Carleton College Cowling Arboretum

The arb is unequivocally the best in May, when there is the greatest diversity of neotropical migrants and the breeding species in the prairie like Henslow's Sparrow have begun to arrive. March-April can be productive for waterfowl and sparrows as well. September is moderately interesting for warblers, but is much slower than May, as is everywhere in Minnesota. October is the month for LeConte's Sparrows and Harris's Sparrows, but the overall diversity of birds declines heavily, especially in the latter half of the month. In November-February, the access is difficult (see below) and the birding is mostly poor, so non-Carleton students are best advised not to make the drive down. Students trapped at Carleton often find the best birds in the surrounding neighborhoods rather than the arb anyway, though Northern Shrikes, Snow Buntings, and Lapland Longspurs are all at least a possibility in the winter months. Summer (June-August) provides access to most of the prairie species, though the forests can be rather slow and the mosquitoes are terrible.

Unless looking for a something specific (e.g. LeConte's Sparrow, owls on Canada Ave, or Winter Wren at the Spring Creek Loop), most walks should start at either the main Lower Arb Parking or Monument Hill in the Upper Arb. Starting from the Lower Arb parking, there are a variety of loops of differing length you can do. There is a short loop through the bottomland forest if focused on migrants, or there is a slightly longer loop that goes along the river and then through the prairie before returning along Highway 19 in the Upper Arb. Especially outside of peak migration, given a few hours most birders will want to cover the river, Turtle pond, and Kettle Hole Marsh before returning through the prairie and along Highway 19. The particularly dedicated who have multiple hours can take a loop through the river, Turtle pond, the Best Woods and their intersection with the prairie, back through Kettle Hole and the prairie and returning along Highway 19 or back through the prairie. The latter takes most of a morning, or potentially longer during peak migration. Starting at the upper arb, the loop is more standard - you begin in the morning at Monument Hill, then proceed to spring creek and then walk around the perimeter of the Upper Arb if you have the time and desire.

The main parking lots are both right off Highway 19 - the Lower Arb lot is literally right there, and shortly afterwards, you reach Three Oaks Drive which leads to the Rec Center. A little further down is the dirt lot for Bakke Prairie on the left and Spring Creek Road on the right (which leads to the Spring Creek Parking Lot). Just a bit farther down is the turn for Canada Ave, and after that you're headed for Lake Byllesby. It is also possible to take a bus from various points in Northfield, including downtown and St. Olaf College, to Sayles Hill at Carleton. See Hiawathaland Transportation,

www.threeriverscap.org/transportation/hiawathaland-transit/northfield-service-area

for more information and times. From Sayles Hill, walk down the service road that goes behind Leighton Hall to Highway 19, and crossing there gets to the main Lower Arb parking lot.

Entrance to the arb is free. The arb is closed to the public at night, check locally for specific times. This is partly because you can easily get lost in the maze of trails, particularly in the Lower Arb, and also partly because there are often drunken college students roaming through the arb at night, and it is best to avoid them. Additionally, the Lower Arb is closed for deer hunting (bow and arrow) in December, and the trails are groomed for skiing January-early March in the Lower Arb and parts of the upper arb. Pedestrians are asked not to walk on the ski trails, and given there is 1-3 feet of snow elsewhere, birding becomes nearly impossible.

There are a wide variety of plants and herps that reside in the arb during the warmer months. A number of informative signs give information about the ecology and history of the arb, mainly in the Upper Arb, though there are a few in the Lower Arb as well. There is also a golf course nearby, along with historic downtown Northfield, with its little museum and businesses. In early September of each year, a bizarre little historical reenactment of a bank robbery called Jesse James Day happens. If it ever reopens, Chapati is the best restaurant in town; El Triunfo is also acceptable and affordable. Imminent Brewing has a nice selection of beers, and sometimes there are good food trucks in the parking lot (as Imminent does not serve food). There's also your standard fast food, like Domino's pizza and Taco Bell. The campuses of St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges are nearby as well, if that's interesting to you for some reason; closer to St. Olaf, the Ole Cafe has decent food. You should only eat at Sayles Hill, at Carleton, in a worst case scenario.

There is a porta pottie in the lower arb relatively close to (but not at) the main parking lot. Otherwise, facilities are mostly lacking - the next closest accessible restrooms at Carleton are in Sayles Hill (which is closed to the public at the moment anyway). The usual amenities, such as gas, food (see above), and regular restrooms are all available in downtown Northfield. There is also a selection of mediocre hotels in Northfield.