Rice Lake, one of the few remaining natural wildlife lakes in the area, is home to a variety of fur bearers, watefowl, and reptiles. The lake provides aquatic habitat for small fish species and is ofter abundant with wild rice. An 85 acre tract of land adjacent to the lake was donated to the DNR and is managed as a wildife management area. The WMA is open to seasonal public hunting. There is a walking path around part of the lake. An interpretive panel depicting the importance of shallow lakes, sponsored by the DNR, the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway and Ducks Unlimited, was installed near the lake in November 2007. The Eagle View Elementary School overlooks the area which serves as a science curriculum reserve.

The Rice Lake panel kiosk, became the focus of an Eagle Scout project during the summer of 2010. Kevin Miller of Scout Troop 102 in Pequot Lakes chose the Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway for his Eagle Scout project because he was interested in learning more about this local amenity and the organization that managed it.

Look for the Byway site marker sign at Nickel Road and the Byway interpretive panel on the west side of Nickel road. Byway travelers are encouraged to stop at the CSAH 11 and Nickel Road intersection, use the new walking path to the interpretive kiosk and learn more about this interesting Byway site, for instance... did you know Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox used to harvest wild rice here?