Tour the Prairie

The Brandenburg Prairie Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have purchased over 800 acres of untilled prairie land in Rock County, Minnesota, now known as the "Touch the Sky Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge." Together, they have developed a 15-year management plan for its restoration. With time and continued effort, hundreds of native species will return--the songbirds, flora, and native wildlife. The dream is to see the bison roaming "Touch the Sky Prairie" again. The prairie preserves a wide variety of plants and animals that are not seen in other parts of the world. Uncommon animal species, such as the Dakota skipper or grasshopper sparrow, make the northern prairie home. Without protection of their habitat, they face the threat of extinction. Touch The Sky Prairie has trails that let visitors explore the area. They are unpaved trails mowed through the grass, so be sure to bring proper footwear if it has been snowy or raining lately. If you follow the trail long enough - just over a mile - you'll come across a lovely creek. Follow it as it winds through the grass and you'll find Prairie Waterfall. The creek tumbles over low stones into a wide pool. This is a place of quiet beauty. Because few know about it, you're unlikely to run into many other visitors.