Frontenac State Park is a great place for a day of recreation. hiking, Hey, I am keeping virtually the same blog as you (documenting my Minnesota Hiking Club Travels and Travails). I dont usually leave comments on these types of things, but this is such a fantastic and informative article about the hiking club and how accessible the trails will be for dogs! Write the password in your Hiking Club book, along with the park name and the distance you hiked. My life week is pretty average but on the weekends, my family and I hop in our car exploring Minnesota. Well packed, but icy in some places, traction/spikes are helpful, snowshoes aren't needed though. Lots of deer on the move and visible. 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. Great hike. Well, did you know that you can step across the tiny creek that marks the beginning of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park (which I chose as the. After stamping 25 parks, you will get a certificate for a free night of camping and a pin. Trail was pretty The next morning, around 7:30 we went back and could enjoy ourselves a little more. St. Croix State ParkState Park62. Using the filters, you can identify which MN State Park Hiking Club Trail is less than 2 hrs from Minneapolis. There is usually a stamp in the self-serve area outside of the office or near the entrance to the park. Nerstrand Big WoodsState Park57. 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. For more info, visit this page. Hiding near the Camping area of the park is a man-made dam, creating Upper Mound Lake. You're very welcome! Mine was about $15 and we purchased ours at the William OBrien State Park office. I took my 8 and 10 year old and they had a blast. Start by purchasing a Hiking Club book for $14.95 at any state park Nature Store (or online at dnr.state.mn.us) or by calling Gooseberry Falls State Park at 218-595-7101. In the winter, the ice on the quarry walls look like frozen waterfalls. The Minnesota State Parks Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. Did you download your free Blue Mounds State Park Map yet from Avenza? FlandrauState Park17. From the trail, you can stop at the top and look down at the spectacular views. Beautiful trail! The MN State Park Passport Program is great for those that love to explore but maybe need a reason to go see them all! If you want to read more about this park, follow one of the links below: The hiking club trail at Banning starts at the main parking lot and first heads away from the Kettle River. Nevertheless the woods is breathtakingly thick and beautiful. }); Do you identify as a female and blog about the outdoors? But you can purchase your Hiking Club book at any Nature Store. What outdoor adventures are on your Minnesota bucket list? MagneyState Park38. We really enjoyed it. Segments of this hiking trail are shared with horses. Its got so much to offer and, because its off of most peoples radar, you can enjoy more nature with less crowds. Yes, the park was beautiful. I recommend bringing a pair of binoculars to hike with as the Bison often dont go up against the fence. Interested in receiving monthly updates from Pawsitively Intrepid? When you complete the book, you get another one. Each time I visit a park, I give out trail descriptions and tips. Your email address will not be published. Bear Head LakeState Park4. 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. Taking Children This hike is well suited to including children. Or that you can go whitewater rafting at Jay Cooke State Park? Trail was good soft snow in some areas with mostly hard packed trail the rest of the way. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. The trail can be flooded or muddy especially in the springtime. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Easy in all seasons. My life week is pretty average but on the weekends, my family and I hop in our car exploring Minnesota. I was just doing research for my project this year, which is to photograph all of the State Parks and Rec Areas, and also complete the Hiking Club book. 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. Youll go past waterfalls, through woods and prairie, discover wildflowers, and maybe even spot wildlife. Along the way, youll earn free nights of camping and patches! Lake BemidjiState Park42. Normally the State Park has Prairie and Bison Tour. 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. Very well groomed though, and lots of people out enjoying the area. Upper Sioux AgencyState Park72. The Minnesota State Park's Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. On the first day of Spring and Fall, the sunrise aligns perfectly with these rocks. Well packed, great for hiking or snowshoeing. Welcome toThis Big Wild Worldtravel blog! It is very useful for me. Well maintained and easy follow path. In this case, almost across the entire thing. Just stop by the park office to get it stamped. You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. The Minnesota State Park Hiking Club includes trails in 68 state parks scattered across the state and more than 175 miles worth of walking/hiking in those parks to help get a solid idea of what each state park has to offer. A Hiking Club kit can be purchased . I'll reply asap! Can you help us out for our Hiking Club book? an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly that love and read more on this topic. BUT absolutely worth the effort, such a beautiful hike, I would do it again in the same conditions again. A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. They were just starting to bud when we got there. During the morning hours. InterstateState Park33. The goal of the Hiking Club is to help Minnesotans get outside and explore new destinations within the state. BanningState Park3. Present your log at any state park office to get your patches and certificates for free nights of camping! It has space and multiple tracks so there is a fair bit of sliding. I took my 8 and 10 year old and they had a blast. If the passport and travel log arent cool enough, how about some free stuff? Id still secretly love it now too. Its about protecting what sustains us. Stairs ARE slippery! 