About

The Felton Prairie complex is the most important gravel prairie complex in Minnesota. Its four units are associated with beach ridges (former shorelines) of glacial Lake Agassiz. Mesic black soil prairie predominates, with gravel prairie on the ridges and wet black soil prairie occupying the swales. Among its rare features are a calcareous seepage fen, western prairie fringed orchids, Assiniboia and Dakota skippers, chestnut-collared longspurs, marbled godwits and loggerhead shrikes. The site is part of an Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA) and has long been a magnet for birders.

Visitors to this SNA will understand the 1962 site assessment of then-Wildlife Supervisor D. B. Lawrence, who noted that "all have been thrilled with the magnificence" of Felton Prairie. Over three dozen species of grasses and sedges blanket the landscape, interspersed with wildflowers such as blazing stars, wood lilies and Indian paintbrush. Glacial erratics rise from a largely treeless plain: looming boulders of red granite and other rocks of the Canadian shield carried here by glaciers from their points of origin 150 to more than 1,000 miles to the north.

This site has no maintained trails or other recreational facilities.