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Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area (SNA)
Inver Grove Heights, Dakota county, MN
256 Acres; top of bluffs and down along Mississippi River

Park Notes
The park lies along a bluff and down to the Mississippi River and is bounded closely by industrial businesses and a major highway. It's not quiet but the habitat is worth visiting and it would be a good spot to nature watch while biking. It does serve as a scientific research area with a variety of endangered/rare species and it lies along a migration flyway. It is an Audubon Important Bird Area. Red-headed Woodpeckers have been spotted there during spring migration.

A 2019 survey recorded:
-- 23 butterfly species
--9 bumble bee species
--beetles including a native Glacial Lady Beetle and three tiger beetle species
--5 reptile and amphibian species including Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Six-lined Racerunner, a Prairie Skink, and a spiny softshell turtle

The trailhead is near the center of the park and one can travel north or south from there on the paved trail which is a segment of the Mississippi River Regional Trail.

North on the paved path goes through prairie reconstruction till it leaves the park (distance = just over half a mile). Past this point, one is traveling in close parallel to a busy highway (US 52) with no natural habitat on either side

South on the paved paths goes through prairie reconstruction with a Red/White Oak forest close by till it leaves the park (distance = just over quarter mile). The trail continues past this point with industrial use on one side and the Oak forest on the other so one could walk further and still be near natural habitat.

There is also a non-paved path that travels from the parking lot down the bluff to an overlook closer to the river. When we visited in Aug 2018, the trail was not maintained and very weedy and, not being prepared for ticks, we didn't hike it. When we visited in Jan 2020, it was not plowed and we didn't attempt to hike it.

There are areas of the park with no trail access. Upon reading the rules for visiting SNAs, it's my understanding that leaving the trail is acceptable. "Hiking is a great way to connect with nature and get outdoors. Most Natural Areas do not have maintained trails; you will likely need to find your own path." (from: Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas; Things to do and rules)

The trailhead has paved parking for a dozen-ish vehicles and full bathroom facilities.

Visits
Aug 2018; Jan 2020
In January, there were dozens of Bald Eagles continually flying back and forth over the park in the East/West direction. Otherwise, we didn't see a lot of birds in either visit although I think this is a matter of catching things at the right time. Plenty of interesting birds have been seen there. Additionally, the DNR site (see link below) has a list of wildflowers, ferns, grasses and sedges, trees and shrubs and birds that can be found on the site. (note: this SNA is in development and some literature may not reflect the current status of the site).

I'd like to revisit during migration and at times when I can look more at the insects and wild flowers/plants at the site.

useful links/info:
trailhead location: 111th St E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
Minnesota DNR website
Trail Map pdf
Friends of the Mississippi River : general info
Friends of the Mississippi River article : Bend Bluffs, our longest-running restoration (includes info from the 2019 survey)
Minnesota Scientific and Natural Areas; Things to do and rules
eBird hotspot reports