Chamberlain Woods SNA

302 Acres Located from LeSueur 3 miles S on Co Hwy 36, then 0.25 miles W on LeSueur County Twp 111N Rng 26W Sec 21 Type: Deciduous Woods ECS Subsection: Big Woods

Description:

Chamberlain woods protects a mosaic of vegetation types fronting the Minnesota River. Horace F. and Esther Chamberlain personally acquired parcels of woodland totalling 254 acres, then gifted them to the state SNA program. Giant cottonwood, basswood, and elm trees dominate the seasonally wet floodplain forest next to the river. The uplands support remnants of oak savanna, while slopes closer to the river support species typical of the deciduous forest. A series of "point bars" mark the old banks of the river, capturing a visual history as the river route has changed. A variety of bird species including the Acadian flycatcher and bald eagle have been observed on the site. The best times to visit are in the spring, to observe the dynamics of the river in this floodplain forest, and in fall, when the area is open and dry enough to walk for over a mile and a half along the river's edge.

Plant List