species, and geological features. Protection of multiple sites

in each landscape region is a vital means of capturing the genetic diversity and preventing the loss of important species, communities, and features. This strategy observes the wisdom of not putting all our eggs in one basket. Scientific and Natural Areas are public lands open to recreational activities that do not disturb natural conditions, such as bird-watching, 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. The primary activity is the establishment of system of nature preserves called Scientific and Natural Areas. This system is found across Minnesota's landscape. The Program's long-range goal is to protect at least: Five locations of plant communities known to occur in each landscape region Three locations per region of each rare species, plant or animal, and geological feature. It is estimated that 500 natural areas are needed throughout the state to adequately protect significant features. Because over 40 percent of these rare features occur in prairies, 200 natural areas would be in the prairie area of the state. Of the remainder, approximately 135 are estimated to be needed in the deciduous and 165 in coniferous forest landscape communities in the next 100 years. All visitors must follow our Terms of Use for Social Media Channels: mndnr.gov/site_tools/terms_of_service.html

08/13/2026

You don’t become a prairie plant expert overnight. 📖

Recently, conservation professionals from across Minnesota spent the day at Blanket Flower Prairie SNA sharpening their plant identification skills. Together, they explored the prairie, learned to recognize native plants and plant communities, and talked about how this knowledge helps guide conservation and land management decisions.

Every new plant identified is another piece of the puzzle that helps protect Minnesota’s remaining prairies.

Mndnr.gov/snas/sna01024

Photo: Conservation staff at Blanket Flower Prairie SNA in Clay County, Minnesota.

08/08/2026

A few weeks ago, we celebrated an exciting new chapter for Wabu Woods SNA. 😊

Thanks to the generous donation from the Deer Lake Association, Wabu Woods SNA has grown by 43 acres, including 435 feet of forested shoreline along Deer Lake. Protecting this land will help support Deer Lake’s water quality while preserving important habitat that future generations can enjoy.

A huge thank you to the Deer Lake Association for making this addition possible, and to everyone who joined us to celebrate this special milestone.

Have you visited Wabu Woods SNA? We’d love to hear what you enjoy about it!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna01048

Photos: Wabu Woods SNA addition celebration.

08/05/2026

Looking for volunteer opportunities in the Red Wing or St. Cloud areas? Consider becoming a NAVigator (Natural Area Volunteer)!

NAVigators will locate, document, and remove buckthorn at either Quarry Park SNA or Spring Creek Prairie SNA/ Cannon River Turtle SNA.

Tasks include:
-Regular visits to selected sites to monitor and remove buckthorn.
-Providing invasive species reports and location data to SNA staff.
-Tracking invasive species removal over 8 months from September 2026 to September 2027.

Apply to Quarry Park SNA here:
bttr.im/cgq40
Apply to Spring Creek Prairie SNA/ Cannon River Turtle SNA here:
bttr.im/yiu7m

SNA staff will coordinate a brief interview to provide more details and answer any questions. This project intends to build a community of volunteers who work together to assist with specific management tasks at their local SNAs.

07/18/2026

Next time you’re in Duluth, take a walk beyond the airport and away from the beach. Here you’ll find Minnesota Point Pine Forest SNA, home to one of Minnesota’s few remaining old-growth red and white pine forests. Some of these pines have stood here for more than 200 years.

Have you been here? Share your favorite memory or photo in the comments!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna02000

Video: Minnesota Point Pine Forest SNA in St. Louis County, Minnesota.

07/17/2026

By now, you’ve probably started seeing black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) blooming across Minnesota. Their bright yellow petals and dark centers are one of the surest signs that summer is in full swing.

The dark “eye” in the center isn’t a single flower. It’s made up of numerous tiny disk flowers, each capable of producing seeds. Later in the season, those seeds become an important food source for birds.

Have you spotted black-eyed Susans lately? We’d love to see your photos in the comments!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna02040

Photo: Black-eyed Susan’s at Chimney Rock SNA in Dakota County, Minnesota.

07/15/2026

This plant doesn’t need a gps 🧭

Compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) gets its name from its large, rough leaves, which often orient themselves north and south. This helps reduce direct exposure to the hot midday sun. Early European settlers are said to have used the leaves as a rough guide when traveling across the prairie.

Have you seen a compass plant? Let us know in the comments!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna01053

Photo: Compass plant at Oronoco Prairie SNA in Olmsted County, Minnesota. ©ColdSnap Photography

07/13/2026

Happy International Rock Day! 🪨

Rocks do much more than create beautiful views. They shape the landscapes, soils and habitats that many of Minnesota’s plants and animals depend on.

SNAs protect some of Minnesota’s most remarkable rocky places, including:
-Granite outcrops at Morton Outcrops SNA.
-Granite bedrock at Quarry Park SNA.
-Rhyolite pebble beaches at Iona’s Beach SNA

Each tells a story of Minnesota’s geologic history and helps preserve the unique habitats that have formed there.

Which rocky SNA is your favorite? Share a photo in the comments!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna02051

Photos: Granite outcrops at Morton Outcrops SNA in Renville County, Minnesota.

07/10/2026

Great blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) is beginning to bloom across parts of Minnesota, adding bright purple color to summer prairies. 🪻

What looks like one flower is dozens of tiny flowers packed together on a tall spike. They open gradually from the top down over several weeks.

Great blazing star is an important nectar source for pollinators, especially butterflies and native bees that rely on prairie flowers throughout the summer.

Have you started seeing blazing star blooming where you explore? Show us your photos in the comments!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna02036

Photos: Great blazing star at Blaine Preserve SNA in Anoka County, Minnesota.

07/09/2026

Storms can move in quickly, especially in open landscapes. ⛈️

If you’re exploring an SNA this summer, keep an eye on the forecast before you head out and pay attention to changing conditions while you’re there. If you hear thunder or see lightning, you are close enough to be struck and should head to the safety of your vehicle immediately.

Remember that SNAs do not have buildings or shelters. A little planning can help make your outdoor adventures safer.

Have you ever been caught out in a storm? We want to hear your stories in the comments!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna01101

Photo: Storm rolling in at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA in Washington County, Minnesota.

07/08/2026

White beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) definitely earned its name.

If you look closely inside the flower, you’ll find tiny hairs on a tongue-shaped structure that resembles a little beard. Scientists think these hairs may help guide pollinators to the flower’s nectar while also making it a little easier for pollen to stick to these visitors.

White beardtongue is one of the most widespread beardtongues in North America and is native to Minnesota. You’ll often find it blooming in prairies, savannas and open woodland edges in early summer.

Have you noticed these “bearded” flowers blooming lately? We’d love to see your pictures in the comments!

mndnr.gov/snas/sna01024

Video: White beardtongue at Yellow Bank Hills SNA in Lac qui Parle County, Minnesota.

Address

Duluth, MN
55801, 55802, 55803, 55804, 55805, 55806, 55807, 55808, 55810, 55811, 55812

Website

http://mndnr.gov/snas

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