But they have been spotted in the Twin Cities before. Just stop by the park office to get it stamped. From the trail, you can stop at the top and look down at the spectacular views. This as my daughter would put it, is a lame swing set. Its about protecting what sustains us. While there are 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, only 68 of them have a designated hiking club trail. Along the Mound Trail, near an outcropping of rocks, are patches of Prickly Pair Cactus. Fun trail with a great overview of the lake! Why do they call it Blue Mounds State Park? This trail is one of the few handicap accessible hiking club trails. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. I highly recommend going either in the morning or evening hours to capture the sun on the cliffside. We really appreciate it! Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. Another western Minnesota State Park, the hiking club trail at Buffalo River State Park provides both riverside and prairie hiking. It has been postponed during Covid. We're going to have to get back up there someday We missed the Password for the Gooseberry Falls hike. Your email address will not be published. Trail is packed down . Slightly slushy but still perfect. 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! WhitewaterState Park73. The goal of the Hiking Club is to help Minnesotans get outside and explore new destinations within the state. I walk this trail with my 4 year old son and he loves it. All rights reserved. Park is basically closed but you can park and then hike or cross country ski. Zippel BayState Park. Hi! By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Every few years, a new bull (male) bison is brought in for herd diversity. From the SaintCroix Lodge follow the trail west past of the Paint Rock Springs Campground and the Old Logging Trail Campground. However, every dog is unique and while the author of this blog is a veterinarian, she is not your dog's veterinarian. After a short jaunt through woods, the trail goes by Beason Lake which would probably better be described as a pond. Half on snowmobile trail, half ungroomed. Located at the furthest corner of Southwestern Minnesota is Blue Mounds State Park in MN. When you complete the book, you get another one. The Minnesota State Parks Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. Below is a list of all 68 of Minnesotas Hiking Club Trails. Poles were super helpful, as long as they didnt sink off to the side. Pro Tip: Finding the Hiking Club Passwords is a great motivator to get younger kids to start hiking. This got reported a few times to the mods but I'm going to leave it. Each member of the hiking club gains awards as miles of hiking club trails are completed. The trails cover a wide range of difficulty and length. A few hours before we could drop the trailer, we decided to check it out. Like most of the MN State Parks, the hiking club trail at Blue Mounds takes you through the best parts of the park. Split Rock CreekState Park68. Ice packed snow & slushy. No fair saying where. When I purchased mine in 2018 there were 75, though that would include the 8 recreation areas since those are part of the passport program. John A. Latsch State Park37. I believe that theres a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to be discovered. I never promote things I dont stand behind. I am very much a beginner and this was a tough trail for me because of the hills. They will mail it back to you with a stamp included. To join the Hiking Club, you must purchase your hiking club book. Well packed, great for hiking or snowshoeing. Your email address will not be published. If you buy the annual pass, it must be displayed in the lower passenger side window in your vehicle. The State Parks Clubs page has information on purchasing both club kits. I didnt brave the stairs at the end however. Kate is the writer of Pawsitively Intrepid. Crow WingState Park14. Half of this was groomed. I thought maybe it was in the visitor building, but it was closed. Stairs are iced over, but still have some spots for you to get your footing. Segments of this hiking trail are shared with horses. If you are feeling adventurous, you can also take the trail into Levrune. Or which trail has groomed paths for winter hiking? Head over to our subscription page to submit your email to our newsletter list. The hiking club trail has a lot of breakaways and can easily be broken up into sections that are easier to manage. 75 reasons to join the MN State Parks Passport and MN Hiking Club. Blue Mounds State Park has a couple of areas for kids to play. More information about the program can be found. A Hiking Club kit can be purchased . The biggest draw to Blue Mounds State Park is the Sioux quartzite cliff line. Grab your permit online or at a park office. What is the MN State Parks Passport Club? This loop would have been very difficult to get through all of the snow if you didnt have snowshoes. I agree I get a little giddy each time I get a stamp . All 68 trails allow dogs, but factors that we consider for dog-friendliness include: For easier navigation of this blog post, state parks and recreation areas are in alphabetical order. The travel log is like a journal to take notes on your adventures! The permit expires on the Month you purchased the permit for the following year. Well packed for just hiking boots. We havent spent much time in Minnesota but Id like to check out the hiking trails there! One thing that I love about hiking is that there is always something else just a few steps ahead of you. Home | About Me | Contact Me | Blog | Disclaimer. This is such a huge milestone for me and the family. ScenicState Park65. Be ready to dodge some dog poop. Glacial Lakes State Park25. Frontenac State Park is a great place for a day of recreation. As its name suggests, the River Bluff Trail runs along the top of the bluff above the SaintCroix River. You can find more information as well as DNR maps here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/clubs.html. Are you the type of hikers that like to explore a variety of trails? Great views today! Thank you so much! just filled the random trail people made through the camps a bit after visiting the falls. 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. 1. an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You should check it out: http://banjosandbogs.blogspot.com/. The trail is pretty rough from the early melt and freeze. Wear YakTrax or some type of cleat and enjoy! }); Opt in to receive the monthly newsletter. If we havent convinced you to join yet, maybe you just need a little more information about the amazing hiking opportunities in Minnesota. