Polk Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
2,126 acres0.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Badger Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Badger Township
The biggest trail networks: Polk Wildlife Management Area (0.9 mi). 17% of Badger Township’s land is conserved, about 3,977 acres. 3.8 miles of mapped trail cross Badger Township, 0.1 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
17%
3,977 acres · of 35.6 sq mi of land
Trails
3.8 mi
0.1 per sq mi of land
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
3
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Polk WMA, with 0.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Timber Doodle Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
155 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Erskine Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
1,207 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Kakaik Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
199 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 6 parks & preserves
Polk Wildlife Management Area2,126 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsTimber Doodle Wildlife Management Area155 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsErskine Wildlife Management Area1,207 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsKakaik Wildlife Management Area199 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsPoplar River WPA95 acres · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Erskine Complex WPA1 acres · United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Who protects it
3,977 conserved acres
17% of Badger Township’s land. Who manages Badger Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State fish & wildlife3,677 ac
Other state land200 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service198 ac
State Conservation Area · 3,677 acConservation Easement · 200 acResource Management Area · 198 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 200 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 2,114 | Restricted |
| Erskine State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 1,209 | Restricted |
| Kakaik State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 199 | Restricted |
| Timber Doodle State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 155 | Restricted |
| Polk County Waterfowl Production Area Of Mn Resource Management Area | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 99 | Restricted |
| Polk County Waterfowl Production Area Resource Management Area | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 99 | Restricted |
Trails & water
1 named trail and 3 lakes & rivers
Named trails
340th Street Southeast0.6 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The walking year in Badger Township
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.8 | 10.2 | 11.8 | 13.6 | 15.1 | 16.0 | 15.6 | 14.3 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| High (°F) | 16 | 21 | 35 | 52 | 66 | 75 | 79 | 78 | 69 | 53 | 35 | 22 |
| Rain (in) | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 2.8 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
February is the driest month (0.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 79 °F). 4.3 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Badger Township →
Next door
Badger Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Grove Park-Tilden Township23 miPoplar River Township4.4 miBadger Township3.8 miLessor Township2.9 miKnute Township1.5 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badger Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Lessor Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Knute Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Grove Park-Tilden Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Poplar River Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Badger Township
Where can I hike in Badger Township?
The longest trail networks: Polk Wildlife Management Area, 0.9 miles; Timber Doodle Wildlife Management Area, 0.3 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Badger Township’s trails?
Polk Wildlife Management Area and Timber Doodle Wildlife Management Area don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Badger Township?
290 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Badger Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), almost none of it inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Badger Township neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →