Cannon River Turtle Preserve SNA

909 Acres Located from downtown Red Wing: West access: 8 miles W on US Hwy 61, to Co Rd 18 (Welch Shortcut). SW .75 mile to Circle Dr. S .6 mile to roadside pull-off on the NW side of Co Rd 18 (Circle Dr). The walk-in access is on the SE side of the road. It is a .45 mile walk along the access easement into the SNA. East access: 5 miles W on US Hwy 61. Park along Hwy 61 or north of the Cannon River at public water access. Walk into the site anywhere along Hwy 61 where it is posted as SNA. Goodhue County Twp 113N Rng 16W Sec 24 & 25 & 26 & 35 Type: Deciduous Woods ECS Subsection: Blufflands

Description:

Cannon River Turtle Preserve, located on the lower Cannon River, contains floodplain forest dominated by silver maple and cotton wood. American elm was formerly the most important species in this floodplain forest. The site provides habitat for the state-threatened wood turtle, which nests on the river's sand bars. While it is mostly found in the northeastern states, the wood turtle is rarely abundant anywhere. Low reproductive potential and loss of habitat combine to make the species vulnerable. Woodland turtles prefer small, fast moving streams in forests with grassy meadows on the banks and raised sandbars for nesting; the Cannon River Turtle Preserve appears to be just right. The best time to visit is in the spring, before mosquitoes become too abundant, or during fall leaf color season.

Plant List

Visitor notes:

To protect wood turtle nesting habitat, sand bars are closed to visitation, and landing canoes and other watercraft is prohibited, from May 1 through October 1.