Lawrence Creek SNA

Minnesota DNR

Designated on June 12, 2017, Lawrence Creek SNA is one of the newest Scientific and Natural Areas in the Minnesota DNR’s inventory. It consists of 71.8 forested acres of steep bluffs and deep ravines near Franconia in Chisago County. Included within its boundary is a trout stream, a hunting shack, and an 11-acre state wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary is closed to the public and visitors are asked to “Stay back from cliffs and off steep slopes” to protect sensitive plant communities. There are no maintained trails, but there is a forest road and worn footpaths that together complete a 3.2-mile circuit of the site.

Visitors to Lawrence Creek SNA in May will see Pennsylvania sedge in flower and sharp-lobed hepatica and yellow marsh marigold peaking. Other spring wildflowers in bloom include bloodroot, white trout lily, large-flowered bellwort, large-flowered trillium, and Virginia spring beauty. Louisiana Waterthrush, a species of special concern, has been heard here. The site contains habitat that may host Cerulean Warbler, Acadian flycatcher, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Three Helmeted Guineafowl were seen in the parking area by a surprised visitor. They apparently belong to the farm across the road and are free to roam the adjacent fields.

Lawrence Creek SNA was designated on 6/12/2017.

Detail map (MN DNR)

71.8 acres

N45 22.769, W92 41.235

A mowed trail leads from the parking area into the SNA. A discernible but not well worn footpath leads south from there closely following the eastern boundary, to a forest road. The forest road follows the boundary of the sanctuary portion of this SNA from the eastern to the western boundary. It is surfaced with crushed rock and has a gate at both ends. Another footpath follows Lawrence Creek from near the western end of the road to the northern boundary of the SNA. Near where it ends, a steep but manageable climb up the bluff takes the hiker back to the parking area after completing a 3.2 mile circuit, not counting off-trail explorations. The footpaths are easy enough to follow in early spring. They may not be visible on the ground in mid-summer.

Archery hunting only. See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.

Fishing outside of the sanctuary.

Exposures of Cambrian-Ordovician rock formations

Floodplain forest

Trout stream

Parking

Entrance Trail

Forest Road

Sanctuary

Bluff

Lawrence Creek

Footbridge Over Lawrence Creek

Hunter’s Shack

Red Oak - Basswood Forest (Noncalcareous Till)

Bluff Top Forest

Floodplain Forest

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

eBird Field Checklist

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungi List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List