Recreation

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.

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.  

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!

Download the app called “Geocaching”.  Once you’ve downloaded, installed and set up the app, you can use the map within the app to view nearby caches.  Use the map to locate the cache.  Click on the cache icon in the map for more information about the cache.

The app is free, but of course there’s a catch.  Detailed information about some of the more difficult caches can only be viewed if you pay for the premium version of the app.  However, there is a website that corresponds with the app, geocaching.com.  This is a great resource for learning about geocaching and it seems to provide more information about the premium caches than what is available through the free app. 

There are currently about eleven caches in or very near to the Sand Hills Recreation Area. Some were placed by AELC staff, some by others. Most of the caches are fairly easy to find.  So, the Sand Hills would be a great place for an introduction to this great hobby.  In fact, you may be able to locate some of the premium caches using only the little bit of information available in the free app.

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

 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/

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.

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/

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.