Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area
Rate this placeNearby: Colvill Park Soliders Memorial Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area is a 3,000-acre natural area located in the state of Minnesota.
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Summary
It is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including sandhill cranes, bald eagles, and white-tailed deer, making it a popular destination for birdwatching and wildlife viewing.
Visitors to Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area can explore the many hiking trails that wind through the area, offering stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The area also features several picnic areas and campsites, making it a great destination for families and groups.
One of the main points of interest at Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area is the Mississippi River, which runs through the area and offers excellent fishing opportunities. The river is also home to several species of fish, including walleye, northern pike, and bass.
Interesting facts about the area include its history as a traditional hunting and fishing ground for the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes, as well as its designation as a wildlife management area by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The best time of year to visit Pierce County Islands Wildlife Area is in the spring and fall, when the area is teeming with migratory birds and the foliage is at its most vibrant. However, the area is open year-round and offers plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation no matter the season.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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