But if you go to Grand Portage, hike past the hiking club trail. Great trail that is well packed for hiking shoes. The spreadsheet will also track your MN Hiking Club Miles, and Passport Stamps collected, and give you a running total. For me, this is where the real beauty starts. Of my adventures, there are a few that are especially memorable. Thanks! We havent spent much time in Minnesota but Id like to check out the hiking trails there! That was until we found that Natural Play Area. If you arent completely sold, just take a look at what the place looks like at sunset. This trail is pretty flat so it is suitable for most abilities. Half of this was groomed. Do you know if we lost one at some point? The Hiking Club is such a neat Minnesotan thing - I'm glad that you're doing it with your family! Can you help us out for our Hiking Club book? Just like the Parks Passport Program, it costs $14.95. Located in the heart of the Twin Cities, this park offers extensive hiking, bike, snowshoe, and ski trails that link to an extensive regional trail system. Do you spend your weekends camping, hiking, fishing, and everything outdoors? One of us had Yak tracks & one had the sharper metal ice trackswe did fine but before we put them on we were sliding all over. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. As its name suggests, the River Bluff Trail runs along the top of the bluff above the SaintCroix River. Great hiking conditions for boots and spikes. But in her free time, she loves to hike and adventure with her dogs, Sasha and Glia. If you go, bring plenty of water, keep an eye on the weather conditions and have some fun! She currently works full-time as a veterinarian, treating dogs and cats. Welcome to This Big Wild World travel blog! Thank you so much! I didnt brave the stairs at the end however. Related content to read next: Find even more Minnesota travel destinations and tips on my Minnesota travel page. Canoe, fish, or swim on Snelling Lake or hike on Pike Island where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers meet. Begin your Hiking Club trek with a trip to the Nature Store to purchase your Hiking Club book. The first time told me there was cactus in Minnesota I kind of laughed. Very informative. This post is sponsored by DayTripper. The next morning, around 7:30 we went back and could enjoy ourselves a little more. It works by taking the same MN State Parks maps you used to and placing your GPS position on top of it. See Related: DIY Compression Stuff Sack for Camping. Beautiful trail! Clicking on them doesnt cost you anything. Are you the type of hikers that like to explore a variety of trails? William O'Brien State Park Upper Park Trail. You should check it out: http://banjosandbogs.blogspot.com/. A popular state park located on the St. Croix River at the eastern edge of the Twin Cities metro area, Afton State Park offers several miles of hiking trails. The longest hiking club trails are 6.2 miles in length. On the first day of Spring and Fall, the sunrise aligns perfectly with these rocks. See bison at Minneopa State Park and hear coyotes howling in Blue Mounds State Park? When you complete a hike, just record the park you hiked at, the password, and the distance you hike. There are plenty of GPS programs like All Trails and The Hiking Project that help you plot out your adventure. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. They also have a herd in Alexander Ramsey Regional Park and Spring Lake Park in Hastings.Minneopa Falls, Bison and so much more at Minneopa State ParkMake sure to schedule your Bison adventure before you leave! Every few years, a new bull (male) bison is brought in for herd diversity. This gives you a good piece of mind that you are on the Hiking Club Trail and not some offshoot. Beautiful! Mountain biking through St Croix State Park provides a great opportunity to see the park's wildlife and wooded forests. It is a bit icy now (mid-January) but its still worth the views. Beautiful hike! Buffalo RiverState Park9. Yes, the park was beautiful. They have a good idea of the best viewing spots. If you want to skip to a specific park, use the table below to help you figure out what page of this post to jump to.Afton Buffalo RiverPage 1Camden Great River BluffsPage 2Hayes MaplewoodPage 3McCarthy SchoolcraftPage 4Sibley Zippel BayPage 5. Park is basically closed but you can park and then hike or cross country ski. Nice winter hike. I appreciate it!Seven in ONE DAY? More information about the program can be found here. some downhill sections have ice underneath and require caution. 5 Tips to Enjoy the Minnesota State Park Hiking Club I highly recommend going either in the morning or evening hours to capture the sun on the cliffside. The hiking club manual notes that this is a rugged trail in the North Woods with exposed rocks and tree roots. Hayes LakeState Park31. Judge C.R. Trail was packed down well. I love going on hikes any chance I get. other folks on the trail. No way. They are always incredibly helpful! We really enjoyed it. Iron Range Off-highway Vehicle State Recreation Area34. Nearby is a family of nesting ducks. For more information about joining the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Hiking Club, visit the MN DNR website. From a bison viewing area to Sioux quartzite formations and areas of preserved prairie, there is plenty to see at this state park. This Park has something for everyone, including stunning overlooks of quartzite cliffs, bike paths, prairies, and a bison herd. