HEARTLAND STATE TRAIL EXTENSION PARK RAPIDS TO MOORHEAD MASTER PLAN Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Trails June 2011 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Trails Division would like to thank all who participated in this master planning process. Many individuals and groups in trail communities have been working for many years to help establish this trail. The Heartland Trail Association has played an active role in generating interest in local communities. Assistance from local officials and citizens in the cities of Park Rapids, Frazee, Wolf Lake, Detroit Lakes, and Hawley is greatly appreciated. Many DNR staff, city and county officials, trail association members and local citizens contributed their time and energy to the planning process as well. This master plan was prepared by: • Laurie Young, Planning Supervisor • Suzanne Rhees, AICP, Principal Planner June 2011, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is available to all individuals regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, age, sexual orientation, membership or activity in a local commission, or disability. Discrimination inquiries should be sent to MN-DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4031; or the Equal Opportunity Office, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling 651-296-6157 (Metro Area) or 1-888-MINNDNR (MN Toll Free) or Telecommunication Device for the Deaf/TTY: 651-296-5484 (Metro Area) or 1-800-657-3929 (Toll Free TTY). For general information regarding DNR’s programs, contact: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 http://www.dnr.state.mn.us 651-296-6157 (Metro area and outside Minnesota) 1-888-MINNDNR (MN Toll Free) TDD: 651-296-5485 (Metro Area) TDD: 1-800-657-3929 (MN Toll Free) June 2011 PAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1. Planning Process and Scope ................................................................................................................................ 3 Goals and Objectives of the Planning Process ................................................................................................ 3 Trail Planning Process ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Compliance with Legislative Authorization .................................................................................................... 6 Vision and Goals for the Heartland State Trail Extension ............................................................................. 11 2. Recommended Trail Uses .................................................................................................................................. 12 3. Trail Alignments ................................................................................................................................................. 14 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Segment 1: Park Rapids to Smoky Hills State Forest .................................................................................... 17 Segment 1 Trail Communities and Connections ........................................................................................... 19 Park Rapids .......................................................................................................................................... 19 Smoky Hills State Forest ...................................................................................................................... 23 Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge ...................................................................................................... 23 Segment 2A: Smoky Hills State Forest to Frazee .......................................................................................... 27 Segment 2B: Smoky Hills State Forest to Detroit Lakes ............................................................................... 27 Segment 2A Trail Communities and Connections ........................................................................................ 29 Wolf Lake ............................................................................................................................................ 29 Segment 3: Frazee to Detroit Lakes .............................................................................................................. 30 Segment 3 Trail Communities and Connections ........................................................................................... 32 Frazee .................................................................................................................................................. 32 North County National Scenic Trail ..................................................................................................... 34 Detroit Lakes ....................................................................................................................................... 35 Segment 4: Detroit Lakes to Hawley ............................................................................................................ 40 Segment 4 Trail Communities and Connections ........................................................................................... 43 Audubon.............................................................................................................................................. 43 Lake Park ............................................................................................................................................. 44 Hawley ................................................................................................................................................ 45 Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge ........................................................................................... 48 Segment 5: Hawley to Moorhead ................................................................................................................. 49 Segment 5 Trail Communities and Connections ........................................................................................... 52 Buffalo River State Park ...................................................................................................................... 52 Bluestem Prairie SNA .......................................................................................................................... 53 Glyndon ............................................................................................................................................... 55 Dilworth .............................................................................................................................................. 55 Moorhead ........................................................................................................................................... 57 4. Trail Management ............................................................................................................................................. 61 Projected Trail Use ........................................................................................................................................ 61 Trail Maintenance ......................................................................................................................................... 61 Information and Education ........................................................................................................................... 63 Enforcement ................................................................................................................................................. 65 June 2011 5. Trail Corridor Resources .................................................................................................................................... 67 Ecological Classification System ................................................................................................................... 67 Pine Moraines and Outwash Plains Subsection............................................................................................ 69 Hardwood Hills Subsection ........................................................................................................................... 70 Red River Prairie Subsection ......................................................................................................................... 71 Geology ......................................................................................................................................................... 72 Water Resources and Fisheries .................................................................................................................... 74 Watersheds ......................................................................................................................................... 74 Major Rivers .......................................................................................................................................