Munch's Coulee Trail, Kenmare, North Dakota

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge follows a long river valley and hosts this nature trail.

Photos from Des Lacs NWR

Munch's Coulee Hiking Trail is located approximately 5.5 miles south of Kenmare on the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge Auto tour route. The mile-long trail includes a quarter mile that is level, hard-surfaced and easily accessible for wheelchair users. The rest of the trail is grassed and is steep in places, but provides a spectacular view of the valley, marshes, and wildlife area.

	The refuge follows a long river valley in northern North Dakota

The bottom portion of the trail is in the draw where excellent bird watching opportunities abound. There is a small pool of water within comfortable viewing distance from the first bench. Turtles and duck broods can regularly be found in the spring. The trail then climbs up the side of the draw to the upland prairie.

The upland portion is one of the best places on the refuge to view native wildflowers as well as upland birds. The upland portion of the trail as it returns to the parking area allows visitors a spectacular view of the lake and marsh.

A wide variety of wildlife can be seen at Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge

The bottom portion of the trail is hard surfaced and is intended to be accessible to all. Four benches provide resting areas along the top and bottom of the trail.

Munch's Coulee is an excellent area to work with school groups as it is located on a road easily navigated by buses, has ample parking, and includes most of the habitats found on the refuge within the area.

Download a map (pdf 628 kb)of the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge with the trail and other features.

	Trailhead for the Munch's Coulee Trail

The National Recreation Trails Program
American Trails, P.O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797 • (530) 547-2060 • Fax: (530) 547-2035 • nrt@americantrails.org • www.AmericanTrails.org

Enter the 2009 Photo contest
for National Recreation Trails

Audubon Center at the Francis Beidler Forest (photo: Mark Musselman)

Related topics:

Advocacy
Federal land issues
Funding
Management
Planning
Safe Trails Forum
Volunteers
Wildlife issues

More resources:

Cool trail solutions
Bibliography
Quotations
Glossary
Acronyms
Tools
Products & services

For more opportunities for training on trail design, construction, and management see the National Trails Training Partnership area.