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area53. Its a free guide I put together spilling all the dirt on hiking. Mille Lacs KathioState Park51. I don't believe you hiked and drove all that in one day. Afton is included in our 5 Dog-Friendly MN State Park Hikes along the St. Croix River post. Grab your Minnesota State Park Passport and discover new trails. Welcome toThis Big Wild Worldtravel blog! This as my daughter would put it, is a lame swing set. Like someone else said lots of hills! I know what a great state Minnesota is for adventure but the video gives more reasons. St. Croix River at Wild River MN State Park. Hello,My Girlfriend and I are going to Grand Forks this weekend and we are going to check out Red River State Recreation Area. You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. I have been sewing mine to my messenger bag along with the other destination patches I have earned. It wont take long before you realize you are already collecting your first reward. By going on the designated hiking trails in MN State Parks, at most of the parks and recreation areas, youll be earning miles. I highly recommend going either in the morning or evening hours to capture the sun on the cliffside. Stairs ARE slippery! You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. Charles A. LindberghState Park13. For being the first day of 40 & Sunny I was shocked only seeing one person in the 4 miles I went, not mad at it, Paths were all snow covered but very easy for traction with the right boots/spikes. You basically hiked from Lake Superior to the Cities. Ice packed snow & slushy. Very icy on stairs. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Some are wheelchair accessible, like the one at Big Bog State Recreation Area. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. Minnesota State Parks Hiking Club Trails There are 68 Hiking Club Trails in parks around Minnesota. Great views today! George H. Crosby Manitou State Park24. Big Stone LakeState Park7. Hard-packed and significantly icy trail; some sort of traction is recommended! Interpretive exhibits at the Thomas C Savage Visitor Center provide a good introduction to the history and resources of the park area. A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. Look for it near the paper maps. Would I go Hiking at Blue Mounds State Park Again? I believe that theres a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to be discovered. In this case, almost across the entire thing. It has been postponed during Covid. Beautiful views of the forest and river. You park at the gate and walk about 1/2 mile to the trail. One of the interesting things that were found at Blue Mounds State Park is the Rock Alignment. Beautiful trail, double tracked and well groomed all the way around the island, especially considering the warmer weather recently. I plan on picking up a passport at our first park this year! Its a short way from the parking area, so if you are beat, it wont take too much more energy to get up close and personal with them. On the designated hikes, youll see a sign with the password to verify that you made it through your hike. stars Last Edited by renneranderson Blue Mounds State Park is one of a few that have Tipis for guests. We had some ce cleats on and had no problems. Beginning at the Trail Center, at the five corners intersection, turn left onto the Munger Boundary Trail. When you join the Hiking Club, you receive a booklet with trail descriptions and a hiking club log section. Bear Head LakeState Park4. Glacial Lakes State Park25. So glad you like the video this was one of the first ones I ever made The passport is really encouraging me to get out and explore some lesser known parks, which right now also means no people, easier social distancing! Hiking Club. Its looking like that might be what my summer is all about at this point No complaints though! This is such a cool idea! The loop is about a mile and a half long and crosses a road into an upland hardwood forest. From the highest mountain in North America to coastal glaciers, Alaska holds plenty of natural wonders across its millions A new type of retirement is being talked about these days - the mini-retirement. Warm & gorgeous for. Make sure to check out my newest guide on Enjoying the Hike Again. Welcome to This Big Wild World travel blog! Minnesota State Park Pass Hacks, Tips, and Free Days, Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park, 28 Fun Things To Do in Minnesota This Spring 2023, 28 FUN Things To Do During Winter in Minnesota, Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Polar Plunge Plus Tips, 21 FUN Things to do in Duluth in the Winter, White House Tour Experience: All the Details You Need Before Visiting. It wasnt busy at all! Zippel BayState Park. La Salle Lake State Recreation Area40. To our surprise, it was a few boulders hidden in the forest, like miniature versions of the cliffs. Its got so much to offer and, because its off of most peoples radar, you can enjoy more nature with less crowds. Beautiful trail! Great trail, relatively level, and a fantastic view at the end. Whether youre looking for new trails to inspire you or a fun way to remember your adventures, the Minnesota State Parks Hiking and Passport Club is perfect for you! an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Well packed for just hiking boots. If you told my kid that over the course of a couple of years, theyd hike 100 miles, they would have said you are crazy. Thanks for making such an awesome blog! The Hiking Club operates in a similar manner. At 100 miles, you also earn a free night of camping. