Carleton College Cowling Arboretum

Carleton College Cowling Arboretum (also referred to as the Arb) consists of approximately 880 acres (360 hectares) of land adjacent to Carleton College. It was created under the leadership of President Donald J. Cowling and Professor Harvey E. Stork in the 1920s. Professor Stork and Superintendent of Grounds D. Blake Stewart ("Stewsie") were responsible for much of the early development of the Arb, and their influences can still be seen and felt in many places. Stork and Stewsie were remarkable land managers, and it can be argued that they were among the nation's first restoration ecologists. In particular, their planting of upland forest trees and wildflowers in the Upper Arb (Stork Forest) decades ago is now coming to impressive maturity.

The original Arboretum has been augmented both by absorbing the Carleton Farm as it was closed down in the 1960s, and by purchases of adjoining farmland. Cultivated land, which originally made up much of the property within the Arboretum, has slowly been phased out since 1970, and will probably be eliminated within the next few years.

The Arb is divided by Highway 19 into the Upper Arb (south of the highway) and the Lower Arb (north of the highway; "lower" because it contains the low-lying floodplain of the Cannon River). The two portions of the Arb differ in character and in the pattern of visitor use. Since the Upper Arb is closer to both the campus and most Northfield residents, it receives more traffic and is being developed for heavier use. The Upper Arb has greater trail density, some trails designated for bike use, and generally smaller areas of natural communities. In contrast, the Lower Arb has populations of rare plants and animals and has primary conservation and education importance. Therefore the Lower Arb has fewer trails, no bike use, and large contiguous areas of natural habitat.