About Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2000 to address the loss of America’s grasslands and the decline of grassland wildlife. Scientists estimate the original tallgrass prairie in Minnesota and Iowa covered about 25 million acres. Now, there are only about 300,000 acres left in the two states. The refuge was created to work with individuals, groups and government agencies to permanently preserve and restore some of the northern tallgrass prairie. Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge encompasses all or part of 85 counties in western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The long-term goal for the refuge is to protect 77,000 acres through conservation easements and government ownership. Easements and purchased lands are managed or overseen by the refuge or wetland management district office covering the area where the lands are located.
How to Get There
Refuge lands are/will be located at widely scattered locations throughout western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The project leader of Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is located at the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge office, approximately eight miles east of Ortonville, MN, and one mile west of Odessa, MN. From Highway 7/75, take Big Stone County Road #19 south approximately three quarters of a mile.
Driving directions (Google Maps) →Plan Your Visit to Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
Heading to Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge? A few things to know before you go:
- Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
- Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
- Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
- Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
- Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge?
No central reservation system listed for Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Check the official page (https://www.recreation.gov/recarea/3924) for the latest entry policy and availability.
How do I get to Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge?
Refuge lands are/will be located at widely scattered locations throughout western Minnesota and northwestern Iowa. The project leader of Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is located at the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge office, approximately eight miles east of Ortonville, MN, and one mile west of Odessa, MN. From Highway 7/75, take Big Stone County Road #19 south approximate…
How do I contact Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge?
You can reach the park at phone: 320-273-2191 or email: NorthernTallgrassPrairie@fws.gov.
References & Official Resources
