Preserve Visitation Guidelines

Weaver Dunes field trip © TNC

Most of The Nature Conservancy preserves in Minnesota are open year-round for walking, birdwatching, educational and other passive recreational uses. Each preserve has something special to offer at every time of the year. Take your time and enjoy nature’s gifts!

The Conservancy’s preserves protect plants, animals, and natural communities and the biological diversity they represent. They are frequently used for scientific study and educational instruction.

While most of our preserves are open to the public, they are private properties and subject to limitations on use. Access to some areas is restricted based upon the rarity or sensitivity of what is being protected, and some preserves can only be visited for educational or research purposes with permission from Conservancy staff.

What You Can Do
The following activities are permitted on Conservancy preserves:

• Birdwatching
• Cross-country skiing
• Fishing (at most sites that can be publicly accessed, based on state regulations)
• Hiking
• In-season hunting is allowed at several Conservancy preserves in Minnesota, in accordance with MN DNR regulations**
• Nature study
• Photography/videotaping for personal use
• Snowshoeing

Prohibited Activities

• Use of motorized vehicles of any sort, including ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles, except on public roads
• Biking and mountain biking
• Camping
• Carrying of firearm or archery equipment if land is not open for hunting
• Dumping of refuse
• Feeding animals, including birds or fish
• Fires or gathering firewood
• Horseback riding
• Introducing exotic plant or animal species (those that are not native to a particular area)
• Pets, even on a leash, with the exception of service dogs. Hunting dogs are allowed only when and where hunting is legal. This is for the safety of the fragile ecology and as a courtesy to other visitors.
• Picking or digging up any tree, shrub, flower, grass, or removing any rocks or minerals
• Placement of permanent stands
• Pursuing or harassing animals, or approaching them too closely
• Prospecting
• Rock or ice climbing
• Target practice
• Trapping

Note: Conservancy lands that are designated Minnesota DNR Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs) are subject to SNA use regulations.

Preparation: the Key to a Safe, Enjoyable Visit
To minimize disturbance to wild places, we do not maintain elaborate trail infrastructure or facilities, and you will not find any staff on duty at the preserves. Therefore, we ask you to prepare for your visit and take proper precautions while on site.

• Wear comfortable footwear suitable for hiking, but please do not wear heavy, cleated boots—these damage the soil and vegetation.
• To protect yourself from ticks, poison ivy or poison sumac, wear long pants, and tuck them into your socks.
• To get the most from your visit, and to protect yourself from the elements, you may want to bring the following items.
  • Binoculars
  • Camera
  • Compass
  • Field guides (to wildflowers, birds, butterflies and other natural features)
  • Full water bottle (dehydration is a serious risk at any time of the year)
  • Insect repellant
  • Rain gear
  • Small first aid kit
  • Snack (fruit or trail mix)
  • Sunscreen

Precautions

• Do not remove any stakes, signs or other objects--they may be part of a research project.
• Use trails and firebreaks where these are present. Do not make new trails. Where no trail exists, groups should not walk single file but rather walk abreast, separated by an arm’s length to avoid the repeated trampling of vegetation.
• Because seeds stick to shoes and clothing, you may introduce weeds into the preserve without knowing it. Inspect pant legs and shoes to remove seeds before entering.
• Avoid walking on boggy, wet areas--they are more sensitive to the effects of foot traffic.
• If you flush a ground-nesting bird, stop and avoid walking near the bird’s nest.
• Give wide berth to livestock.
• Close any gates that you go through.
• The Conservancy conducts prescribed burns to control invasive species. Please be on the lookout for Conservancy burn crews in the spring and fall.
• During the fall hunting season, hunters may be near or on Conservancy property; wear bright, visible clothing.
• Please report problems like trash, damage or broken signage to our Minneapolis office at (612) 331-0750 or minnesota@tnc.org.

**Hunting, fishing, collection, or other actions involving removal or killing of plants or animals on lands owned or managed by the Conservancy is permitted when 1) these actions are necessary to protect the ecological integrity of native ecosystems or sensitive native species; or 2) the removal is important to the human community interacting with these lands, the continuation of use by the community is consistent with the Conservancy's ability to fulfill its mission, and removal is conducted in a manner that does not adversely affect the long-term health of the species and ecosystems the Conservancy is seeking to protect; or 3) the actions are required by law.

Information on hunting access at Conservancy preserves in Minnesota (PDF, 2 MB)

Respect Our Neighbors' Property
A reminder: our preserves are often adjacent to private land. The Nature Conservancy respects and recognizes the rights and responsibilities of private property ownership. Please do not trespass on private property adjacent to Conservancy preserves. Property lines are clearly marked with small yellow signs featuring the Conservancy’s logo.