National and State Parks - Recreational Areas
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Old Mill State Park
State Park Information
State Park Overview
Nature of the Area
Old Mill State Park is like an island of original landscape in a sea of crop land. It contains examples of how the area must have looked to the early European settlers over a century ago. The riverine forest contains most of the same plant and animal species found here originally. Small areas of oak savanna and prairie can still be found on the beach ridges. Wet prairie still survives in the lower areas.
At one time, this entire northwest corner of the state was covered by a vast freshwater lake. Although the area was left fairly level by glacial activity before the lake formed, the lake is responsible for the large level areas found here. Over the centuries as the lake level dropped, large beach ridges were formed as new shoreline was exposed and carved out by the action of the waves. One of those ridges is located about one mile east of the park. The river valley was cut by the river flowing over the loose sediment left behind by the lake. Each time the lake level dropped, the river would cut a deeper channel. The steep-walled valley and narrow flood plain are typical of a young river valley.
The river valley that runs through the park acts as an access corridor for many species. Large mammals include deer and moose. Beaver and raccoon are common as are white-tailed jackrabbits and snowshoe hares. In spring and fall, birds migrating through this portion of Minnesota add another dimension to the parks wildlife. Warblers and finches -mong others -re abundant during migration. You might even be able to observe magpies and scarlet tanagers. About 100 species of birds reside in the park. The ground nesting marsh hawk is a common summer resident. Broadwing and red-tailed hawks hunt small animals and
eagles are often spotted passing through. Short-eared and long-eared owls have been sighted in the park.
History of the Area
More Info
Old Mill State Park