Vermillion Highlands Research, Recreation,
and WMA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 
Minnesota DNR logo
 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

Vermillion Highlands (University of Minnesota)

Lone Rock Trail (University of Minnesota)

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

 

 
     
 

Management

 
 

This site is adjacent to UMore Park. It is jointly managed as a research facility by the University of Minnesota and as a state wildlife management area by the Minnesota DNR.

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Visitor map (Vermillion River Complex, MN DNR)

Map of Lone Rock Trail

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
         
         
 

Size

 
 

2,838.03 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

Do not block a gate or field access when parking.

Station Trail
A 0.1 mile gravel road on the south side of Station Trail leads to a large parking lot with a gravel surface.
N44 41.791, W93 4.906

Blaine Ave.
There is a parking lot on the west side of Blaine Ave. at the south boundary of the WMA. Blaine Ave. is a dead end with a gravel surface. The road beyond the parking lot is gated.
N44 40.443, W93 3.326

Park near the gate at the intersection of Station Train and Blaine Ave.
N44 41.310, W93 3.309

There is a small parking area near a gate across Blaine Ave. just south of 170th St. E.
N44 42.068, W93 3.309

Clayton Ave.
There is a parking lot on the west side of Clayton Ave. at the east boundary of the WMA.
N44 40.896, W93 2.126

 
         
 

Hours

 
 

Lone Rock Trail
HOURS OF USE - 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
EXCEPTION: During the months of May and October, opening time is 10:00 am due to prime hunting periods for spring turkey hunting and fall archery deer hunting.

 
         
 

Fees

 
 

No fee

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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

   
          Dakota County  
          Metro Area  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

Lone Rock Trail: 12¼ miles

All of the trails are mowed and are wide enough for vehicles, though vehicles are not allowed on the trails. Horses and hikers are asked to stay on the trails to protect the natural vegetation.

The proposed Vermillion Highlands Greenway Regional Trail is expected to pass through the northwest part of this unit.

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

Turkey, pheasant, goose, deer, and trapping. See Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation & WMA Hunting Information (MN DNR) for details.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province

   
  Ecological Section    

Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Oak Savanna

   
  Land Type Association    

Coates Sand Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Pin Oak - Bur Oak Woodland

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

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Kirk Nelson

 
 

Sumac

 
    Vermillion Highlands      
           
 

Vermillion Highlands Trail

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Wood Routed Sign

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
 

Entrance

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
    Vermillion Highlands      
           
 

Parking

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
 

Information Kiosk

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
 

Prairie Pollinator Garden

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
 

Dave Moran Memorial

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
 

Gordan G. Meyer Memorial

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
    Vermillion Highlands      
           
 

Wetland

 
    Vermillion Highlands      
           
 

Prairie Restoration

 
    Vermillion Highlands      
           
 

Unrestored Trail through Restored Prairie

 
    Vermillion Highlands      
           
 

Lone Rock Trail

 
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  
           
    Vermillion Highlands   Vermillion Highlands  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Vermillion Highlands Birding Hike
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR)
  Vermillion Highlands Birding Hike  
 
About

May 22, 2010 birding hike at the Vermillion Highlands, through Friends of the Mississippi River's Vermillion Stewards program.

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
     
     
     

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

4/30/2013

  5/31/2019            
 
 

Amphibians

 
 

American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)

  American toad  
 

Birds

 
 

eBird Field Checklist

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens)

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis)

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)

 

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Baltimore Oriole Nest

Blue Jay

Brown Thrasher

Brown-headed Cowbird

Canada Goose

European Starling

Mourning Dove

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Song Sparrow

White-breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

 
 

Fishes

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

 
         
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fungi List

 
 

Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)

Crown Rust (Puccinia coronata)

Dryad’s Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus)

False Tinder Fungus (Phellinus igniarius)

  Dryad’s Saddle  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

boxelder pouchgall mite (Aceria negundi)

common green darner (Anax junius)

convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens)

ebony jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata)

goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

painted lady (Vanessa cardui)

red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

 

common green darner

mourning cloak

painted lady

 
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
 

American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  thirteen-lined ground squirrel  
 

Plants

 
 

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

Threatened

edible valerian (Valeriana edulis var. ciliata)

Special Concern

arrowhead rattlebox (Crotalaria sagittalis)

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Pin Oak - Bur Oak Woodland FDs37b

     
 

 

absinthe wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

alfalfa (Medicago sativa ssp. sativa)

alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum)

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American elm (Ulmus americana)

American hazelnut (Corylus americana)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

Amur maple (Acer ginnala)

annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

Bell’s honeysuckle (Lonicera × bella)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)

blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

bristly locust (Robinia hispida var. hispida)

bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis)

