Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in the east central region of the state, approximately 50 miles northwest of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area and 30 miles southeast of St. Cloud. The refuge protects 30,665 acres of habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The primary mission of the refuge is to represent a diverse biological community characteristic of the transition zone between tallgrass prairie and forest. Established in 1965 to protect and restore the habitats associated with the St. Francis River Valley, refuge management today focuses on the restoration of oak savanna, wetland and big woods habitats.

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is located in east central Minnesota, approximately 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis and 30 miles southeast of St. Cloud. From Minneapolis, take Interstate 94 west to Highway 101 at Rogers. Go north on 101 to Highway 169 north, then follow Highway 169 north four miles past Zimmerman to County Road 9. Go west on County Road 9 four miles to the refuge entrance and one additional mile to the refuge office. From St. Cloud, take Highway 23 north to Highway 95, then east on Highway 95 approximately 15 miles. After the sign for Sherburne Refuge, take the first right, which is Mille Lacs County Road 7. Go south on County 7 four miles to the refuge entrance then three more miles to County 9. Go east 2.5 miles on County 9 to the refuge office. For directions from Big Lake, Zimmerman, and Princeton, click here.