Minnesota Valley Refugewinter wildlife
December to March brings snow for snowshoe hikes and a chance to see trumpeter swans and eagles near wetlands, per the Fish and Wildlife Service. Its usual window for this year has passed.
Right now at Minnesota Valley Refuge
Right now in Minnesota Valley Refuge · September
- Cooler hikes, fewer biting insects · Sep–Nov
- Restroom with running water at the Old Cedar Avenue Trailhead, May to October 15 · May–Oct
Next 7 days at Minnesota Valley Refuge
- TodayAreas Of Fog then Partly Sunny78° / 59°1% rain
- ThuMostly Cloudy66° / 48°1% rain
- FriSunny65° / 48°1% rain
- SatMostly Sunny66° / 49°13% rain
- SunSunny64° / 44°7% rain
- MonSunny63° / 49°1% rain
Today: sunrise 7:10 a.m., sunset 6:57 p.m., light until 7:26 p.m. · moon waning gibbous, 78% lit (our calculation)
Your guide to the area
Where to watch
- Blue Lake TrailA trail through marshes that are a nesting and resting area for waterfowl all year
- Bloomington Education and Visitor CenterBird feeders, a sunset overlook and the Hillside Trail down to the wetlands; open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed federal holidays, and possibly when bad weather closes local schools)
Nearby
- Sherburne Refuge51 mi3 separate phases, from September and October are the best months for fall migratory birdsSatChance Rain Showers
- Litchfield Wetland District66 mi2 separate phases, from fall (July-November)
- Rice Lake Refuge118 mi2 separate phases, from September and October are the best months for fall migratory birds
- Necedah Refuge160 mi2 separate phases, from September through November; the last few cranes, ducks and swans depart by mid-NovemberSatMostly Sunny
- Rydell Refuge238 mi2 separate phases, from September and October
- DeSoto Refuge268 miearly December, and again in late February and early MarchSatSunny
The year at Minnesota Valley Refuge
- Hikes and migrating songbirds before leaf-outApr–May
- Restroom with running water at the Old Cedar Avenue Trailhead, May to October 15NowMay–Oct
- Prairie wildflowersJun–Aug
- Cooler hikes, fewer biting insectsNowSep–Nov
- Snowshoe hikes; trumpeter swans and eaglesDec–Mar
- Winter wildlife: December - MarchDec–Mar
Questions people ask
When is the best time to see winter wildlife at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge?
December to March brings snow for snowshoe hikes and a chance to see trumpeter swans and eagles near wetlands, per the Fish and Wildlife Service: December - March. That's general timing for this place, not a peak date or a forecast.
Is it wildlife season at Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge right now?
Not now: its usual winter wildlife window for this year has passed. Next time: December - March, local timing.
Is the Old Cedar Avenue boardwalk open?
As of September 2026, no: the boardwalk is being replaced (work began July 20 and is due to finish in mid-October). The Old Cedar Avenue parking lot has fewer spaces, and the Bluff Trail west of it is closed Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Is there a heated restroom?
Yes: the outdoor heated restroom at the Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center in Carver is open daily. At the Old Cedar Avenue Trailhead the flush restroom runs May to October 15, with a portable toilet the rest of the year.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where should I look for eagles?
Up in the tops of tall cottonwoods, where bald eagles return to their roost sites and add branches to their nests. The wetlands hold trumpeter swans, Canada geese, common and hooded mergansers and mallards.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota Valley NWR: Species ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Is hunting going on?
As of September 2026, hunting season is underway on sections of the refuge. Wear blaze orange or pink in areas open to hunting, and keep pets leashed at all times.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When are the trails open?
Every day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., federal holidays included.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where are the best spots in Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge?
Blue Lake Trail: a trail through marshes that are a nesting and resting area for waterfowl all year; Bloomington Education and Visitor Center: bird feeders, a sunset overlook and the Hillside Trail down to the wetlands; open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed federal holidays, and possibly when bad weather closes local schools).
What is Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge like through the year?
Hikes and migrating songbirds before leaf-out (Apr–May), Prairie wildflowers (Jun–Aug), Cooler hikes, fewer biting insects (Sep–Nov), Snowshoe hikes; trumpeter swans and eagles (Dec–Mar) and Restroom with running water at the Old Cedar Avenue Trailhead, May to October 15 (May–Oct).