Schmalz Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
122 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
–Not graded
Outdoors in Preston Lake Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in Preston Lake Township
3% of Preston Lake Township’s land is conserved, about 640 acres. 0.8 miles of mapped trail cross Preston Lake Township. 4% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Conserved land
3%
640 acres · of 37.3 sq mi of land
Trails
0.8 mi
0.0 per sq mi of land
Near a park
4%
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
Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Who protects it
640 conserved acres
3% of Preston Lake Township’s land. Who manages Preston Lake Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service324 ac
Other state land255 ac
State fish & wildlife122 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)101 ac
Conservation Easement · 356 acResource Management Area · 324 acState Conservation Area · 122 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 356 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renville County Waterfowl Production Area Resource Management Area | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 324 | Restricted |
| Schmalz State Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 122 | Restricted |
Trails & water
3 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The walking year in Preston Lake 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 | 14.8 | 15.6 | 15.2 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.5 | 8.8 |
| High (°F) | 22 | 27 | 40 | 56 | 69 | 79 | 82 | 80 | 73 | 58 | 41 | 27 |
| Rain (in) | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
January is the driest month (0.6 in) and July the warmest (highs of 82 °F). 4.8 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Preston Lake Township →
Next door
Preston Lake Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Grafton Township2.0 miHector Township1.6 miBoon Lake Township1.4 miPreston Lake Township0.8 miCollins Township0.1 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston Lake Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Grafton Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Boon Lake Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Collins Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Hector 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 Preston Lake Township
Are dogs allowed on Preston Lake Township’s trails?
Schmalz Wildlife Management Area doesn’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Preston Lake Township?
363 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Preston Lake 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 Preston Lake 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 →