The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Walk-In Access Program has received a $2.1 million federal grant that will help keep roughly 22,000 acres of private land open to the public for the next three years. A Walk-In Access sign marks private land open to public hunting and outdoor recreation from Sept. 1 through May 31.(Minnesota DNR) The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, part of a $52 million national investment across 19 projects. The Walk-In Access Program pays landowners to allow public access to their property without requiring visitors to contact the landowner directly. In 2026, more than 220 Walk-In Access sites are enrolled across west, central and southern Minnesota. The sites open Sept. 1, 2026, and run through May 31, 2027. In addition to hunting, the public can use the sites for bird watching and nature photography. All users must purchase a $3 Walk-In Access Validation, available online, through the DNR mobile licensing app or in-person wherever Minnesota DNR licenses are sold. To find Walk-In Access sites and access digital maps, visit the DNR’s Walk-In Access webpage or search for sites on the Minnesota DNR Recr