쉬운 벤턴 카운티 하이킹 및 워킹 코스

Quarry Park Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) encompasses 323 acres embedded within a larger, 684-acre Stearns County Park in Waite Park, Minnesota. This landscape is best known for its rich history of granite mining, which peaked during the first half of the 20th century. If you look back much further in time, the story of this granite begins with a mountain‑building event known as the Penokean Orogeny. This event started about 1.9 billion years ago, when the collision of two continents greatly thickened the continental crust. Geologist Terry Boerboom of the Minnesota Geological Survey explains: “As this over‑thickened crust collapsed and thinned, high‑temperature magma welled up from the earth’s mantle and pooled beneath it. The addition of the magma to the already hot base of the crust caused it to melt and mingle with the underlying magma from the mantle. Batches of this mixture rose upward to a depth of about 10 miles below the surface, where it slowly cooled to form the granite. The different colors of granite reflect the varied degrees to which the two different magma sources were mixed.”

This hike is comprised of two separate loops joined by a short connecting trail. There used to be an old wooden country schoolhouse located on the School House Loop, which then was repurposed as a visitor center. Sadly, the original schoolhouse has been torn down. However, it was replaced by a modern visitor center that has information about the refuge as well as plenty of parking and bathroom facilities.

The location of this highlight has an observation hide, as shown in the photos. When we visited the site, the hide was open and available.

The Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is a 30,000 acre nature preserve. The preserve was created to protect migratory birds and other endangered species native to the area. There are miles of hiking trails through the park and several lakes.

The Mahnomen Trail is a great trail in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. It is a loop trail that takes you through prairie, oak savanna and wetland habitats. The trail is popular for hiking and snowshoeing in the winter.

Nice view of the School House Pool. It is a great place for a beak to admire the pool and wetlands that surround you. This is also a popular spot for bird watching.

The Black Bear Loop Trail is a popular trail in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. The trail is made of crushed granite and flat, so it is not a challenging walk.

Nice view of Buck Lake from the Blue Hill Trail. Buck Lake is one of several lakes in Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. The lake is home to a variety of wildlife, including swans and ducks, so it is a popular spot for birdwatchers.