Jay C Hormel Nature Center

The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center is a municipal nature preserve located on the northeastern corner of Austin, Minnesota, comprising over 500 acres of restored prairie, hardwood forest, wetlands and streams. Established in 1971 and named in honor of Jay Catherwood Hormel, the center is administered by the City of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department and features an interpretive center, over 10 miles of hiking trails, an observation tower and year-round recreational opportunities including skiing, snowshoeing, and canoeing rentals. The nature center’s mission is to educate visitors and bring people closer to the natural world, with free admission to both the interpretive center and trails.