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Murray Township, MinnesotaPhoto: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0
–Not graded
Outdoors in Murray Township

Few parks or trails are on the map in Murray Township

The biggest trail networks: Lake Shetek State Park (5.7 mi). 11% of Murray Township’s land is conserved, about 2,512 acres. 890 acres are parks and preserves, 5,493 per 1,000 residents.

Conserved land
11%
2,512 acres · of 34.6 sq mi of land
Trails
7.2 mi
0.2 per sq mi of land
Park land
890 ac
5,493 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
12%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
5.3 mi
5.3 mi paths
Lakes & rivers
7
The map

Conserved land, trails & bike routes

Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.

1234
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 Lake Shetek State Park, with 5.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.

Lake Shetek State Park

Park
876 acres5.7 mi of trail
Smith Lake TrailLake Side TrailBluebird TrailPark Lake Trail+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lotWebsite ↗

Dovray Wildlife Management Area, Central Unit

Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
279 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot

Beaver Creek Wildlife Management Area, Northeast Unit

Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
187 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot

Dovray Wildlife Management Area, North Unit

Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
86 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 9 parks & preserves
Lake Shetek State Park876 acres · 5.7 mi of trail
Directions
Dovray Wildlife Management Area, Central Unit279 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Directions
Beaver Creek Wildlife Management Area, Northeast Unit187 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Directions
Dovray Wildlife Management Area, North Unit86 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Directions
Rupp Wildlife Management Area80 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Dovray Wildlife Management Area, South Unit60 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Directions
Buffalo Lake Wildlife Management Area, Northwest Unit44 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Directions
Sweetman Wildlife Management Area35 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Directions
Dovray Wildlife Management Area, Northwest Unit12 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Who protects it

2,512 conserved acres

11% of Murray Township’s land. Who manages Murray Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1,285 ac
State fish & wildlife1,060 ac
State parks748 ac
Other state land62 ac
Resource Management Area · 1,285 acState Conservation Area · 1,060 acState Park · 748 acConservation Easement · 62 ac
Good to know

Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 62 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.

The biggest protected parcels
Parcel (PAD-US)Managed byAcresPublic access
Murray County Waterfowl Production Area
Resource Management Area
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1,285Restricted
Lake Shetek State Park
State Park
State parks748Open
Dovray State Wildlife Management Area
State Conservation Area
State fish & wildlife438Restricted
Buffalo Lake State Wildlife Management Area
State Conservation Area
State fish & wildlife318Restricted
Beaver Creek State Wildlife Management Area
State Conservation Area
State fish & wildlife189Restricted
Rupp State Wildlife Management Area
State Conservation Area
State fish & wildlife80Restricted
Sweetman State Wildlife Management Area
State Conservation Area
State fish & wildlife35Restricted
Things to do

3 places to go in Murray Township

Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.

Peaks in Murray Township
Scenic Overlook
Directions

Plus 1 peak without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.

Trails & water

9 named trails and 7 lakes & rivers

Named trails
Unpaved · 6.3 mi
Smith Lake Trail1.5 mi
Lake Side Trail0.6 mi
Bluebird Trail0.6 mi
Park Lake Trail0.4 mi
Picnic Trail0.3 mi
Zuya Trail0.3 mi
Fish Pond Trail0.3 mi
Hawthorn Trail0.3 mi
Boat Landing Trail0.2 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
Fish Rearing PondpondHanover SloughPark LakelakeSlaughter SloughSmith LakeBeaver CreekDes Moines River
Biking & sports

5.3 miles of bike routes

Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.

5.3 mi
off-road bike paths
History along the way

2 places on the National Register

The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).

History →
Lake Shetak State Park WPA/Rustic Style Group CampBuilding · listed 1992
About it
Lake Shetek State Park WPA/Rustic Style Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1992
About it
When to get out

The walking year in Murray 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.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Daylight (h)9.210.411.813.414.715.515.214.012.410.99.68.9
High (°F)232740556879827973584128
Rain (in)0.70.81.52.94.04.83.83.63.32.31.30.9

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 Murray Township →

Next door

Murray Township and its neighbors

Murray Township has the most mapped trails of the 5 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.

Murray Township7.2 miShetek Township3.7 miDovray Township1.5 miLime Lake Township0.5 miMason Township0.0 mi
TownConserved
of land		Trail mi
per sq mi		Park acres
per 1,000		Near a park
½ mile		Outdoors
Murray Township— not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town
Shetek Township— not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town
Dovray Township— not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town
Lime Lake Township— not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town
Mason 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 Murray Township

Where can I hike in Murray Township?

The longest trail networks: Lake Shetek State Park, 5.7 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.

Are dogs allowed on Murray Township’s trails?

Lake Shetek State Park and Dovray Wildlife Management Area, Central Unit don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.

Where can I bike in Murray Township?

5.3 miles of bike routes are on the map: 5.3 of off-road paths.

Is there public land near Murray Township?

1,099 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Murray Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 890 of them inside the town line.

Trail talk

Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Murray Township neighbors.

Town Square →
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 →