Prairie Coteau SNA


	Location

	Maps
	Detail map (MN DNR)

	Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates
	Complete


	North Section		South Section


	Size
	420 acres

	Parking
	North: 191st St., park at dead end N44 7.460, W96 9.263 Central: MN Hwy. 23, parking lot and interpretive sign N44 6.878, W96 9.011 There are two field accesses permitting dry entry into the southeast section. The first is directly across MN Hwy 23 from the parking lot and interpretive sign. The second is on 181st St. ¼ mile east of MN Hwy 23. South: County Road 84, park on shoulder N44 6.594, W96 8.758


	Driving Directions
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					Pipestone County
					Southwest Minnesota


	Activities

	Hiking Trails
	No maintained trails

	Hunting
	All hunting and trapping. See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.


	Ecology

	Ecological Classification
	Ecological Province			Prairie Parkland Province
	Ecological Section			North Central Glaciated Plains
	Ecological Subsection			Coteau Moraines Inner Coteau
	Land Type Association			Buffalo Ridge Trosky Till Plain Woodstock Till Plain

	Native Plant Communities*
	Dry Hill Prairie (Southern) Prairie Meadow/Carr Wet Prairie (Southern)
	* Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources

	Natural Features

Glossary

coteau

A hilly upland including the divide between two valleys.


	Visitor Photos

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	MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos

	North Parking


	Central Parking Lot


	Interpretive Sign


	Wood Routed Sign


	South Field Access


	Dry Hill Prairie (Southern)




	Prairie Meadow/Carr




	Wet Prairie (Southern)




	Other Prairie


	Bemis Moraine




	Shallow Lake


	Wind Turbines


	Southeast Section

Camera


	Slideshows


	Prairie Coteau SNA minnesota_snas

	About Prairie Coteau SNA is one of the most important and stunning prairies in southwestern Minnesota. It occupies an area of steep slopes and valleys that cut through the Bemis glacial moraine, and takes its name from the larger, 20,000 square mile plateau of which it is a part, the Â‘Coteau des Prairies,' or prairie highlands. Painter George Catlin, traveling to the region in the 1830s, offered a description of the approach from the surrounding plains that still holds true today: "For many miles we had the Coteau in view in the distance before us, which looked like a blue cloud settling down in the horizon."

slideshow


	Visitor Videos

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	Other Videos


	Prairie Coteau Scientific and Natural Area Virtual Hike Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

	About Dec 7, 2020 Prairie Coteau SNA is one of the most important and stunning prairies in southwestern Minnesota. It occupies an area of steep slopes and valleys that cut through the Bemis glacial moraine, and takes its name from the larger, 20,000 square mile plateau of which it is a part, the Coteau des Prairies,' or prairie highlands. mndnr.gov/snas/sna01026



	Prairie Coteau Dale Bohlke

	About Sep 30, 2018 This beautiful prairie valley is best described by the French word: coteau. Hence the name Prairie Coteau Scientific and Natural Area. Filmed with permission of the Scientific and Natural Program. Lost Within by Music by A Himitsu https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgFwu-j5-xNJml2FtTrrB3A

Camcorder

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Four bird species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
Endangered	Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)
Special Concern	American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan)


Seven insect and arachnid species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:
Endangered	Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae) Ottoe skipper (Hesperia ottoe) Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek)
Special Concern	Iowa skipper (Atrytone arogos iowa) leadplant flower moth (Schinia lucens) phlox moth (Schinia indiana) regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia)