Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
  The Nature Conservancy logo  
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

The Nature Conservancy

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

The Nature Conservancy owns the land at Frenchman’s Bluff and leases it back to the Minnesota DNR. The site is 50 acres of glacial moraine overlooking the Red River Valley/Glacial Lake Agassiz basin. It includes an abandoned quarry near the parking area. There is a 5½ acre section of bur oak - aspen forest at the northeast corner. The understory in this section includes a dense shrub layer. While not impenetrable, passage through this area is difficult at best. There is another, smaller forested section south of the quarry. The rest of the preserve is dry sand - gravel prairie and mesic prairie.

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

50.45 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

There is a parking lot with room for several vehicles on the west side of County Road 36 at the southeast corner of the SNA.

N47 11.687, W96 10.405

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone.

   
          Norman County  
          Northwest Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

There are no maintained trails. A well-worn footpath leads a short distance from the parking area to the north rim of the gravel pit and then disappears. There are no other trails.

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province     Prairie Parkland Province    
  Ecological Section     Red River Valley    
  Ecological Subsection     Red River Prairie    
  Land Type Associations     Flom Till Plain    
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Bur Oak - Aspen Forest

Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern)

Mesic Prairie (Northern)

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
 

Frenchman's Bluff SNA prescribed burn area regrowth...

… it is regrowing nicely and should do well long as it gets normal rains in that region.

  Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
 

… a prescribed burn they did this Spring at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA. That section needed it. So was good they did it and we have had some rains recently. That photo was taken on May 14, 2023. The burn was done some time around May 10, 2023. …

It will be interesting to see how it grows. I could just barely see grass and plant sprouts poking through the burn that day. But I haven’t been out there since. I will check it out eventually one day and see.

  Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
 

Prairie Flowers

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

A big change this season from last seasons heat and drought.

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

“Prairie flowers in bloom at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA”

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

Frenchman's Bluff ...Sept. 30, 2021

Took this today on a hike on the preserve. Looked nice so had to photograph it. Fall season can be short.

  Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
 

Frenchman's Bluff top of the hill view...

Sept. 30, 2021 up on the big hill at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA.

  Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
 

Frenchman's Bluff non-burned area and prescribed burn....

areas. Late June 2021.

  Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
        Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
  I took a hike this afternoon at Frenchman’s Bluff SNA though still snow covered for the most part but melting at the same time with the milder temperature and on and off sunlight. A beautiful day.   Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
 

Another view looking up the bluff or big hill

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Parking Lot

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA   Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

Wood Routed Sign

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

Quarry

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA   Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

Bur Oak - Aspen Forest

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern)

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      
           
 

Mesic Prairie (Northern)

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA   Frenchman’s Bluff SNA  
           
 

View from the Bluff

 
    Frenchman’s Bluff SNA      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

 
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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Dan W. Andree

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
  Curtis’s Puffball (Lycoperdon curtisii)   Curtis’s Puffball  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

bearded bee fly (Anastoechus barbatus)

bumble bees (Bombus spp.)

common checkered-skipper (Pyrgus communis)

coral hairstreak (Satyrium titus)

cuckoo bee (Triepeolus spp.)

giant robber fly (Promachus vertebratus)

Milbert’s tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

northern flower moth (Schinia septentrionalis)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

painted lady (Vanessa cardui)

plains clubtail (Gomphurus externus)

regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)

swift crab spider (Mecaphesa celer)

variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)

 

bumble bee (Bombus sp.)

common checkered-skipper

coral hairstreak

 
 

Plants

 
 

clammy groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla)

heart-leaved four o’clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea)

prairie onion (Allium stellatum)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

wood lily (Lilium philadelphicum var. andinum)

  clammy groundcherry  
 
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

8/17/2010   8/2/2013            
 
 

Birds

 
 

Two bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Special Concern

Greater Prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

 

American Goldfinch

Blue Jay

Brown Thrasher

 
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungus List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Lichen List

 
 

Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)

 

  Black Knot  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

Three insect species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Endangered

Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae)

Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)

Special Concern

Pawnee skipper (Hesperia leonardus pawnee)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

 
 

common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala)

dog day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

  dog day cicada  
 

Mammals

 
 

One mammal species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here:

Special Concern

northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
  plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)   plains pocket gopher  
 

Plants

 
 

Five plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Endangered

Frenchman’s Bluff moonwort (Botrychium gallicomontanum)

Special Concern

blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata)

plains reed grass (Calamagrostis montanensis)

prairie moonwort (Botrychium campestre)

spikeoat (Avenula hookeri)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Bur Oak - Aspen Forest FDs36a

