Marshall County: Bogs, Trails and History

Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge covers about 61,500 acres in Marshall County. A self-guided driving tour there is an opportunity to observe nature and wildlife and take photographs. This lets you experience the area from a different perspective than the hiking trails at Old Mill State Park. The refuge headquarters is on Marshall County Road 7, also known as 290th Street NE. Both road names help pinpoint the headquarters’ location.

Bog Landscapes and Wildlife Areas

Within the refuge, Agassiz Wilderness covers 4,000 acres. The wilderness is managed as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System and contains one of Minnesota’s westernmost expanses of black spruce and tamarack bogs. Visitors interested in bogs and northern landscapes will find a different focus here than on a driving tour or a visit centered on hiking and winter trails.

In northeastern Marshall County, Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area is a public wildlife area with 55,000 acres of wildlife habitat. The Pine-to-Prairie Birding Trail offers an opportunity for birdwatching there. The acreage conveys the scale of the habitat, while the named trail provides a specific focus for travelers who want to watch birds. This makes it possible to explore the county’s natural environment not only through its bog landscape, but also through wildlife habitat and birdwatching.

Hiking and Cross-Country Skiing at Old Mill State Park

Old Mill State Park is in northwestern Marshall County between Argyle and Newfolden. Its seven miles of hiking trails pass through woodland and prairie areas. In winter, there are four miles of groomed cross-country ski trails. The distances refer to different activities: seven miles of hiking trails and four miles of ski trails. This helps you plan around the season and your interests without treating hiking and cross-country skiing as the same offering. If the ski trails are part of your travel plans, check their conditions before your visit.

The park offers two different ways to spend time in the landscape: hiking through woodland and prairie areas or cross-country skiing on groomed trails. For your day’s plans, consider whether you’re looking for hiking trails or want to use the cross-country skiing option in winter.

Local History and Seasonal Events

Settler’s Square is Marshall County’s history center. It is a complex of historic buildings representing a small community of the 1880s. Rather than a single historic structure, you’ll see an ensemble that evokes a small community of that era. This historical focus complements nature and wildlife viewing, bog landscapes and outdoor activities with a cultural attraction.

In Argyle, the Argyle Depot Museum is a stop along the King-of-Trails corridor. For a trip that includes local history as well as nature, it is another named cultural attraction. The Marshall County Fair is traditionally held every summer in Warren. If you’d like to include the fair in your travel plans, check the specific event dates in advance.

Choose a Focus for Your Hotel Search

When choosing a hotel in Marshall County, it’s worth deciding first what you want to focus on during your trip: nature viewing and a driving tour at Agassiz Refuge, birdwatching at Thief Lake, hiking or cross-country skiing at Old Mill State Park, or history and the fair. These interests lead to different travel plans. That way, your decision starts with the kind of stay you want, rather than a broad assumption about what a hotel or a particular location might offer.

Explore more destinations: Viking, Morrison, Lake County, Chisago County, Nicollet County, Polk County, Kanabec County, Crow Wing County.

For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.