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This unique remnant of the Big Woods ecosystem encompasses a range of habitats, from maple-basswood forest to prairie, calcareous fen, and river vistas. The west-side and east-side trail systems provide the opportunity to explore the natural features that make the CRWA one of the premier areas of the entire county. Cannon River Wilderness Area facilities […]

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Trails

The trails that originate near the picnic shelter on the west side of the park provide easy access to some very different plant communities. If you head toward the river you will walk through flood plain forest. The vegetation here must be able to survive wet roots for weeks or months at a time, as […]

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Vegetation

Besides offering good birding conditions, springtime treats visitors to a colorful succession of the so-called ephemerals, the early-blooming wildflowers that emerge in early spring and disappear by early summer. Early bloomers such as Hepatica, Bloodroot, Wild Ginger, and Dutchman’s Breeches give way to others, such as Spring Beauty, Bellwort, and Trout Lily. Not often spotted […]

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CWD Deer Hunt Scheduled For CRWA Park December 16-18, 2022

The Minnesota DNR has announced that late-season deer hunting will be allowedover the weekend of December 16-18 in nine permit areas across the state, in an effort to combat the deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The Cannon River Wilderness Area Park is in Deer Permit Area 605, which is included in the hunt. Click the […]

CRWA Is “A Favorite Place In The World”

Northfield News, Faribault Daily News In the early autumn of 2007, Carl Henry sat with Roxi, his black Labrador retriever. Roxi’s adventurous spirit often led her to chase down animals, like the turkey vultures that circled above the two of them that day. While Roxi had her attention fixed onto the soaring scavengers, Henry snapped […]

County seeks park improvement ideas

SouthernMinn.com 2/16/2022 Rice County officials are looking at ways to improve county parks and trails and are inviting the public to weigh in on an interactive map. Consultants with Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. are conducting an assessment of the county parks system and developing recommendations for upgrades. They updated county commissioners on their progress during […]

COVID-19 Time

All of the trails in the Cannon River Wilderness Area Park remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while we invite you to make full use of the trails we also strongly urge everyone to practice safe, healthy habits. Many of the trails in the park are too narrow for social distancing while one person […]

CWD Deer Hunt Scheduled For CRWA Park December 16-18, 2022

The Minnesota DNR has announced that late-season deer hunting will be allowedover the weekend of December 16-18 in nine permit areas across the state, in an effort to combat the deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The Cannon River Wilderness Area Park is in Deer Permit Area 605, which is included in the hunt. Click the […]

CRWA Is “A Favorite Place In The World”

Northfield News, Faribault Daily News In the early autumn of 2007, Carl Henry sat with Roxi, his black Labrador retriever. Roxi’s adventurous spirit often led her to chase down animals, like the turkey vultures that circled above the two of them that day. While Roxi had her attention fixed onto the soaring scavengers, Henry snapped […]

County seeks park improvement ideas

SouthernMinn.com 2/16/2022 Rice County officials are looking at ways to improve county parks and trails and are inviting the public to weigh in on an interactive map. Consultants with Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. are conducting an assessment of the county parks system and developing recommendations for upgrades. They updated county commissioners on their progress during […]

COVID-19 Time

All of the trails in the Cannon River Wilderness Area Park remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while we invite you to make full use of the trails we also strongly urge everyone to practice safe, healthy habits. Many of the trails in the park are too narrow for social distancing while one person […]

CWD Deer Hunt Scheduled For CRWA Park December 16-18, 2022

The Minnesota DNR has announced that late-season deer hunting will be allowedover the weekend of December 16-18 in nine permit areas across the state, in an effort to combat the deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The Cannon River Wilderness Area Park is in Deer Permit Area 605, which is included in the hunt. Click the […]

CRWA Is “A Favorite Place In The World”

Northfield News, Faribault Daily News In the early autumn of 2007, Carl Henry sat with Roxi, his black Labrador retriever. Roxi’s adventurous spirit often led her to chase down animals, like the turkey vultures that circled above the two of them that day. While Roxi had her attention fixed onto the soaring scavengers, Henry snapped […]

County seeks park improvement ideas

SouthernMinn.com 2/16/2022 Rice County officials are looking at ways to improve county parks and trails and are inviting the public to weigh in on an interactive map. Consultants with Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. are conducting an assessment of the county parks system and developing recommendations for upgrades. They updated county commissioners on their progress during […]

COVID-19 Time

All of the trails in the Cannon River Wilderness Area Park remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while we invite you to make full use of the trails we also strongly urge everyone to practice safe, healthy habits. Many of the trails in the park are too narrow for social distancing while one person […]

CWD Deer Hunt Scheduled For CRWA Park December 16-18, 2022

The Minnesota DNR has announced that late-season deer hunting will be allowedover the weekend of December 16-18 in nine permit areas across the state, in an effort to combat the deadly Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The Cannon River Wilderness Area Park is in Deer Permit Area 605, which is included in the hunt. Click the […]

CRWA Is “A Favorite Place In The World”

Northfield News, Faribault Daily News In the early autumn of 2007, Carl Henry sat with Roxi, his black Labrador retriever. Roxi’s adventurous spirit often led her to chase down animals, like the turkey vultures that circled above the two of them that day. While Roxi had her attention fixed onto the soaring scavengers, Henry snapped […]

County seeks park improvement ideas

SouthernMinn.com 2/16/2022 Rice County officials are looking at ways to improve county parks and trails and are inviting the public to weigh in on an interactive map. Consultants with Hoisington Koegler Group Inc. are conducting an assessment of the county parks system and developing recommendations for upgrades. They updated county commissioners on their progress during […]

COVID-19 Time

All of the trails in the Cannon River Wilderness Area Park remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, and while we invite you to make full use of the trails we also strongly urge everyone to practice safe, healthy habits. Many of the trails in the park are too narrow for social distancing while one person […]