Canadian woodnettle (Laportea canadensis)

candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica)

catnip (Nepeta cataria)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

common blue violet (Viola sororia)

common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

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

common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)

common lilac (Syringa vulgaris)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca)

common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)

corn (Zea mays)

crown vetch (Securigera varia)

Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis ssp. matronalis)

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

early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata)

eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana)

eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)

fringed puccoon (Lithospermum incisum)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)

honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)

jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis)

kidney-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus abortivus)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

Maximilian’s sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)

Missouri gooseberry (Ribes missouriense)

Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii)

nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)

narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard (Crepis tectorum)

northern hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)

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

northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)

northern prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum)

northern red oak (Quercus rubra)

Norway spruce (Picea abies)

orange daylily (Hemerocallis fulva)

orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata ssp. glomerata)

Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus)

plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera)

prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

prairie sagewort (Artemisia frigida)

prickly quill sedge (Carex echinodes)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

pussy willow (Salix discolor)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota ssp. carota)

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

red pine (Pinus resinosa)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

rough cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)

round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata)

sandbar willow (Salix interior)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)

shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)

Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens)

silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

slender willow (Salix petiolaris)

smooth brome (Bromus inermis)

smooth oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)

timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense)

velvet-leaf (Abutilon theophrasti)

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white poplar (Populus alba)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima var. altissima)

white spruce (Picea glauca)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

winter cress (Barbarea vulgaris)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Abutilon theophrasti (velvet-leaf)

Acer ginnala (Amur maple)

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Ageratina altissima var. altissima (white snakeroot)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone)

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

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit)

Artemisia absinthium (absinthe wormwood)

Artemisia frigida (prairie sagewort)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus)

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

Barbarea vulgaris (winter cress)

Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch)

Bromus inermis (smooth brome)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Capsella bursa-pastoris (shepherd’s purse)

Caragana arborescens (Siberian peashrub)

Carex echinodes (prickly quill sedge)

Celtis occidentalis (northern hackberry)

Chenopodium album (common lambsquarters)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle)

Coreopsis palmata (prairie coreopsis)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Corylus americana (American hazelnut)

Crepis tectorum (narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard)

Dactylis glomerata ssp. glomerata (orchard grass)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Daucus carota ssp. carota (Queen Anne’s lace)

Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Erigeron annuus (annual fleabane)

Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus (Philadelphia fleabane)

Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium (rattlesnake master)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy)

Gleditsia triacanthos (honey locust)

Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian’s sunflower)

Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra (smooth oxeye)

Hemerocallis fulva (orange daylily)

Hesperis matronalis ssp. matronalis (dame’s rocket)

Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana (eastern redcedar)

Laportea canadensis (Canadian woodnettle)

Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca (common motherwort)

Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover)

Lithospermum incisum (fringed puccoon)

Lonicera × bella (Bell’s honeysuckle)

Lonicera morrowii (Morrow’s honeysuckle)

Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle)

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

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Medicago sativa ssp. sativa (alfalfa)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Nepeta cataria (catnip)

Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Phleum pratense ssp. pratense (timothy)

Picea abies (Norway spruce)

Picea glauca (white spruce)

Pinus resinosa (red pine)

Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass)

Populus alba (white poplar)

Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla recta (sulphur cinquefoil)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Quercus rubra (northern red oak)

Ranunculus abortivus (kidney-leaved buttercup)

Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower)

Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Ribes missouriense (Missouri gooseberry)

Robinia hispida var. hispida (bristly locust)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix discolor (pussy willow)

Salix interior (sandbar willow)

Salix petiolaris (slender willow)

Sambucus racemosa var. racemosa (red elderberry)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)

Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort)

Securigera varia (crown vetch)

Silphium laciniatum (compass plant)

Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum (cup plant)

Solanum dulcamara (bittersweet nightshade)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Syringa vulgaris (common lilac)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress)

Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Ulmus americana (American elm)

Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein)

Verbena hastata (blue vervain)

Verbena stricta (hoary vervain)

Veronicastrum virginicum (Culver’s root)

Viburnum lentago (nannyberry)

Viola sororia (common blue violet)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Xanthium strumarium (rough cocklebur)

Zanthoxylum americanum (northern prickly ash)

Zea mays (corn)

Zizia aptera (heart-leaved golden alexanders)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

alfalfa

alsike clover

American hazelnut

Bell’s honeysuckle

bittersweet nightshade

black raspberry

Canadian woodnettle

catnip

common blue violet

common milkweed

common mullein

common yarrow

Culver’s root

dame’s rocket

early figwort

fringed puccoon

golden alexanders

heart-leaved golden alexanders

hedge bindweed

Missouri gooseberry

nannyberry

orange daylily

Philadelphia fleabane

prairie rose

purple prairie clover

rattlesnake master

red elderberry

sulphur cinquefoil

Tatarian honeysuckle

Virginia waterleaf

wild bergamot

wild grape

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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