Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Nature preserve
1,027 acres2.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
–Not graded
Outdoors in San Francisco Township
Few parks or trails are on the map in San Francisco Township
The biggest trail networks: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (2.1 mi). 9% of San Francisco Township’s land is conserved, about 1,341 acres. 179 acres are parks and preserves, 215 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
9%
1,341 acres · of 23.2 sq mi of land
Trails
2.6 mi
0.1 per sq mi of land
Park land
179 ac
215 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
23%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
10
6 beaches
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 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, with 2.1 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - Lawrence Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
483 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail sign
Carver Highlands Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
115 acres
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - Thompson Ferry Unit
Managed by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
10 acres
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
All 5 parks & preserves
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge1,027 acres · 2.1 mi of trail
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - Lawrence Unit483 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsCarver Highlands Wildlife Management Area115 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - Thompson Ferry Unit10 acres · Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
DirectionsMinnesota Valley State Recreation Area - Carver Rapids Unit1 acres
Who protects it
1,341 conserved acres
9% of San Francisco Township’s land. Who manages San Francisco Township’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service2,107 ac
State natural resources113 ac
Other state land111 ac
National Wildlife Refuge · 2,087 acConservation Easement · 131 acState Conservation Area · 113 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 131 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 2,087 | Restricted |
| Carver Highlands Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 113 | Open |
Things to do
6 places to go in San Francisco Township
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Beaches in San Francisco Township
6 beaches without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Trails & water
10 lakes & rivers
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
District No. 22 SchoolBuilding · listed 2021
About itWhen to get out
The walking year in San Francisco 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) | 23 | 28 | 41 | 57 | 69 | 79 | 83 | 80 | 73 | 59 | 42 | 29 |
| Rain (in) | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 1.1 |
January is the driest month (0.8 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 4.9 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in San Francisco Township →
Next door
San Francisco Township and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Louisville Township22 miSt. Lawrence Township15 miSand Creek Township11 miCarver8.0 miBelle Plaine3.2 miSan Francisco Township2.6 miDahlgren Township2.0 miFaxon Township0.0 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| St. Lawrence Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Sand Creek Township | 6% | 0.3 | 149 | 8% | B |
| Belle Plaine | 1% | 0.5 | 8 | 90% | B− |
| Louisville Township | 15% | 1.5 | 855 | 2% | A− |
| Dahlgren Township | 1% | 0.1 | 19 | 4% | C− |
| Faxon Township | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Carver | 43% | 1.6 | 86 | 91% | A+ |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in San Francisco Township
Where can I hike in San Francisco Township?
The longest trail networks: Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 2.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on San Francisco Township’s trails?
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area - Lawrence Unit don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near San Francisco Township?
11,727 acres of parks and open public land lie inside San Francisco Township or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 179 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from San Francisco 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 →