The Lost Bay Habitat Drive at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge opened Thursday and will remain open through Oct. 31.
The Habitat Drive begins at refuge headquarters, located along Marshall County Road 7 east of Holt, Minn. The four-mile drive is open during daylight hours seven days a week. A sign along Minnesota Highway 1, three miles east of Thief River Falls, also guides visitors to the refuge. Interpretive signs along the drive describe the types of habitats and several species of wildlife that depend on those species of plants.
Agassiz also offers three hiking trails. The half-mile Headquarters Hiking Trail begins at refuge headquarters. The .7-mile Rodahl Hiking Trail is located near the southwest corner of the refuge and extends to the overlook part of Farmes Pool. The trail is not identified with signs, but a parking lot and permanent outdoor restroom are located at the trail head.
The Maakstad Hiking Trail is a quarter-mile-long mowed grass trail along the Lost Bay Drive that is open for walking. Refuge staff has placed benches along all three trails to use for wildlife observation.
Both Headquarters and Rodahl trails have a crushed granite rock surface and are wheelchair accessible. The trails also have new wildlife observation/photography blinds that are open for use. An observation deck also is located at the end of the Rodahl Hiking Trail. An interpretive leaflet is available at the beginning of the Headquarters Hiking Trail.
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Habitats differ along all the trails, so visitors are encouraged to take the time to walk all of them.
Two kiosks with interpretive signs and leaflet dispensers are located along Marshall County Road 7.
The 14-foot tall Lansing Parker Pool Observation Deck is located along Marshall County Road 7.
According to a refuge news release, the bald eagle pair at Parker Pool is back on the same nest they built in 2007. Two nests have been built by the pair in years past. The active nest still will be visible even after trees leaf out.
For more information on Agassiz refuge and its watchable wildlife and hiking opportunities, call (218) 449-4115, extensions 203 or 211.
