Morton Outcrops SNA

Renville County

15 acres

Map with GPS coordinates

There is a small parking area on Kokesh Drive about 30 yards past MN Hwy. 19.
N44 32.986, W94 59.442

According to the Minnesota DNR, parking is at the southeast corner of the America’s Best Value Inn parking lot.
N44 32.991, W94 59.484

A short trail leads from the Hambdecka Trail sign to the nearest rock outcrop. The sign asks visitors to stay on the trail. However, the trail disappears at the first rock outcrop.

No hunting.

Province

Prairie Parkland Province

Section

North Central Glaciated Plains

Subsection(s)

Minnesota River Prairie

Land Type Association(s)

Minnesota DNR

This site was designated a Scientific and Natural Area on June 27, 2011. As of May 18, 2012, there is no signage – no routed wood sign, no yellow boundary markers.

A track leads from the parking area northeast to a sign for the Hambdecka Trail, a Dakota Sioux sacred site. The site is now Morton Outcrops.

One lichen with protected status in Minnesota is found here:

Endangered – Black Disc Lichen (Buellia nigra)

Two insect species with protected status in Minnesota are found here:

Special concern – argos skipper (Atrytone arogos), regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia)

One plant species with protected status in Minnesota is found here:

Threatened – prairie bush clover (Lespedeza leptostachya)

Minnesota DNR Plant List

Plants frequently found in:

Crystalline Bedrock Outcrop (Prairie): Minnesota River Subtype ROs12a1