Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, Dather Slough Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
36 acres0.3 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Ellsborough Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Ellsborough Township
7% of Ellsborough Township’s land is conserved, about 1,574 acres. 1.3 miles of mapped trail cross Ellsborough Township.
Conserved land
7%
1,574 acres · of 35.3 sq mi of land
Trails
1.3 mi
0.0 per sq mi of land
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
5
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 Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, Dather Slough Unit, with 0.3 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, East Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
230 acres0.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Nelson Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
179 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Ruthton Wildlife Management Area, Central Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
159 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 13 parks & preserves
Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, Dather Slough Unit36 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsHjermstad Wildlife Management Area, East Unit230 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsNelson Wildlife Management Area179 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsRuthton Wildlife Management Area, Central Unit159 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsTutt Wildlife Management Area103 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsEllsborough Wildlife Management Area79 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsRuthton Wildlife Management Area, East Unit79 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsVan Eck Wildlife Management Area76 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsLange Wildlife Management Area62 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsRuthton Wildlife Management Area, West Unit53 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsBergman Wildlife Management Area33 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsCurrent Wildlife Management Area, Island Unit4 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Shelburne Wildlife Management Area2 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Who protects it
1,574 conserved acres
7% of Ellsborough Township’s land. Who manages Ellsborough Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State fish & wildlife1,222 ac
Other state land355 ac
State Conservation Area · 1,222 acConservation Easement · 355 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 352 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruthton State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 291 | Restricted |
| Hjermstad State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 267 | Restricted |
| Nelson State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 200 | Restricted |
| Adolph Lofthus State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 106 | Restricted |
| Tutt State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 103 | Restricted |
| Ellsborough State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 79 | Restricted |
| Van Eck State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 76 | Restricted |
| Lange State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 62 | Restricted |
| Bergman State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 33 | Restricted |
| Current State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 4 | Restricted |
1 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Trails & water
5 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The walking year in Ellsborough 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) | 9.2 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 22 | 27 | 40 | 55 | 68 | 78 | 82 | 79 | 72 | 58 | 41 | 28 |
| Rain (in) | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
January is the driest month (0.7 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.8 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Ellsborough Township →
Next door
Ellsborough Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Shelburne Township2.1 miAetna Township2.0 miEllsborough Township1.3 miCameron Township0.8 miSkandia Township0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsborough Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Skandia Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Aetna Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Cameron Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Shelburne 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 Ellsborough Township
Where can I hike in Ellsborough Township?
The longest trail networks: Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, Dather Slough Unit, 0.3 miles; Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, East Unit, 0.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Ellsborough Township’s trails?
Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, Dather Slough Unit and Hjermstad Wildlife Management Area, East Unit don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Ellsborough Township?
450 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Ellsborough 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 Ellsborough 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 →