A STATE WATER TRAIL GUIDE:999 TO THE SHELL ROCK:923 RIVER

@?13 Carry-in Access Designated Public Lands :971 35 90 Trailer Access City Boundaries

101 Campground W.M.A. = Wildlife Management :9 Area Picnic Area 90 101 School Section 45 Dam Lake :9 :9 92 26 22 :9 Water Trail :9 101 :9 :9 Hazard areas North Edgewater Bay 20 State Trail 74 :9 90 :9 20 Brookside River Mile ALBERT LEA 102 90 :9 NORTH 71 0/ :9 White 13 Goose Lake @? Lake Scale 1:43,000

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 46 Fountain Lake :9 Scale in Miles :946 @?65

Area of low clearance railroad trestle and former 91 rail bridge. Be aware of obstructions. Blazing :9 46 HAYWARD Mud :9

Lake Magaksica Frank Hall Star 38 WMA @?65 Park :9

Trail State

Myre-Big Island State Park Pickeral @?69 15 State Park Lake 38 48 :9 :9 :919

92 @?65 35 Albert Lea MYRE-BIG ISLAND STATE46 PARK DETAIL For more information on the park, visit mndnr.gov/stateparks Lake 38 SUMMER TRAILS FACILITIES17 Picnic Area Primitive Grp. Camp :9 84 St. Nicholas Hiking :9 Info./Office Parking Trailer Access Hiking Club 19 DANGER! Dam and electrified fish fence. :9 Must portage - 60 yards left 26 Interpretive Campground RV Sanitation Station Private Property :9 Mountain Biking/Hiking Blazing Star State Trail Backpack Campsite Group Center :971

.28 mi

.52 mi .56 mi 84 Upper Twin Esker Trail :9 :984 Lake WMA .39 mi Upper Twin Trail Lake.28 mi 81 .27 mi :9 38 @?69

10 :987 State.36 mi PARK .41 mi 1.2 mi Shell Blazing ENTRANCE Star 35 .52 mi .18 mi .53 mi White Fox 75 .44 mi Great Campground:9 .42 mi .50 mi 13 Albert Lea Lake Marsh 80 .34 mi .26 mi :9 :9 .29 mi .43 mi 13 .33 mi 13 :9 Trail .24 mi Little Island :9 .31 mi Group Camp .53 mi Ann & Leo 38 Rock Donahue WMA GLENVILLE Lower Twin .17 mi .36 mi .43 mi 18 Lake :9 .32 mi .49 mi .31 mi TWP Road 44 .28 mi Low clearance bridge .28 mi .22 mi .43 mi :939 @?65

Twin Lakes .33 mi Trail .13 mi 85 Big Island 35 :9 Campground 5 Big :9 New York Point Group Center Island 82 Shell Rock Albert Lea Lake .46 mi 82 :9 :9 WMA :978

5 River :977 :97 :97

Route Description for the Shell Rock River 5 5 :9 :9 :926 NOTE: (R):9 16and (L) represent right and left banks of the river when facing downstream. 20.1 Highway 13 trailer access. 5.6 U.S. Highway 65. Railroad trestle bridge. 19.2 Lakeview Boulevard. 5.6-5.3 Shell Rock River Wildlife Management Area. 17.6 Bridge Avenue Dam, no verified portage. 4.5 County Road 7. Exit Fountain Lake. State Highway 65. 1.4 County Road 1. 17.6-17.3 Railroad trestles and former rail bridge, low 0.5-0.0 Panicum Prairie Wildlife Management Area. clearance. Be aware of obstructions. / border.35 17.1 East Front Street. Blazing Star State Trail. 16.9 (R) Frank Hall Park trailer access. Enter Albert Lea Lake. 83 15.0-12.0 (L) Myre-Big Island State Park. :9 :979 :91 14.9 U.S. Interstate 35. Panicum Prairie WMA GORDONSVILLE 13.6 (R) St. Nicholas trailer access. 12.6 County Road 19. Exit Albert Lea Lake. 12.5 (L) DANGER – Dam and electrified fish barrier. 106 Must portage left 60 yards. :9 10.9 County Road 84. 8.7 Railroad trestle bridge. Panicum Prairie WMA 0 8.5 County Road 13. 1 6.5 Township Road 44. Clearance could be low at :9 high water. STATE WATER TRAIL MAP A WATER TRAIL GUIDE TO THE SHELL ROCK RIVER Shell Rock River

