Walk-In Access lands open Sunday, Sept. 1

Walk-In Access areas will be open for public use beginning Friday, Sept. 1 through May 31, 2025, with the purchase of a $3 Walk-In Access validation. The program pays landowners to allow public access to their property and no additional landowner contact is necessary. This year, hunters and other people can access around 30,000 acres of private land at more than 280 sites in west, central and southern Minnesota.

Through new legislation, acres enrolled in the program will be open to public uses in addition to hunting, such as bird watching, nature photography and similar compatible uses, starting with approximately half of the total acres this year.

All Walk-In Access sites are shown on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Recreation Compass (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/compass.html). Digital maps for individual Walk-In Access sites, along with more information, can be found on the Minnesota DNR website (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/walkin/index.html).

Current funding for the program includes a grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Walk-In Access validations purchased by hunters, a surcharge on nonresident hunting licenses and donations from hunters.