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State Park Overview |
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Nature of the Area |
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The prairie within the park, and the adjoining Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area (SNA), is judged to be one of the largest and best of the states prairie preserves. The landscape contains more than 250 species of wildflowers and grasses including some plants now rare in Minnesota. The Buffalo River that runs through the park is bordered by a riverbottom forest of elm, ash, cottonwood, oak, and basswood.
Eight to ten thousand years ago, glacial Lake Agassiz once covered over 200,000 square miles, including 17,000 square miles in Minnesota. The rise and fall of this ancient lake formed the dominant landscape features within the park. As Lake Agassiz began draining, it left behind a fertile, level "lake bottom" landscape interrupted by prominent gravel ridges or beach lines. One of the lakes beach lines runs along the eastern edge of the park.
The prairie areas within the park, and scientific and natural area (SNA), are not just for the wildflower enthusiast. In spring, the song of the bobolink brings the prairie alive. Prairie chickens, upland sandpipers, and marbled godwits (uncommon prairie birds) can also be seen and heard. Red foxes, badgers, coyotes, prairie toads, white-tailed deer and jackrabbits are also a part of the grassland community. Keen observers might also spot rare regal fritillary butterflies, plains pocket mice and northern grasshopper mice. Hikers will encounter deer frequently. Beavers can be seen along the river and moose have been observed moving through the area. The hardwood forest area of the park is home to four species of woodpeckers, great crested flycatchers, phoebes, numerous warblers, vireos and orioles. In all, more than 200 species of birds and 40 species of mammals use the park during the year. |
History of the Area |
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