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. Does anyone know what it is? Segments of this hiking trail are shared with horses. I like the idea of the passport too. Ended up turning around . Luckily the trail was relatively flat and soon we emerged on the heavier use portion of the hiking club trail. We had some ce cleats on and had no problems. Warm & gorgeous for. The landscape was beautiful even in the winter. The trail is well marked with hiking club signs. Nice winter hike. I loved getting to explore some of the trails, including the bike area. Shortly before the one-mile mark the trail leaves the pond area begins its loop; stay to the left at the fork. Garden Island State Recreation Area23. I just picked up both the hiking club and passport club kits yesterday while I was at Minnepoa State Park. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Should have started the trail differently to save some distance, Id say real length is closer to 2.5 miles. going counter clockwise there was one hill going down toward the river that we walked down. Myre Big IslandState Park56. Today you can see Bison, Coyotes, and deer reside in the park. You park at the gate and walk about 1/2 mile to the trail. Your email address will not be published. Half on snowmobile trail, half ungroomed. The hiking is 24.4 miles alone! Manage Settings If you buy the annual pass, it must be displayed in the lower passenger side window in your vehicle. Just stop by the park office to get it stamped. Our dogs had a blast, Trail is good but very icy. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. I plan on picking up a passport at our first park this year! I believe that theres a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to be discovered. Dont stress out, you can still get your passport stamped still. Grand Portage State Park28. 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. They cost $35. The parent in me was going worst-case scenario and wondering how badly they could hurt themselves. Or which trail is under 2 miles for those just starting out? Did you find this article helpful? Buffalo RiverState Park9. Buy a day pass or get an annual pass for just $35 (which is a bargain!). The Minnesota State Parks Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. Big Bog State Recreation Area is located in northern Minnesota. Just like the Parks Passport Program, it costs $14.95. Beginning at the Trail Center, at the five corners intersection, turn left onto the Munger Boundary Trail. Lake CarlosState Park44. You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. Click on the picture below to get your copy. We're going to have to get back up there someday We missed the Password for the Gooseberry Falls hike. A place to discuss camping and backpacking in the great state of Minnesota! St. Croix Island State Recreation Area61. Minneopa Falls, Bison and so much more at Minneopa State Park, 75 reasons to join the MN State Parks Passport and MN Hiking Club, Minnesota State Park Pass Hacks, Tips, and Free Days, 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. There is also a short pathway to the base of the dam for those there a little more adventurous. To earn credit for a hike, you must hike the entire hiking club trail and watch for a sign with the password for that hike. If you buy the annual pass, it must be displayed in the lower passenger side window in your vehicle. Our dogs had a blast, Trail is good but very icy. Any other time and you are risking heatstroke. Beautiful trail, double tracked and well groomed all the way around the island, especially considering the warmer weather recently. No one else on the trail. The other half was packed Down from snow shoes. Be ready to dodge some dog poop. This is such a huge milestone for me and the family. The falls in the town of Sandstone is also lovely and typically there are very few other hikers at that location. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also take the trail into Levrune. 75 Reasons to Love Hiking in Minnesota (How to Join the MN State Parks Passport Club). Stairs ARE slippery! Beautiful! Of all of the places Ive lived, Minnesota has the most strong and welcoming outdoor adventure community, making it easy to connect with like-minded outdoor adventurers. Savanna PortageState Park64. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. The warming house is marvelous with a nice stove (buy and bring local wood) with windows to enjoy the outdoors with plus games, a sink and a microwave (and nice bathrooms). Highly recommend. I was wondering if you could let me know which one it is? Ill need to hit this one again soon. 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! The hiking club trail at Blue Mounds State Park takes visitors to the top of the cliff line. Beautiful hiking here today, very low crowds because of the Super Bowl and the temps were around 40 with no wind and sunshine. My name is Jenn. Along the Mound Trail, near an outcropping of rocks, are patches of Prickly Pair Cactus. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. While the heat may have restricted our movements, it left us Hiking at Blue Mounds State Park during the best time of day. Wore trax instead of snowshoes & was thankful for that. I didnt brave the stairs at the end however. The trail was well marked, though there were so many other little splits off of it that with the snow, it wouldve been difficult to navigate without the all trails app. Its about nourishment and learning. Pro Tip: Track your progress with a Push Pin Map of Minnesota! FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Make sure to stop near mound creek. Thank you so much for writing it! Glia and I joined the Minnesota Hiking Club in December 2019, so if you are reading this post in 2020, you will see a list of state parks and trail lengths with minimal information about each trail. It wont take long before you realize you are already collecting your first reward. Ice packed snow & slushy. Edit Show More. You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. Perfectly packed down trails. How much does it cost to get into MN State Parks? We could not find the MN Hiking Club password! Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. Eagle Rock is a tall rock in the middle of the prairie, but what makes it unique is if you are standing there you can see Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota, all at once. Mountain biking through St Croix State Park provides a great opportunity to see the park's wildlife and wooded forests. We started off at the Southern parking area, near the closed visitors center. 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. