"A four part adventure all in one area!"Sherburne National Wildlife RefugeVenture there series • No. 2 • 15 June, 202146 min NW of Boundary Clothing in Zimmerman, MNThis place was a new addition to my travels and I was very happy to have discovered it. A four part adventure all in one area! Since this is a wildlife refuge this area is blocked off for a large chunk of the year because it gives animals time to feed and breed in safety. Off to the first destination, the Mahnomen Trail. An easy warm up with a few rolling hill views. From the signs there are a few rare bird species that visit this area. In the distance you can also see Rice Lake littered with beaver dams and waterfowl. A few minutes drive west you come to the Oak Savanna Learning Center. It was closed because of Covid so I couldn't explore inside but I feel this is the place for kids to go and learn/interact with things inside. Around this area are mostly prairie trails that are even easier and shorter than Mahnomen trail. Now we come upon The Blue Hill Trail, a very cool combo of prairie and tranquil woods. Though before you get to this, you can climb to an observation point that gives you a breathtaking view of what you are about to explore. After climbing down you come to the pines. In this area the temperature drops significantly, while smells of Christmas surround you and all sounds dissipate. I almost thought time was frozen walking through here. Not a single sound was uttered. Once you break the silence you have a long hike ahead of you into prairie country and a large body of water that once again has so many beaver dams. To finish this four part series you head south toward the Prairies Edge Wildlife Drive. Once everyone is tired you can take a slow crawl in your car through this area where I've never seen more eagles (and of course beavers) in my life. There are multiple info signs, one or two quick hiking loops if you so choose, and many observation points to step out and do some extreme birding.- Banle Gaar is a professional venturer and brewery reviewer, along with his dog Topper. Follow him @banlegaarYour venture starts at Boundary Clothing:Adaptable clothing to get you there.He wearsComfortable shorts for a wide range of motion, performance trail shirt, and go-anywhere slip on tennies. Stay cool on the hike and look cool when you hit a brewery on the way home.On Running Cloud ShoeFjallraven Abisko Hike SS ShirtVuori Ripstop Climber ShortShe wearsLightweight layers and sun protection for performance and style. A cute skort offers even more freedom of movement than shorts, because why not?prAna Arch SkortKuhl Bandita HoodyMt Hardwear Mighty Stripe TeeMap it: Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge
