Ripley Esker SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

 

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

216 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

North Parking
N46 7.185, W94 18.813

South Parking and Geologic Marker
N46 6.894, W94 18.805

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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

   
          Morrison County  
          Northwest Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

No maintained hiking trails. A well-worn footpath folows the ridge of the esker.

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Laurentian Mixed Forest Province

   
  Ecological Section    

Western Superior Uplands

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Mille Lacs Uplands

   
  Land Type Association    

Brainerd Drumlin Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Oak - Aspen Woodland

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

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Esker

A long, narrow, usually winding ridge of gravel, sand, and other sediment left by a retreating glacier.

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

North Parking

 
    Ripley Esker SNA   Ripley Esker SNA  
           
 

South Parking

 
    Ripley Esker SNA      
           
 

Wood Routed Sign

 
    Ripley Esker SNA      
           
 

Geologic Marker

 
    Ripley Esker SNA   Ripley Esker SNA  
           
 

Esker

 
    Ripley Esker SNA   Ripley Esker SNA  
           
    Ripley Esker SNA   Ripley Esker SNA  
           
 

Makeshift Bridge

The esker is cut at one point by a stream that is too wide to step across. About 175 yards south of the stream cut there is a makeshift bridge crossing the stream.

  Ripley Esker SNA  
           
 

The bridge is made of many logs and branches and includes a hand rail.

  Ripley Esker SNA  
           
 

Oak - Aspen Woodland

 
    Ripley Esker SNA   Ripley Esker SNA  
           
 

Prairie

 
    Ripley Esker SNA   Ripley Esker SNA  
           
    Ripley Esker SNA   Ripley Esker SNA  
           
 

Aftermath of Drought

The southernmost part of the SNA is a prairie and oak savanna remnant with very few surviving bur oaks. A dozen or more eastern white pine trees are scattered across the savanna. They appear to have been planted in the last 3 to 5 years. In the spring of 2013, all were dead or dying, possibly victims of the drought of 2011-12.

  Ripley Esker SNA  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

8/9/2011

  6/17/2013            
 
 

Amphibians

 
  American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)   American toad  
 

Birds

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens)

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

 

American Robin

Blue Jay

Mourning Dove

Red-winged Blackbird

 
 

Fishes

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

 
         
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
  Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)   Black Knot  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

 
 

American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

band-winged meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)

clouded sulphur (Colias philodice)

common green darner (Anax junius)

dot-tailed whiteface (Leucorrhinia intacta)

four-spotted skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

oak rough bulletgall wasp (Disholcaspis quercusmamma)

plum finger gall mite (Eriophyes emarginatae)

twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella)

 

four-spotted skimmer

monarch

finger gall of plum finger gall mite

 
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
 

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  whitetail deer  
 

Plants

 
 

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

Special Concern

blunt sedge (Carex obtusata)

Drummond’s campion (Silene drummondii var. drummondii)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Oak - Aspen Woodland FDc25b

     
 

 

alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa)

alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum)

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American bugleweed (Lycopus americanus)

American hazelnut (Corylus americana)

American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana)

asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

bastard toadflax (Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bigleaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

bigtooth aspen (Populus grandidentata)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

broad-leaved cattail (Typha latifolia)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. rafinesqueanum)

downy Parlin’s pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax)

early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)

eastern prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati)

eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana)

eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

field sagewort (Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana)

hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

Lindley’s aster (Symphyotrichum ciliolatum)

Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern blue flag (Iris versicolor)

northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum)

northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)

ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica)

oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera)

pointed-leaved tick-trefoil (Hylodesmum glutinosum)

prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

prairie smoke (Geum triflorum var. triflorum)

prairie violet (Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

silvery cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)

slender beardtongue (Penstemon gracilis var. gracilis)

smooth Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida)

sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

tall cinquefoil (Drymocallis arguta)

veiny pea (Lathyrus venosus var. intonsus)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima var. altissima)

wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

woolly plantain (Plantago patagonica)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

 

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Ageratina altissima var. altissima (white snakeroot)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata (hog peanut)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax (downy Parlin’s pussytoes)

Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine)

Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata (field sagewort)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asarum canadense (Canadian wild ginger)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus)

Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern)

Berteroa incana (hoary alyssum)

Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera (paper birch)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata (bastard toadflax)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Corylus americana (American hazelnut)

Drymocallis arguta (tall cinquefoil)

Eurybia macrophylla (bigleaf aster)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Geum triflorum var. triflorum (prairie smoke)

Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alumroot)

Hylodesmum glutinosum (pointed-leaved tick-trefoil)

Impatiens capensis (spotted touch-me-not)

Iris versicolor (northern blue flag)

Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar)

Lathyrus venosus var. intonsus) (veiny pea)

Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover)

Leucanthemum vulgare (oxeye daisy)

Lithospermum canescens (hoary puccoon)

Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle)

Lycopus americanus (American bugleweed)

Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)

Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal)

Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica (ostrich fern)

Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (alfalfa)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely)

Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Penstemon gracilis var. gracilis (slender beardtongue)

Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine)

Plantago patagonica (woolly plantain)

Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum (smooth Solomon’s seal)

Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla argentea (silvery cinquefoil)

Potentilla recta (sulphur cinquefoil)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Ribes cynosbati (eastern prickly gooseberry)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Symphyotrichum ciliolatum (Lindley’s aster)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Thalictrum dioicum (early meadow-rue)

Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Typha latifolia (broad-leaved cattail)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein)

Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. rafinesqueanum (downy arrowwood)

Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch)

Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida (prairie violet)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

 

alsike clover

American vetch (var. americana)

black cherry

bur oak (var. macrocarpa)

chokecherry

common evening primrose

common false Solomon’s seal

common yarrow

eastern prickly gooseberry

eastern white pine

hoary puccoon

Morrow’s honeysuckle

northern bedstraw

oxeye daisy

prairie rose

red clover

sulphur cinquefoil

slender beardtongue

spotted water hemlock

tall cinquefoil

wild columbine

yellow goat’s beard

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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