Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

Destination Sites

How to Get There: From Ortonville, travel southeast 3.5 miles on US 75 to Refuge road.

What You Will Find: A paved auto tour great for biking. There is a trailhead, bathroom and trails.

Services at This Site: Minimal

The park is named for Big Stone Lake, which was named for the granite outcrops on the lake. The Dakota people called the lake Bde Iŋyaŋ Takiŋyaŋyaŋ, referring to the outcrops.

Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1975, consists of 11,586 acres of tallgrass prairie, wetlands, granite outcrops, and river woodlands. Eleven miles of the Minnesota River flow through the refuge. There are 100 acres of granite outcrops. These bare rock areas support unusual species of cactus and other plants. A foot trail provides excellent close-up views of the species as well as the entire refuge and its wildlife residents.

The granite outcrops support unusual species of cactus and other plants. A foot trail provides excellent close-up views of the species as well as the entire refuge and its wildlife residents. The refuge provides resting places for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as homes for summer residents like egrets, great blue herons, cormorants, and ducks. Six miles of a self-guided auto tour takes you through the tall grass prairie, granite outcrops, mixed hardwoods, and wetlands.

The park is open all year.

Things to Do: Destination Site, Outdoor Activities