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. If the office isnt open, dont worry. Big Bog State Recreation Area is located in northern Minnesota. Club registration form This form is for registering your Hiking Club or Passport Club membership. The passport costs $14.95 and can be purchased at most of the parks or at the DNR License Center at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. Manage Settings MN has some amazing State Parks. It is a bit icy now (mid-January) but its still worth the views. Related content to read next: Find even more Minnesota travel destinations and tips on my Minnesota travel page. The Minnesota Hiking Club: 68 Dog-Friendly Hiking Trails. The Hiking Club is run by the Minnesota DNR, the organization that manages the state parks and recreation areas. Press J to jump to the feed. Look for waterfowl in the pond. I didnt think it was possible until I spotted some on the trail. When you complete a hike, just record the park you hiked at, the password, and the distance you hike. I love going on hikes any chance I get. If the trails are open but the visitor building isn't I don't see any reason people should be penalized in the meantime. Besides the passport, you will also receive a travel log giving you the opportunity to document some of your favorite parts of the parks. I was wondering if you could let me know which one it is? For me, this is where the real beauty starts. A brief review of this park is included in our 5 Great Dog-Friendly State Parks in Southeastern Minnesota post. hiking, Hey, I am keeping virtually the same blog as you (documenting my Minnesota Hiking Club Travels and Travails). You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. 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. My name is Jenn. The trail is pretty rough from the early melt and freeze. 9 4 Minnesota United States of America North America Place 4 comments Best Add a Comment Some parts of the trails were pretty rough even with both. The trail is reported to provide great views of the lake and South Dakotas rolling hills. The Minnesota State Park's Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. Explore Minnesota State Park 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 downhill sections have ice underneath and require caution. Hello! She currently works full-time as a veterinarian, treating dogs and cats. Nerstrand Big WoodsState Park57. Otherwise, beautiful trail! MagneyState Park38. It has space and multiple tracks so there is a fair bit of sliding. Beautiful trail, double tracked and well groomed all the way around the island, especially considering the warmer weather recently. Disclaimer Notice: This website contains some general medical and behavior modification information for dogs. Afton is included in our 5 Dog-Friendly MN State Park Hikes along the St. Croix River post. Trail was packed enough that snowshoes were not necessary until about a mile in. Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. Required fields are marked *. Mine was about $15 and we purchased ours at the William OBrien State Park office. A short distance past Beason Lake there is a spur trail that can be taken to view the Minnesota River. The Hiking Club operates in a similar manner. The falls were amazing. If the passport and travel log arent cool enough, how about some free stuff? I appreciate it!Seven in ONE DAY? I absolutely LOVE this post. Ill need to hit this one again soon. We would greatly appreciate it. 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. This is down on the trail a little and not really marked. We did not hike to Wolf Creek Falls at this visit, but we recommend that you do. Look for it near the paper maps. While the heat may have restricted our movements, it left us Hiking at Blue Mounds State Park during the best time of day. Hard packed snow, deep just off to the side. All structured data from the file namespace is available under the. Franz JevneState Park21. Have fun with it!:). Garden Island State Recreation Area23. 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 Happy trails! Red River State Recreation Area59. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","abb382cd0f2bb7b1aada37f907bd0231");document.getElementById("cc774e7f41").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. It wasnt the most relaxing hike given the attentiveness required, but it was enjoyable regardless! This gives you a good piece of mind that you are on the Hiking Club Trail and not some offshoot. Nice level trail, well packed, but spikes are probably still a good idea. Beautiful trail! FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. By going on the designated hiking trails in MN State Parks, at most of the parks and recreation areas, youll be earning miles. The hiker will soon enter a prairie habitat. Perfect for winter hiking. This loop would have been very difficult to get through all of the snow if you didnt have snowshoes. 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. You can buy them in person or online for $35. The hiking club trails are designated on each state parks (or recreation areas) trail map. Once you get your passport, dont forget to bring it with you when you hit the trails! Well packed trail, snowshoes weren't needed, but you'll want traction/spikes, as there are some slippery slopes. Welcome toThis Big Wild Worldtravel blog! I didnt even know about the Passport Club! The landscape was beautiful even in the winter. Father HennepinState Park16. Grand Portage State Park28. Its about nourishment and learning. Beautiful views of the forest and river. stars Last Edited by renneranderson cross country skiied yesterday. February day. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. See Related: DIY Compression Stuff Sack for Camping. If you purchase a permit on June 1st this year, you have until June 30th of the following year to explore. An easy hike is to High Falls, cascading 60 ft over the basalt cliffs. Im not going to sugarcoat it, they could have done better. Still pretty icy and muddy. Yaktraks are a must!! What outdoor adventures are on your Minnesota bucket list? Easy hike out and back. Hayes LakeState Park31. . Snowshoed it. Questions? link to The Epic Road Trip to Alaska: Is it dog friendly? It is very useful for me. There is a beautiful paved bike path from the picnic area, all the way to the entrance to the southernmost part of the park. MinneopaState Park52. Did out and back instead of loop due to deep snow. In the winter, the ice on the quarry walls look like frozen waterfalls. 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