© Minnesota State University Mankato - Water Resources Center Fountain Lake - Bill Howe

The Shell Rock River Wildlife Rest Areas and Camping Sites Janesville !( Owatonna 14 Waseca Natural life abounds along the Shell Rock River (! (! • Public rest areas are available along the route 14 !( and surrounding lakes. Wooded shores harbor Straight River The Shell Rock River is a scenic, warm-water to rest, picnic and explore. Claremont WASECA CO. Minnesota stream that begins its journey to the mammals such as the gray fox, red fox, coyote, • Camp only in designated campsites, which STEELE CO. DODGE CO. 13 at the outlet of Albert Lea Lake racoon, skunk, and white tail deer. River otter, are available on a first-come, first-served Waldorf 35 218 !( southeast of the city of Albert Lea, joining the beaver, muskrat and mink can be spotted along New basis, unless otherwise noted. Richland banks or in the water. Reptiles are common too, !( Ellendale Blooming Cedar and Iowa Rivers along its course. From the • Bring drinking water. It is only available at a 30 Prairie 30 !( !( headwaters at Fountain Lake, the Shell Rock River with snapping, painted and softshell turtles all limited number of rest areas. Drinking river Geneva calling the river home. Hartland !( State Water Trail travels 20 miles through central Bill Howe water is not recommended, but if you do it !( Ruble/Hall Mill - Freeborn County Historical Society Clarks Freeborn Grove Hollandale Freeborn County to the Iowa border through must be treated. !( !( MOWER CO. Birds 251 !( numerous riparian wetlands, upland slopes and Planning A Safe River Trip • Respect private property. Stop only at Manchester !( FREEBORN CO. Mapleview tall-grass prairie habitat. high-quality public lands. The river is framed by While paddling, waterfowl can be viewed in designated sites; much of the shoreland is !( Alden Austin !( Albert Lea (! two Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and a dense flocks during spring and fall migrations, A successful river trip is safe. To enjoy a safe private property. 90 (! !( 90 Hayward Historically a true river of the prairie, the Shell state park on Albert Lea Lake. The Shell Rock River journey, you should be prepared by doing the Conger including wood ducks, mallards, mergansers, • Be sanitary! Use designated toilet ! !( Rock was named for the fossils discovered in the WMA is located one mile south of Glenville on US following: facilities or bury human waste away from Glenville blue-winged teal, goldeneyes and Canada geese. It Twin Lakes !( Myrtle rock outcroppings along its banks. The river !( !( 65 comprising 49 acres of marshes, grasslands and the river. Cedar River is also quite common to encounter wading birds, elevation change is modest along the water 69 35 woodlands in the river corridor. Bird watching, such as great blue herons, green herons and • Get acquainted with your route. Plan your trip !( MINNESOTA trail—below Albert Lea Lake the gradient is less Emmons hunting, canoeing, fishing and trapping are American bitterns, which can be spotted in marshy with a map before you depart and advise Shell Rock IOWA than one foot/mile—which provides a gently River dominant activities on this unit. areas and adjacent to shorelines throughout the someone of your plans including planned meandering experience for paddlers with some breeding season. departure and arrival times. “The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources moderate flow at various stretches. In total, the Panicum Prairie WMA (Shell Rock Unit) is a is an Equal Opportunity Employer” • Travel with a companion or group. Shell Rock flows 113 miles south to the Cedar large complex of protected wildlife conservation • Choose a distance that is comfortable River, later joining the and reaching the lands along the Minnesota/Iowa border. for you, most people paddle two to three Mississippi in southeast Louisa County, Iowa. Encompassing 193 acres southwest of Gordonsville river miles per hour. on County Rd. 1, the Shell Rock River passes • Wear a U. S. Coast Guard approved personal through the eastern edge of the unit, which offers This information is available in alternative flotation device that state law requires be on Bill Howe format upon request. excellent year-round wildlife opportunities and