Mississippi Headwaters Audubon Society & Neilson Spearhead Center

MHAS owns and manages a 466-acre tract of prime wilderness southwest of Bemidji, Minnesota surrounding Spearhead Lake.

The Neilson Spearhead Center (NSC) is located approximately 11 miles southwest of Bemidji, Minnesota, and is a non-profit 501(c)3 environmental science facility owned and managed by the MHAS. It includes 460 acres of land in Hubbard County. The land was acquired by George W. Neilson in the 1930s. In 1978, George Neilson’s daughter, Katharine Neilson Cram, donated the property to The Nature Conservancy, which later deeded it to the MHAS.

Our stewardship responsibility includes maintaining the integrity of the natural communities present on the NSC property and providing opportunities for experiential education and research.

We have hiking trails, boat launches, a screened-in shelter, and outhouse. Come explore!

Sorry, no groups larger than 6 people need permission. Please contact us at (218)444-8672 for a permit or headwatersaudubon@gmail.com.
Hunting, camping, and public swimming at the Neilson Spearhead Center is not allowed.


Contact MHAS by e-mailing the organization at headwatersaudubon@gmail.com or by calling (218) 444-8672 (caretakers). We’d love to hear from you!