The Mahnomen Trail at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge offers three miles of scenic hiking over moderately level terrain. "Mahnomen" is an Ojibwe word for wild rice which once grew abundantly in the nearby 600 acre Rice Lake.
Archeological surveys show that Rice Lake attracted wildlife and that ancient people were drawn to this source of plentiful food and clothing as long ago as the late Woodland period (500 A.D.).
The trail has three loops designed to let the visitor choose their walking distance as they travel through woodland habitat and prairie openings, skirting Rice and Round lakes and also several wetlands.