Otter Haven: Private Nature Preserve

Welcome to Otter Haven, located in the Northwest Sands Region described in Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac. Visit 248 acres of restored prairie and savanna, mature woodlands, and cold-water streams. Paddle around five small islands in a spring-fed pond complex, and meander 1 1/2 miles of shoreline of the Namekagon River. 2/3 of Otter Haven is within the national park of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The nightly rate is set for 4 guests, and increases by $48/add. guest/night. The space Enjoy the rich diversity of native grasses and wildflowers in our wet prairie meadows, upland dry prairie meadows, bracken grasslands, and pine barrens. Encounter the extensive Canada Blue Joint meadow out by the river, or traipse the miles of groomed trails through the Oak Savanna, and the Red Pine Savanna under restoration, or view the Tamarack and Black Ash flood plain woodland being developed into a Cedar and Hemlock stand. Observe the 20 distinct stations featuring varying habitat types and the numerous mammal, amphibian, and avian species therein – if you are still and patient enough, particularly at dawn or dusk. Guest access We welcome you to our prairie meadows and knolls, pine and oak savanna, ponds, islands, traipsing trails, and river landing. Do park all vehicles at the Guest House, which is solely yours for your stay, and venture by foot to the trails, though not passing over the metal bridge to our home. We share the driveway, and you may occasionally see us pass by the Guest House as we enter and exit our driveway, deposit or retrieve mail. Other things to note Absorb the efforts we make in collaboration with the National Park Service, the Department of Natural Resources, and Northland College to mitigate aggressive invasive species (through prescribed burns), enhance the production of endangered species (involving a 4 State Wood Turtle Protection project), and provide a place for rare and elusive native species (translocating and bio-tagging Franklin Ground Squirrels). This is an ideal setting for Nature Photographers, Birders, Prairie Enthusiasts, Hikers, and Families.