interstitialRedirectModalTitle

interstitialRedirectModalMessage

interstitialRedirectModalRedirectCTA
interstitialRedirectModalDismissCTA
Skip to content

Places We Protect

Ottawa Bluffs

Minnesota

Group of people atop a bluff taking in a view overlooking a river below.
View of the Minnesota River from atop TNC's Ottawa Bluffs Preserve. © Nancy Johnson

Visitors to the top of the bluff will find themselves rewarded with sweeping views of the Minnesota River.

Overview

Description

Visitors to the top of the bluff on the west side of the preserve will be treated to a fine view of the Minnesota River Valley. Ottawa Bluffs can be a great place to see the pasque flower, the first prairie flower of the spring. These beauties can be found on the south-facing slopes in the prairie opening, especially toward the tops of the rises. Look for them in early April, as soon as the ground starts thawing.


Why TNC Selected This Site

Oak savannas are one of the most endangered ecological communities in Minnesota.


What TNC Has Done/Is Doing

Ottawa Bluffs was purchased by TNC in 1975 to protect a remnant of the Minnesota River bluffs. Because of the extensive invasion by woody vegetation, a concerted effort is underway to restore the site to its pre-settlement conditions. While the prairie openings have been managed by prescribed fire since TNC acquired the site, the frequency and intensity of these burns has been insufficient to set back this encroachment.

To remedy this, volunteers have been working at Ottawa Bluffs to remove trees and brush from selected areas, and to bring the role of fire back to the woody areas of the preserve. This work consists mostly of cutting eastern red cedar and European buckthorn. Much of this work is done during the winter, when cool temperatures are conducive to physical labor and when the cuttings can be safely disposed of by burning. Additionally, the volunteers harvest prairie seeds from the remnants to plant in the cleared areas, in order to facilitate the return of the savanna and the prairie. The use of these techniques is helping to restore Ottawa Bluffs' oak savanna and the diversity of species that live here.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Size

62 acres

Explore our work in Minnesota

Closeup of a Pasque flower, a delicate flower with light purple triangular petals and a yellow center.
Pasque Flower Pasque flower can be seen in the early spring at Ottawa Bluffs. © Matt Fisher/TNC
Closeup of a spiderwort plant, a flower with deep purple-blue petals.
Common Spiderwort Spiderwort can be found at Ottawa Bluffs Preserve. © Clint Farlinger
Pasque Flower Pasque flower can be seen in the early spring at Ottawa Bluffs. © Matt Fisher/TNC
Common Spiderwort Spiderwort can be found at Ottawa Bluffs Preserve. © Clint Farlinger

Visit

What to See: Plants

In the prairie openings can be found a variety of forbs and grasses. One of the milkvetches is found here, though it is a much more common plant in the drier, short grass prairies to the west. The dominant tall grasses at Ottawa are Indian grass and big bluestem. During late August and September, they dominate the prairie-scape. Other shorter grasses include little bluestem, dropseed, porcupine, hairy gramma and side-oats gramma. Forbs include pasque flower, prairie turnip, prairie plum, birds-foot violet, blue-eyed grass, Indian turnip, purple prairie clover, prairie larkspur, spider wort, lead plant, blazing star, round headed bush clover, silky aster and aromatic aster.

What to See: Animals

Ottawa Bluffs harbors a number of animal species, including the harvest mouse (a typically western species only found in the southern part of Minnesota) and jumping mouse. A sizable flock of wild turkeys can be seen in the area. The bluff line is a favorite soaring space for raptors, which are frequently seen cruising over the preserve.

Volunteer Workdays

Workdays take place throughout the fall and winter seasons. Winter workdays will focus on tree and brush removal. Please read the list of things you should know before you volunteer at TNC preserves in Minnesota.

Most workdays start at 10:00 a.m. and end around 3:00 p.m. (later if you'd care to stay). Please bring a lunch, plenty of beverages, appropriate (sturdy) footwear and work gloves. Leather gloves work best. Dress in layers with an eye toward the weather. Rain, snow or shine, we will be out there. Thunderstorms may make us head for the cars, but if there is a chance the weather will clear, we will resume the workday.

For information about upcoming Ottawa Bluffs workdays, email Bill Ramsden (mnvolunteer@tnc.org) to sign up for the Ottawa Bluffs volunteer e-newsletter.

Support our work in Minnesota

You can help us protect Minnesota's diverse plant and animal communities. Make a donation now to help us further our work to protect land and water, provide food and water sustainably and tackle climate change.

Donate

Other Preserves in MN

Closeup of a purple flower growing in a field.

Schaefer Prairie

Schaefer Prairie is a remnant of the once-vast northern tallgrass prairie that covered millions of acres in Minnesota, the Dakotas and Iowa. Today, it is important for biodiversity of native mesic prairie, home to an estimated 275 plant species.

Upland Sandpiper in Bluestem Grass.

Red Rock Prairie

In the early 1980s, prairie enthusiasts found several rare plant species at Red Rock Prairie.

Aerial view of a river, crop field and forest with the sunset in the background.

Moon Valley WMA

Moon Valley WMA, just west of Rochester, features forest, wetland and prairie habitat along a branch of the Zumbro River.

VIEW MORE ITEMS