function ml_webform_success_2601308(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-2601308 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-2601308 .row-form").hide()} Use grips and caution if you can! The trails cover a wide range of difficulty and length. To our surprise, it was a few boulders hidden in the forest, like miniature versions of the cliffs. The rewards for the hiking club are based on the number of miles youve completed. 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. I would have LOVED that as a kid. SchoolcraftState Park66. Weve been to a few state parks, but it would be a dream to spend the whole summer checking out all of these spectacular parks! 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. As its name suggests, the River Bluff Trail runs along the top of the bluff above the SaintCroix River. Every few years, a new bull (male) bison is brought in for herd diversity. The falls in the town of Sandstone is also lovely and typically there are very few other hikers at that location. Winter hiking, the trail is not plowed. 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. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area15. (My email is on the contact page.) Well packed, great for hiking or snowshoeing. All the best! Once you get your passport, dont forget to bring it with you when you hit the trails! well packed. 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! Very well groomed though, and lots of people out enjoying the area. In this case, almost across the entire thing. Forestville/Mystery CaveState Park18. Fromepic hikes around the worldto adventures closer to my home inMinnesota, Im here to help you discover what adventure means to you! I agree I get a little giddy each time I get a stamp . Get a passport for a friend, bring them along on your hikes, and earn 2 nights between you for a free weekend of camping! This trip report will be a 2 part post, highlighting our tour of the final Minnesota State Park Hiking Club Trails in my book, covering 974 miles and 7 Parks! Its about more than standing on the mountain top. 5 Tips to Enjoy the Minnesota State Park Hiking Club Youll need Avenza Maps if you plan on hiking. If we havent convinced you to join yet, maybe you just need a little more information about the amazing hiking opportunities in Minnesota. I absolutely LOVE this post. Stairs ARE slippery! $35 for a whole year of gorgeous local trails? One thing that I love about hiking is that there is always something else just a few steps ahead of you. Taking Children This hike is well suited to including children. For more information about joining the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Hiking Club, visit the MN DNR website. Well packed trail, snowshoes weren't needed, but you'll want traction/spikes, as there are some slippery slopes. Happy trails! Wear YakTrax or some type of cleat and enjoy! Its about nourishment and learning. Snowshoes not really needed - we just did it in our ice cleats. If possible, such as gain knowledge, would you mind updating your blog with additional information? CamdenState Park10. Hard-packed and significantly icy trail; some sort of traction is recommended! It is a bit icy now (mid-January) but its still worth the views. The Epic Road Trip to Alaska: Is it dog friendly? Ready to start collecting stamps? I cant believe I didnt know about the passport club until recently either! If its not at the park, you can mail in your passport to Park Office in St Pauls office and let them know the date you were there and that you could not get the stamp. I hope this gets you off on the right foot! Highly recommend. We havent spent much time in Minnesota but Id like to check out the hiking trails there! Nearby is a family of nesting ducks. You can find more information as well as DNR maps here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/clubs.html. Thanks for the great writeups, Elly. After seeing the first group, we noticed that it was a lot more prevalent up there. Thank you so much! InterstateState Park33. The Middle Falls Trail is spectacular. Traction devices recommended! Look for it near the paper maps. The Hiking Club Trail (see the end of this article for information about the Hiking Club) at the Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area is a 3.3-mileloop trail. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park69. One of the interesting things that were found at Blue Mounds State Park is the Rock Alignment. See Related: DIY Compression Stuff Sack for Camping. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you love camping and hiking, you've probably considered a trip to Alaska. Poles were super helpful, as long as they didnt sink off to the side. That means that if you purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Make sure to check out my newest guide on Enjoying the Hike Again. Not skate ski friendly. We only spend the day there, but we have an amazing time. Bottom half of the trail was a little less interesting and less packed down - snowshoes might have been helpful. The shortest trails are those at Grand Portage and Monson Lake State Park both are 1.0 mile in length. We really appreciate it! 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. Lake CarlosState Park44. window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { I get excited every time I get a new stamp! We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Buffalo RiverState Park9. Hello, fellow Minnesotan! Beautiful views of the forest and river. I had the opportunity to spend a night there during one of the hottest days of the summer. We're going to have to get back up there someday We missed the Password for the Gooseberry Falls hike. WhitewaterState Park73. Each one sleeps up to 6 people. Traction devices recommended! Why do they call it Blue Mounds State Park? The mystery still lingers about how they got there or who put them there. A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. Blue MoundsState Park8. Great hike. Look for waterfowl in the pond. From epic hikes around the world to adventures closer to my home in Minnesota, Im here to help you discover what adventure means to you! I appreciate it!Seven in ONE DAY? Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area30. Beaver Creek ValleyState Park5. Disclaimer Notice: This website contains some general medical and behavior modification information for dogs. Trail is well packed down - at least the top half. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. It is absolutely gorgeous. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Welcome toThis Big Wild Worldtravel blog! Quick tip: there are currently two very difficult obstacles to navigate within the first couple of minutes. If you go, bring plenty of water, keep an eye on the weather conditions and have some fun! I'll look up the info when I get home this afternoonmy book is already packed for the next adventure. Areas need to be careful but otherwise it was great . Hi Jonas, it looks like the Hiking Club trail starts with the River Heights trail. This post is sponsored by DayTripper. I have been sewing mine to my messenger bag along with the other destination patches I have earned. No one else on the trail. Does anyone know what it is? Dog are allowed on the trail when on a leash. The cliffs were formed on the bottom of an ancient sea. Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription. Its the amounts listed in the book, not the miles your fitness tracker counted. kirby83 4 yr. ago. Manage Settings Kids have so much more fun when they get to play in natural environments, so I was excited to see what the park had in store. Hoping to do the newest trail at LaSalle Lake State recreation area this summer. Beware horse apples! going counter clockwise there was one hill going down toward the river that we walked down. 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. I am very much a beginner and this was a tough trail for me because of the hills. 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. February day. Since this factor is so variable, it will be scored in half points. Each member of the hiking club gains awards as miles of hiking club trails are completed. Photos (107) Directions. This ended up being beneficial because the downed trees/limbs required frequent high stepping, crouching, weaving and variations of a squat-walk. Stamp any piece of paper you can find and paste it into your book. On the designated hikes, youll see a sign with the password to verify that you made it through your hike. Fort RidgelyState Park19. Trails were groomed for skate ski but not classic ski. A place to discuss camping and backpacking in the great state of Minnesota! Hard packed snow, deep just off to the side. Beautiful! If not, they will post a sign telling you where to go. Great views today! They were just starting to bud when we got there. Parking for this hike is located between of Jordan and Belle Plaine at the Lawrence Unit Trail Center. Trail was packed enough that snowshoes were not necessary until about a mile in. The Minnesota State Park's Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. Buy a day pass or get an annual pass for just $35 (which is a bargain!). The longest hiking club trails are 6.2 miles in length. More information about the program can be found. 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. 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). The first is a playground near the picnic area. Wearing traction devices is recommended. Segments of this hiking trail are shared with horses. 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.