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The first is a playground near the picnic area. You can find more information as well as DNR maps here: https://www.dnr . :). I didnt brave the stairs at the end however. It wasnt busy at all! This loop would have been very difficult to get through all of the snow if you didnt have snowshoes. The hiking trails will lead you to a lot of the park highlights including, waterfalls, overlooks, geological wonders, and historic sites. Ive got them broken out by distance from Minneapolis. I love finding others who are a part of it. St. Croix River at Wild River MN State Park. Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription. From the trail, you can stop at the top and look down at the spectacular views. Bison, elk, wolves, and prairie chickens once roamed most of the park. Wild RiverState Park74. Gorgeous views. The trail is well marked with hiking club signs. MaplewoodState Park49. No, Bears do not live in Blue Mounds at State Park. One is simply a passport that upon arrival, you get a stamp for each park you visit. That is why I was so excited when I got gifted a MN State Park Passport this past holiday season. well packed. I walk this trail with my 4 year old son and he loves it. Easy in all seasons. Besides the passport, you will also receive a travel log giving you the opportunity to document some of your favorite parts of the parks. Today you can see Bison, Coyotes, and deer reside in the park. Great River BluffsState Park29. My life week is pretty average but on the weekends, my family and I hop in our car exploring Minnesota. The trail used to run through a heavily wooded area, but a devastating storm on July 1st, 2011 produced straight-line winds that topped 100 miles per hour. My name is Jenn. Its a short trail from the parking lot and campground, making it easy for anyone to do. Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park48. Located at the furthest corner of Southwestern Minnesota is Blue Mounds State Park in MN. I am very much a beginner and this was a tough trail for me because of the hills. We recommended waiting to visit this state park until the spring, as portions of this hiking club trail are groomed for skiing in the winter. This is such a huge milestone for me and the family. It is very useful for me. They have GPS enabled maps that let you track your location as you hike. There is a beautiful paved bike path from the picnic area, all the way to the entrance to the southernmost part of the park. The hiking club trail at Blue Mounds State Park takes visitors to the top of the cliff line. One the western border of Minnesota, Big Stone Lake State Park follows along the shore of Big Stone Lake. The cliffs were formed on the bottom of an ancient sea. Blue Mounds State Park got its name because some settlers moving through the Plaines in the 1860s and 1870s thought it looked like a blue mound off in the distance. At 100 miles, youll get a free night of camping and if you can complete them all, youll get another night of camping plus anengraved plaque. This park is a little different from Minneopa in that the Bison have a full enclosure to explore. Are there bears in Blue Mounds State Park? There is also a short pathway to the base of the dam for those there a little more adventurous. Hello, fellow Minnesotan! With 66 state parks, 9 recreation areas, and more than 10,000 lakes (one of which is the massive Lake Superior), there are literally thousands of miles to hike all year round. Thank you so much for writing it! The 97-degree temperatures meant we didnt do any hiking until early morning or late at night. Love your blog! A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. Always nice to connect with another MN State Parks Passport Club enthusiast Hmmm, Ive done some looking around and cant seem to find which one came off the list. We really appreciate it! Once you get your passport, dont forget to bring it with you when you hit the trails! If there is an issue with your order, email us at PAT.NatureStore.DNR@state.mn.us within 3 days of receiving your order. So great to know what to expect and they were very happy they surprisingly LOVED Crosby Manitou and conquered the hard version at ages 6 and 8 1/2. William OBrienState Park75. It passes over spring-fed creeks and even travels past a small waterfall. The trail is pretty rough from the early melt and freeze. When Glia and I visited on a warm winter day, the snow was slushy and wet and the first part of the trail was lightly trafficked. The Minnesota State Parks Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. You can buy them in person or online for $35. There are 75 in total. It didnt take me long to find out that there are a lot of MN State Parks and it became hard to juggle them all. A Hiking Club kit can be purchased . Part of the hike is through the river bottoms of the Minnesota River. These were epic. Only hiking club trail miles count. Traction devices recommended! This page was last edited on 17 October 2020, at 09:38. 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