Interpretive Center
The Interpretive Center is free!
Fun and interactive exhibits with live animals, touch tables, puzzles and games, a play area, and more! Learn about the local history, the wildlife, and the story of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center.
“Meet Our Snake” program is at 10:00 am and 3:30 pm on most days.
Trails
The Nature Center has 9 miles of trails. All trails are color coded. The majority of the trails are flat; there are no stairs on our trails. There is a small section (.25 miles) of trail that is paved. The rest of our trails are either grass or gravel. Check out the trail map here.
The Nature Center offers free all terrain tracked powered chairs or golf cart tours to those in need.
General Rules
Please No:
- Biking/Motor Vehicles
- Walking Dogs/Pets
- Smoking/Drinking on the grounds
- Camping/Picnicking/Fires
- Foraging/Picking Flowers
Raptor Rescues
The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center takes in ONLY raptors—hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls—found in Mower County. Usually the raptor will be transported to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center for further care.
*We are always looking for volunteer drivers who are willing to transport an injured bird of prey to the Raptor Center. Please contact us if you are interested.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Interpretive Center is closed. Can I still use the trails?
- Yes, the trails are open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There are rare occurrences when sections of trail may be closed, such as flooding, prairie burns or buckthorn removal.
Can I bring my pet to the Nature Center?
- So as not to disturb wildlife, pets are NOT allowed at the Nature Center. However, Austin has many city parks that allow leashed dogs, plus a dog park.
- You may walk your dog on the shooting star bike trail which starts on the west side of the Nature Center parking lot.
Can I ride my bike on the Nature Center trails?
- For the safety of those enjoying the trails at a relaxed pace, we do not allow biking on our trails. However, Austin has an excellent city bike trail system that connects to the Nature Center entrance and now continues around the west and south borders of the Nature Center connecting to the Shooting Star trail. You may park your car at the Nature Center to get to the start of the Shooting Star Trail.
Can I fish at the Nature Center?
- Yes, but you must have a valid fishing license to fish on Nature Center property. Please pack out all trash, especially fishing lines and lures. Contact the Nature Center if a line or lure gets caught that you cannot get out.
Can I hunt at the Nature Center?
- No, however; there is a yearly archery deer hunt organized through the City of Austin. One of the options to hunt is the Nature Center. Information about the hunt usually goes out in August.
Can I pick flowers or forage?
- No, nothing can be taken from the Nature Center. We are a nature preserve, our goal is to preserve nature. If everyone took one or two things, eventually there would be nothing left to preserve.
Can I camp at the Nature Center?
- No, we do not allow camping or camp fires. There are local places to camp including both family-run and nationally branded campgrounds, as well as a state park.
Do you do live bird programs?
- No, not currently. We currently have a red-tailed hawk that is display only. We also have a brand-new great horned owl that is in training to do live bird programs.
Can you bring the snake out?
- Yes, but only at specific times during the day. 10:00 am and 3:30 pm most days. Exceptions are when the snakes are shedding or in the spring when they do school programs.
I have found an injured or abandoned animal on my property. Will you take it in?
- We only take in birds of prey, but we are happy to answer your questions. Often animals appear abandoned when a parent is off gathering food, or may be avoiding their nest so as to not draw attention from potential predators. It is most often best to leave animals where they are.
- For injured or abandoned animals contact the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. If the animal is a pest, contact a local pest control provider.
Can I place a Geocache on your property?
- Please ask permission from the front office before doing so. We will need you to fill out an application first. We will be periodically checking your geocache to make sure it follows geocaching guidelines, is still active, and well kept. We may deny your request to put out a new geocache depending on how many are currently on our property.
Is there Geocaching on your property?
- Yes, but this is not managed by Nature Center staff. You can find more information on Geocaching.com or download the geocaching app.
Our Animals
Attractions
Lookout Tower
Built in the 1980’s, the 3-story observation
tower is a destination for walkers a mile down the black trail from the parking lot. The structure overlooks the surrounding restored and remnant prairies, marsh, and restored oak savanna.
Log Cabin & Sugar Shack
The sugar shack houses the wood-fired evaporator to make maple syrup. Fourth graders in Austin have visited the sugar shack for over 20 years as part of their yearly school field trip.
Built in the 2000’s, the log cabin serves as a learning tool for JCHNC programs. It was built as a replica of the log cabin that donor Rita Lickteig’s ancestors built and lived in when they arrived in Minnesota. Inside the fence there is an education garden, apple orchard, and bee hives.
Lion’s Covered Bridge & Stepping Stone Bridge
A short half mile walk on the yellow trail reveals two bridges that are visitor favorites crossing Dobbins Creek. This part of the Nature Center is in a flood plain that often floods in the spring.
Habitat
Forests
- There are 4 distinct forests at the Nature Center
- Streamside/Floodplain Forest: silver maple, basswood, and ash.
- Upland Hardwood Forests: oak, walnut, hickory, elm, maple and hackberry.
- Historic Oak Savanna: a stand of mixed oak, black cherry, and aspen.
- Pine/Spruce/Hemlock Forest.
- There are 178.5 acres of combined forests.
- Some animals that call the forest home are white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, barred owls, squirrels, woodpeckers, and woodcocks.
Prairies
- There are 321.5 acres of combined prairies.
- Key plants to keep an eye out for are goldenrod, big blue stem, blazing star, white wild indigo, and coneflower.
- Some animal species that dwell in our prairies are coyote, monarch butterflies, voles, fox snakes, bees, pheasants, eastern bluebirds, and red-tailed hawks.
Wetlands & Watershed
- The nature center sits at the confluence of the North and South branches of Dobbins Creek.
- There is a manmade pond a short walk on the blue trail which provides habitat for migrating birds, frogs and turtles.
- Canoeing takes place on the pond and Dobbins Creek in the summer.
- Restored wetlands
- Some animals