board the boat for each person. provides access to the river for fishing, hunting and • Bring a first aid kit that includes waterproof Sustainable Ecosystems paddling. matches. Outdoor recreation is dependent on a healthy Myre-Big Island State Park is located southeast • Bring an extra paddle. and attractive natural environment. Sustainable Online water trail information and maps of Albert Lea along the shores of Albert Lea Lake. • Be cautious of river obstructions, such as outdoor recreation enables people to enjoy the can be found at mndnr.gov/watertrails overhanging and dead trees in the river. At over 2,000 acres, Myre-Big Island is a park fit Great blue heron - Carrol Henderson outdoors without negative impacts on the for all types of interests—offering year-round • You must pack out all trash. environment. Communities working together can recreation with seasonal camping, paddling, hiking • Leave only footprints; take only photographs! improve water resources by promoting Bald eagles nest year-round on the east end of and bicycling on the Blazing Star State Trail in environmentally sensitive land use practices along Albert Lea Lake and majestic American white summer to cross-country skiing and snowmobiling Water levels can speed or slow you down. You rivers and throughout watersheds. pelicans gather in large numbers in the shallow lake Historic Albert Lea - Freeborn County Historical Society in winter. The park is also renowned for bird can get information about water levels from the bays and river wetland areas actively foraging for Natural shoreline buffers improve water quality DNR Information Center watching, drawing hundreds of waterfowl and regional DNR office, the DNR website, or the fish. The handsome spotted sandpiper is also a by filtering out pollutants and sediments. Healthy The DNR’s Information Center is available to The city of Albert Lea has a rich milling history, warblers during spring and fall migrations. DNR Information Center. Remember that much common summer migrant and can be viewed along and diverse native shoreline plant communities are provide free publications of facilities and services beginning in the 1850s. George S. Ruble arrived in of the shorelands are privately owned. Respect and shorelines hunting for small invertebrates and attractive and provide important shoreline habitat as well as answers questions pertaining to DNR Albert Lea in 1855 to erect a dam and sawmill at Fishing protect the water and shorelands. insect larvae. for birds and wildlife. recreational opportunities in Minnesota. the foot of Fountain Lake and to supply early Both Fountain and Albert Lea Lakes are Boating Information settlers with lumber, adding a flour mill to the site Myre-Big Island State Park is an excellent Natural 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, popular fisheries for targeting panfish, walleye, Shorelands by 1859. Francis Hall took over the operation and birding location in spring and fall for warblers and 40% evaporation MN 55155-4040 northern pike and channel catfish. Angling • Register your watercraft. All watercraft more continued milling through 1886. The mill was songbirds across both the prairie and woodland 10% runoff 651-296-6157 Metro Area opportunities can be found in the main bodies of than 9 feet in length, including nonmotorized 1-888-646-6367 MN Toll-Free finally removed in 1892 however the former site of habitats. These seasonal visitors include the prairie 50% infiltration the lakes, in the deeper channels and below the canoes and kayaks, must be registered in Altered “Ruble’s Dam” still exists at Bridge Avenue in warbler, common yellowthroat, eastern bluebird Shorelands dams. Albert Lea Lake is over 2600 acres in size, Minnesota or your state of residence. mndnr.gov Albert Lea with the structure being modernized in and marsh wren, among many others. Multiple 30% evaporation with a maximum depth of 5.5 feet. • Not all portions of this water trail are suitable 55% runoff years past. species of raptors and owls can be seen performing 15% infiltration for motor use. spectacular aerial displays while feeding. The surrounding area offers a tremendous array Cover photo: Bill Howe of outdoor recreational opportunities on © 2016 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources