Minnesota River Valley Birding Trail

Falls Region South


Site Description Directions to Site
ALEXANDER RAMSEY PARK Redwood County (217 acres).
Habitat: woods and riparian.
Amenities: T, R, C, P.
Notes: Very popular in season.
Contact: 507-637-5755.
Web Site Available. 		From the intersection of U.S. 71 and Hwy. 19/67 in downtown Redwood Falls, travel west on Hwy. 19/67 across the Redwood River, then turn right on Grove Street. (Note: On the south side of Hwy. 19/67 across from the Grove Street turn is a parking area where you can scope Redwood Lake for waterfowl.) Travel north on Grove Street for approximately 0.2 miles to the park entrance. The main road winds though the park and exits on the east side near the golf course on Lincoln Street/Co. Rd. 31. Travel 0.6 miles south on Lincoln Street back to U.S. 71/Hwy. 19.
 

LOWER SIOUX AGENCY HISTORIC SITE Redwood County.
Habitat: woods, some grasslands, and riparian.
Amenities: T,R,P, Interpretive Center.
Notes: This site is closed from Labor Day until May, except for weekend afternoons in September and October. Trails down to the river bottoms are very steep.
Contact: 507-697-6321.
Web Site Available.

KETTNER LANDING PUBLIC WATER ACCESS Redwood County.
Habitat: woods, tickets, and riparian.
Amenities: B.
Contact: 507-359-6067.
Web Site: None

From the intersection of U.S. 71 and Hwy. 19/67 in downtown Redwood Falls, travel east on U.S. 71/Hwy. 19 approximately 5.5 miles to Co. Rd. 2, which intersects with U.S. 71 just before you cross the Minnesota River. Turn right onto Co. Rd. 2 and travel southeast for approximately 3.0 miles to the Lower Sioux Agency Historic Site. After birding this site, continue southeast on Co. Rd. 2 for 2.2 miles. At this point, there is a gravel road (305th Street) that continues southeast along the Minnesota River. Follow this gravel road southeast for 6.7 miles to Co. Rd. 10 (The gravel road will cross Co. Rd. 11 and Co. Rd. 8, before you get to Co. Rd. 10.). Take Co. Rd. 10 and continue southeast 2.6 miles; Kettner Landing Public Water Access will be on your left. The area along this gravel road is heavily wooded and quite scenic.
FORT RIDGELY STATE PARK Nicollet County (1,040 acres).
Habitat: woods, grasslands on bluffs and ravines, and prairie.
Amenities: T, R, C, P.
Notes: The park is open daily, but the campground is closed from Labor Day until Memorial Day. This is a popular sledding location in winter.
Contact: 507-426-7840.
Web Site Available. 		Continue southeast 3.1 miles on Co. Rd. 10 to Hwy. 4. Turn left on Hwy. 4 and travel north 1.1 miles across the Minnesota River to Co. Rd. 21. Turn left on Co. Rd. 21 and travel northwest 0.3 miles to the entrance to Fort Ridgely State Park. (Note: You can turn right at this point onto Co. Rd. 21 for a scenic route along the Minnesota River to New Ulm.)

MACK COUNTY PARK (CAMP TOWN COUNTY PARK) Renville County (261 acres).
Habitat: woods, thickets, riparian, wetlands, and lake.
Amenities: T, R, P, C, B.
Notes: Call first if you plan to visit during deer hunting season. Park roads are not plowed in winter.
Contact: 320-523-3768.
Web Site Available.

Retrace your steps to Co. Rd. 21 and turn right. Travel northwest 2.2 miles to the Renville County line where the road becomes a gravel road (Co. Rd. 5). Continue northwest 1.2 miles to the entrance to Mack County Park, also known as Camp Town County Park. The park entrance is on the left side of the road.

BIRCH COULEE HISTORIC SITE Renville County.
Habitat: woods and grasslands.
Amenities: T.
Notes: There is an interpretive trail at the historic site with information about the battle of Birch Coulee, which took place in early September 1862 between Dakota warriors and the U.S. Army.
Contact: 507-697-6321.
Web Site Available.

BIRCH COULEE COUNTY PARK Renville County (25 acres).
Habitat: woods, thickets, grasslands, and riparian.
Amenities: T, R, P, C.
Notes: Call first if you plan to visit during deer hunting season. Park roads are not plowed in winter.
Contact: 320-523-3768.
Web Site Available.

 Return to Renville Co. Rd. 5 and turn left. Travel northwest on Co. Rd. 5 approximately 12.0 miles to where it joins with Hwy. 19. Continue northwest on Hwy. 19 approximately 3.0 miles through Morton to its intersection with U.S. 71. Turn right on U.S. 71 and proceed north 2.0 miles to Co. Rd. 2. Turn right onto Co. Rd. 2 and travel 0.7 miles to Co. Rd. 18. Turn right onto Co. Rd. 18 and travel south 0.3 miles to the entrance to Birch Coulee Historic Site and County Park.
BEAVER FALLS COUNTY PARK Renville County (302 acres).
Habitat: woods, thickets, some grasslands, and riparian.
Amenities: T, R, P, C.
Notes: Call first if you plan to visit during deer hunting season.
Contact: 320-523-3768.
Web Site Available.

BEAVER FALLS WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA Renville County (350.8 acres).
Habitat: grasslands and wet meadow.
Amenities: None.
Contact: 507-637-2320.
Web Site Available.

 Return to U.S. 71 and continue west on Co. Rd. 2 approximately 3.0 miles to Beaver Falls County Park, which lies on both sides of Co. Rd. 2. The Beaver Falls Wildlife Management Area is 1.4 miles east of the county park. A minimum maintenance road runs along the west side of the wildlife management area and further east a gravel road (330th Street) runs through it. To return to Redwood Falls, retrace your steps to U.S. 71, turn right and proceed approximately 8.5 miles to the starting point.
Key to Amenities: T: trail; R: restroom; C: camping; P: picnic area; B: boating.

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