Dry Sand - Gravel Prairie (Northern) UPn12b

Mesic Prairie (Northern) UPn23b

     
 

 

alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa)

American hazelnut (Corylus americana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bigfruit hawthorn (Crataegus macrosperma)

bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)

blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica)

chicory (Cichorium intybus)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

crown vetch (Securigera varia)

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata var. punctata)

eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana)

field sagewort (Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata)

Flodman’s thistle (Cirsium flodmanii)

fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

Great Lakes sand cherry (Prunus pumila var. pumila)

green foxtail (Setaria viridis var. viridis)

grooved yellow flax (Linum sulcatum var. sulcatum)

hairy false goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa)

hairy four o’clock (Mirabilis albida)

harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

mint-leaved bergamot (Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia)

narrow-leaved hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum)

narrow-leaved meadowsweet (Spiraea alba var. alba)

narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

Nuttall’s evening primrose (Oenothera nuttallii)

Nuttall’s little rose (Chamaerhodos erecta)

pale agoseris (Agoseris glauca var. glauca)

Pennsylvania cinquefoil (Potentilla pensylvanica)

pineapple-weed (Matricaria discoidea)

plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera)

plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides ssp. acanthoides)

prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)

prairie larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens)

prairie onion (Allium stellatum)

prairie peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida)

prairie smoke (Geum triflorum var. triflorum)

purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

rush skeletonplant (Lygodesmia juncea)

showy goldenrod species complex (Solidago speciosa complex)

showy milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula)

smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus)

tall cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta)

tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)

Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)

upright carrionflower (Smilax ecirrhata)

western marbleseed (Lithospermum occidentale)

western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya)

white prairie clover (Dalea candida var. candida)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis)

 

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Agastache foeniculum (blue giant hyssop)

Agoseris glauca var. glauca (pale agoseris)

Allium stellatum (prairie onion)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Ambrosia psilostachya (western ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone)

Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata (field sagewort)

Artemisia dracunculus (tarragon)

Artemisia frigida (prairie sagewort)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Bouteloua curtipendula var. curtipendula (sideoats grama)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Campanula rotundifolia (harebell)

Carduus acanthoides (plumeless thistle)

Chamaerhodos erecta (Nuttall’s little rose)

Cichorium intybus (chicory)

Cirsium flodmanii (Flodman’s thistle)

Corylus americana (American hazelnut)

Crataegus macrosperma (bigfruit hawthorn)

Dalea candida var. candida (white prairie clover)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens (prairie larkspur)

Drymocallis arguta (tall cinquefoil)

Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower)

Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush)

Eragrostis spectabilis (purple lovegrass)

Erigeron strigosus (prairie fleabane)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Galium triflorum (fragrant bedstraw)

Geum triflorum var. triflorum (prairie smoke)

Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus (stiff sunflower)

Heterotheca villosa (hairy false goldenaster)

Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot)

Hieracium umbellatum (narrow-leaved hawkweed)

Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar)

Lepidium densiflorum (prairie peppergrass)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris punctata var. punctata (dotted blazing star)

Linum sulcatum var. sulcatum (grooved yellow flax)

Lithospermum occidentale (western marbleseed)

Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle)

Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil)

Lygodesmia juncea (rush skeletonplant)

Matricaria discoidea (pineapple-weed)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (alfalfa)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweet clover)

Mirabilis albida (hairy four o’clock)

Monarda fistulosa var. menthifolia (mint-leaved bergamot)

Oenothera nuttallii (Nuttall’s evening primrose)

Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar)

Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla pensylvanica (Pennsylvania cinquefoil)

Prunus pumila var. pumila (Great Lakes sand cherry)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Securigera varia (crown vetch)

Setaria viridis var. viridis (green foxtail)

Smilax ecirrhata (upright carrionflower)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Solidago speciosa complex (showy goldenrod species complex)

Spiraea alba var. alba (narrow-leaved meadowsweet)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm)

Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

 

alfalfa

American hazelnut

bur oak (var. macrocarpa)

chicory

chokecherry

Culver’s root

dotted blazing star

Flodman’s thistle

harebell

leadplant

Nuttall’s evening primrose

prairie larkspur

prairie onion

prairie rose

prairie smoke

purple prairie clover

stiff sunflower (ssp. subrhomboideus)

tall cinquefoil

Tatarian honeysuckle

wild grape

yellow goat’s beard

yellow sweet clover

 

 
 

Reptiles

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 
  plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix)   plains garter snake  

 

 

Binoculars

 

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