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository, Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents, Hiking Club Password Sign - Banning State Park, Minnesota (34340927883).jpg. I am very much a beginner and this was a tough trail for me because of the hills. The hiking club trail at Blue Mounds State Park takes visitors to the top of the cliff line. If you purchase a permit on June 1st this year, you have until June 30th of the following year to explore. Each one sleeps up to 6 people. Forestville/Mystery CaveState Park18. Always great to connect with others from the area. If you cant get enough of hiking in Minnesota and make it to all 75 state parks and recreation areas, you earn another free night of camping plus a personalized MN State Parks Passport Club plaque. This is just the beginning of the summer. I cant believe I didnt know about the passport club until recently either! Ice right at the beginning that was difficult to climb up with spikes but its just a couple patches and then the rest of the trail was great. Each member of the hiking club gains awards as miles of hiking club trails are completed. HAVE not found this much unfo elsewhere. Glacial Lakes State Park25. Gooseberry FallsState Park27. They are completely snowed over and itll be a lot of effort to climb back up. I agree that Minnesota is totally underrated for outdoor adventures. Does anyone know what it is? All I can say is, Blue Mounds State Park did an amazing job at making nature fun for kids. With the heat reaching 98 degrees, we made it as far as the rock before turning back to the safety of the air-conditioned car. When you have hiked all miles/all 68 hiking club trails, you received a final patch, another free night of camping, and an engraved plaque commemorating your achievement. Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. Clicking on them doesnt cost you anything. While there are 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, only 68 of them have a designated hiking club trail. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. St. Croix River at Wild River MN State Park. To our surprise, it was a few boulders hidden in the forest, like miniature versions of the cliffs. I highly recommend going either in the morning or evening hours to capture the sun on the cliffside. Dog are allowed on the trail when on a leash. It works by taking the same MN State Parks maps you used to and placing your GPS position on top of it. Try this 1.1-mile loop trail near Sunburg, Minnesota. 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. Great for snowshoeing. That means that if you purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Only hiking club trail miles count. Watch for thin ice if trying to get close. Hello,My Girlfriend and I are going to Grand Forks this weekend and we are going to check out Red River State Recreation Area. Blue MoundsState Park8. The other half was packed Down from snow shoes. Snowshoed it. stars Last Edited by renneranderson Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. A few hours before we could drop the trailer, we decided to check it out. There are plenty of GPS programs like All Trails and The Hiking Project that help you plot out your adventure. Lots of deer on the move and visible. I walk this trail with my 4 year old son and he loves it. It starts at the park office and travels NW. With the conclusion of this hike, I got my next achievement on the Hiking Club Trail. 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. Part of the hike is through the river bottoms of the Minnesota River. Some parts of the trails were pretty rough even with both. The biggest draw to Blue Mounds State Park is the Sioux quartzite cliff line. Ill need to hit this one again soon. Trail was packed down well. Its a short trail from the parking lot and campground, making it easy for anyone to do. The park is also home to a number of attractions, including a nature center and a playground. Enjoy this spot!!! This is a list of all of Minnesota's State Park Hiking Club trails. cross country skiied yesterday. Its amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it. The mystery still lingers about how they got there or who put them there. Goes along a snowmobile trail for a short section, but it's plenty wide, so no concerns. Like most of Minnesota's State Parks, these parks are all between 1-2 hours apart and short hiking distances, making it easy to visit multiple destinations A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. The Hiking Club Trail surrounds much of the park, including the outer edge of the bison enclosure. Are there bears in Blue Mounds State Park? During the summer months, the top of the cactus is topped with bright yellow flowers. This as my daughter would put it, is a lame swing set. Throughout the year, there are a few free days and other discounts you can check out too. That sounds like an awesome project! Beware horse apples! I never promote things I dont stand behind. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area15. Explore MN Hiking Club Trails - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Some trails are 1 mile and some are 6 miles, but they all are beautiful and well worth the exercise. Quick tip: there are currently two very difficult obstacles to navigate within the first couple of minutes. But if you go to Grand Portage, hike past the hiking club trail. But the one thing they are missing is the MN State Park Trails. Afton is included in our 5 Dog-Friendly MN State Park Hikes along the St. Croix River post. The 97-degree temperatures meant we didnt do any hiking until early morning or late at night. A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. Required fields are marked *. Cascade RiverState Park12. Franz JevneState Park21. The trail is pretty rough from the early melt and freeze. To get a better look at the cliffs, make sure to do the Quarry Loop Trail. Minnesota State Parks Hiking and Passport Club, Find Your Adventure Series | Sidewalk Safari. They are typically well-labeled on the trail itself also. This is a lovely part of the trail, offering views of scenic rocky quarry walls and interesting historical buildings. Want adventure in your inbox every month? 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. 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 permit expires on the Month you purchased the permit for the following year. description. Beautiful trail. Do you know if we lost one at some point? Youll need Avenza Maps if you plan on hiking.

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