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Sandhill Crane Migration

Sandhill cranes migrate through Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge from mid-September to mid-November each year, providing a unique viewing opportunity for visitors. Learn more about these birds on the sandhill crane species page or in the Sherburne Sandhill Crane Fall Migration Brochure

Best Option for Dawn and Dusk Viewing: While cranes are flying over the County Road 70 Parking Lot, park at GPS coordinates 45.537715800488506, -93.77017334103515.

Best Option for Daytime Viewing: While cranes are foraging in harvested fields north and west of the refuge. Please refer to the Sherburne Sandhill Crane Fall Migration Brochure for common locations.

Sherburne Sandhill Crane Fall Migration Brochure 

Sandhill Crane Count:

Weekly, starting in early October and ending typically the first week of November or the first hard freeze. 

  • October 8: 9,006 cranes
  • October 15: 12,933 cranes
  • October 22: 12,544 cranes

The next count will be on November 6. 

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Public Use Alerts
Main Phone Line is Down

We are experiencing issues with receiving and making phone calls on the Refuge Headquarters' main phone line. Please call 763-301-1827 for any questions regarding the refuge or America the Beautiful passes while we work to fix this issue. 

Updated 10/8/2024

The 30,700 acre refuge was established in 1965 at the urging of local conservationists and hunters interested in restoring the wildlife values of the St. Francis River Basin. Following that, the refuge became and remains the largest public land holding in Sherburne County. The refuge is now a wild remnant at the meeting of the western prairies and the northern woods, with oak savanna, prairie opening, forest, wetland and riverine habitats.
Refuge Hours
Refuge Lands:

Open daily from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, and there is no entrance or parking fee. Please note that the majority of the refuge is designated as a wildlife sanctuary and is closed to all public access from March 1 to August 31. During sanctuary time, the only areas open to public use are the Wildlife Drive, designated hiking trails, fishing access points and the designated canoe route. From September 1 - February 28, the majority of the refuge is open to public use, please refer to the Public Use Regulations and Map Brochure for regulations. 

Refuge Headquarters:

Open Monday - Thursday, 8 am to 4 pm and closed on federal holidays. While staff are in the field, visitors may occasionally find the office closed for brief periods of time. If you're coming in for an America the Beautiful Pass, please call ahead to ensure availability.

Oak Savanna Learning Center:

Open for refuge events or for conservation-related activities by appointment only. The Eagle's Nest Nature Store, operated by the Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm and online at sherburneeaglesneststore.com.

Visit Us

The refuge offers people a chance to unplug and relax. Locals can enjoy regular trips to the refuge and enjoy the change of seasons. Twin Cities residents can make the short drive north for a daytrip in nearby nature. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the wide variety of activities available at the refuge.

Public Use Brochure Hunting Brochure

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Every national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
      A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service  for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.

      Learn more about national wildlife refuge
      was created for a special purpose. Some were created to protect migratory birds, others to protect threatened or endangered species or unique habitats, while others fulfill another special purpose. All activities allowed on refuges must be evaluated to make sure each activity will not conflict with the reason the refuge was founded.

      Sherburne serves as an inviolate sanctuary for migratory birds. The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Act uses money from Duck Stamp sales to purchase refuge lands, and over 95% of the refuge was purchased using these funds. Many lands purchased with Duck Stamp funds were defined as inviolate sanctuaries. These lands, under most circumstances, must be at least partially closed to migratory bird hunting to allow birds a place of refuge and protection where they cannot be harmed.

      What We Do

      The National Wildlife Refuge System is a series of lands and waters owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the refuge system. It drives everything we do from the purpose a refuge is established, to the recreational activities offered there, to the resource management tools we use. Selecting the right tools helps us ensure the survival of local plants and animals and helps fulfill the purpose of the refuge.

      • Prescribed fire
      • Water level management
      • Forest management
      • Invasive species management
      • People management
      • Research, inventory and monitoring
      Services
      Kayakers navigating a swamp full of trees and lily pads.

      Some 30 national wildlife refuges  charge visitors a nominal entrance fee (generally $3-$5 daily)  to cover road and facility maintenance.  If you are a regular visitor or would like to visit other public lands, you could save by buying an America the Beautiful Federal...

      Silhouette of a person walking with a shotgun on the tundra

      Some commercial, recreational and research activities are allowed on national wildlife refuges only with a special use permit issued by the local office, and are subject to specific conditions and fees. This permit requirement is meant to ensure that all activities at the federal site are...

      Our Species

      Predominately composed of oak savanna, the refuge supports a wide variety of wildlife, ranging from sandhill cranes to badgers to wild lupine. Bald eagles, Canada geese, wild turkeys and trumpeter swans are great success stories; once rare or eliminated from the refuge, they are now spotted on a regular basis. Red-headed woodpeckers, plains hog-nosed snakes and state-threatened Blanding’s turtles have found their niche at the refuge, especially important as the available habitat has declined over the decades.

      Get Involved

      Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love. National wildlife refuges partner with volunteers, youth groups, landowners and neighbors to make a lasting difference. Find out how you can help make American lands healthier and communities stronger while doing something personally satisfying.