Recreation
Birding
Cross-Country Skiing
Birding
Camping
Cross-Country Skiing
Birding
Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-Country Skiing
Geocaching
Horse Riding
Cross-Country Skiing
Hiking
Horse Riding
Horse Riding
Horse Riding
Horse Riding
Horse Riding
Hunting
Snowmobiling
Kayaking
Kayaking
Snowmobiling
Kayaking
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling
Snowmobiling
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing
Snowmobiling
Birding in the Fertile Sand Hills
The Fertile Sand Hills is a great destination for experienced birders, or those new to the hobby. We are located along many migratory routes and, with Minnesota’s lakes, wetlands and three biomes providing a large range of habitats for a huge variety of game birds, songbirds, waterfowl, and raptors, this is a great spot to be a birder!!!.
New to birding? This is a great place to start. Grab some binoculars and head out. Find a place to sit quietly and observe or take a quiet hike and use your eyes and ears to locate birds. Birding is a skill, so the more you do it and the more you learn about it the better you will get at observing and identifying beautiful and interesting birds.
Here is a list of some of the birds you might encounter while on the trails.
Birds of the Fertile Sand Hills
The list indicates the likelihood you will encounter each species during each season.
In the spring and early summer, visit the prairies south and west of the nature center to observe Eastern Bluebirds nesting in the nesting boxes there.
Once you have spent some time discovering all the avian wildlife in the Sand Hills, visit some of the other locations along the Pine to Prairie International Birding Trail:
Camping at Agassiz Environmental Learning Center!
Five primitive campsites are available just east of the nature center. Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Restrooms, showers and firewood are available 24/7 at the nature center. For more information, call 218-945-3129.
Fee is $15 per night. Fee can be deposited in drop box at the kiosk on the corner of the nature center driveway and Summit Ave.
A few camping rules:
- Be respectful of nature and other campers.
- Use the garbage cans at the nature center. Do not litter and do not burn garbage.
- Do not bring firewood from another location. There is firewood available at the nature center.
- Do not move the fire rings or picnic tables.
Cross-Country Skiing
Over 10 miles of groomed trails! Rentals too!!!
There are over eleven miles of groomed trails in the Sand Hills!!! These trails will take you through a mosaic of ecosystems including riverine forests, grasslands, oak savannas, and sand dunes. You’ll experience a range of scenery and wildlife while getting some much-needed relaxation and exercise on a beautiful Minnesota winter day. You won’t find a skiing experience like this anywhere else!
Trail maps can be found here: https://aelcfertile.org/trail-maps
Ski rentals are available when the nature center is open.
Geocaching
Treasure hunt!!!
Do you geocache? There are a lot of reasons to love geocaching. It’s free, provided you have access to a smartphone or GPS device. It requires that you get outside and exercise. You’ll see some nature and explore some cool places you’ve never been before. And there is a sense of adventure in searching for hidden treasure that kids (and most adults) – really love.
What is geocaching? Geocaching is basically a treasure hunt. A typical geocache is a weatherproof container hidden somewhere, which contains a logbook. Often, it will also contain little trinkets, or “swag”, too. The geographic coordinates of the cache are provided and used with a GPS unit, or viewed through a smartphone app. The objective is to use the GPS coordinates or information provided by the app to locate the cache. Once you find the cache, you record your find in the logbook. You can also bring a trinket or small item along to exchange for one of the trinkets in the cache. It’s a good idea to also record your find in the app or on the geocaching.com website. If there is a problem with the cache or you couldn’t find it, you can record that information, too. There is a worldwide community of geocachers and it is a lot of fun!
Hiking in the Sand Hills
Over ten miles of trails!!!
Our cross-country ski trails become hiking trails in the summer. In fact, some of our summer hiking trails access areas you can’t get to in the winter. There is lots to see on the trails, including views of the river, views from the bluff, breathtaking panoramas from Scout Tower, sand dunes, prairies, savannas, forests, wildflowers, birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies and all the other critters and flora that make the Sand Hills their home.
Take a camera, take some pictures, and share your pictures on Facebook or email them to agassizelcfertile@gmail.com.
Trail maps can be found here: https://aelcfertile.org/trail-maps
Horse Riding
We offer several miles of horse trails in the Sand Hills. There is a horse loading/unloading area with plenty of parking for horse trailers located in the prairie south of the nature center (across Summit Ave from the nature center).
Trail maps can be found here: https://aelcfertile.org/trail-maps
Horses are only permitted on designated trails!!!
Stay on the trail!!!
Additionally, the nearby Agassiz Recreational Trail allows horse riding: http://agassiztrail.org/
Hunting in the Sand Hills - Archery Only
Permit Required
AELC members are permitted to hunt deer in the Sand Hills using bow during regular archery season. Permits can be purchase at Al and Laura’s Foods, 109 Albert Ave. Fertile, MN 56540.
All DNR regulations related to hunting on public land apply while hunting in the Sand Hill Recreation Area.
Tree stands must be removed at the end of the season.
Kayaking the Sandhill River
The Sand Hill River is an incredible place to kayak, and a great place to gain experience for beginning kayakers.
For more information about canoeing and kayaking on the Sand Hill River, maps and river levels, visit: https://aelcfertile.org/river-maps
Kayaks are available for rent. For more information on kayak rentals, call Lisa at the City of Fertile, 218-945-3136,
Snowmobiling
Horse trails become snowmobile trails in the winter. We offer several miles of snowmobile trails.
Trail maps can be found here: https://aelcfertile.org/trail-maps
Snowmobiles are only permitted on designated trails!!!
Stay on the trail!!!
Additionally, the nearby Agassiz Recreational Trail allows snowmobiling: http://agassiztrail.org/
Snowshoeing
Currently, we have 0.75 miles of snowshoe trails, with plans to add additional mileage by the 2020-21 season.
Trail maps can be found here: https://aelcfertile.org/trail-maps
Snowshoe rentals are available when the nature center is open.
