Minnesota’s Newest SNA
MN Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA) protect the last remaining habitat for Minnesota’s rarest plants and animals. Recreation is limited to protect this habitat and natural diversity.
What looks like an unspoiled pebble beach is adjacent to one of only two known existing coastal wetlands on Lake Superior’s north shore known as a fen. A fen is a grassy or shrubby wetland fed by slow moving groundwater with a buildup of peat. Because of the extreme rarity of this wetland type along Lake Superior and its outstanding quality the site was deemed a high priority for protection.
Icelandite is a volcanic rock rich in iron. This rock is a lighter gray than the more abundant dark basalt of the north shore. Icelandite is relatively rare, especially in the Midwest and formed about 1.1 billion years ago.
The Superior Hiking Trail passes through site, which is an Audubon Important Bird Area
