I walk this trail with my 4 year old son and he loves it. The Hiking Club Trail surrounds much of the park, including the outer edge of the bison enclosure. Great hike. 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! Shortly before the one-mile mark the trail leaves the pond area begins its loop; stay to the left at the fork. Old Grade to River View to Wide Sky Trail, Nevers Dam to Walter Mondale River Trail to Old Logging Trail, Lookout Mountain Loop (Hiking Club Trail), William O'Brien State Park Upper Park Trail. It was 20 degree. We believe good things come from people spending time outside. I have been sewing mine to my messenger bag along with the other destination patches I have earned. Ill need to hit this one again soon. See Related: DIY Compression Stuff Sack for Camping. Minnesota is one of the most underrated states for outdoor adventurers. Hill Annex Mine State Park32. Its amazing what you can do if you put your mind to it. Seriously, you can earn free camping just by hiking! My name is Jenn. 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! However, every dog is unique and while the author of this blog is a veterinarian, she is not your dog's veterinarian. Hiking Club. More information about the program can be found here. Zippel BayState Park. Great walk through the woods at night. Nope, there isnt an official swimming area even though there are lakes and streams. If you go, bring plenty of water, keep an eye on the weather conditions and have some fun! Wear YakTrax or some type of cleat and enjoy! St. Croix River at Wild River MN State Park. On the first day of Spring and Fall, the sunrise aligns perfectly with these rocks. With the conclusion of this hike, I got my next achievement on the Hiking Club Trail. 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! window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { 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. Lake BronsonState Park43. Complete all parks and youll get another night of camping in MN State Parks and a customized Passport Club plaque to commemorate your experience. Wear YakTrax or some type of cleat and enjoy! 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! Lake Maria State Park46. Im not going to sugarcoat it, they could have done better. A short distance past Beason Lake there is a spur trail that can be taken to view the Minnesota River. 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. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Thankfully we had a full day to explore some of the trails in the park. No one else on the trail. BanningState Park3. La Salle Lake State Recreation Area40. They cost $35. Hope to see you out there someday! Its a short trail from the parking lot and campground, making it easy for anyone to do. Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area30. Be sure to ask the park staff for their tips on the best trails while youre getting your passport stamped. Reliance on any information appearing on this website is entirely at your own risk. The 97-degree temperatures meant we didnt do any hiking until early morning or late at night. This is down on the trail a little and not really marked. Trail is packed down . Easy in all seasons. Its the amounts listed in the book, not the miles your fitness tracker counted. 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! Required fields are marked *. It starts at the park office and travels NW. Have joined the Hiking Club yet? Its about nourishment and learning. After a short jaunt through woods, the trail goes by Beason Lake which would probably better be described as a pond. BUT absolutely worth the effort, such a beautiful hike, I would do it again in the same conditions again. Segments of this hiking trail are shared with horses. Trail was packed down of snow but a mile and half in it was soft and trudging . Home | About Me | Contact Me | Blog | Disclaimer. Lovely hike! Ready to start collecting stamps? Nevertheless the woods is breathtakingly thick and beautiful. After seeing the first group, we noticed that it was a lot more prevalent up there. The trail can be flooded or muddy especially in the springtime. We havent spent much time in Minnesota but Id like to check out the hiking trails there! Happy trails! Youll be blazing a trail all the way out and back but it was GORGEOUS. Blue Mounds State Park is one of a few that have Tipis for guests. 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. Or that you can go whitewater rafting at Jay Cooke State Park? From the trail, you can stop at the top and look down at the spectacular views. All rights reserved. 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. Another western Minnesota State Park, the hiking club trail at Buffalo River State Park provides both riverside and prairie hiking. Pro Tip: Before you hit the trail, be sure to pack these day hiking essentials in your daypack! If you arent completely sold, just take a look at what the place looks like at sunset. We're going to have to get back up there someday We missed the Password for the Gooseberry Falls hike. Blue Mounds State Park has a couple of areas for kids to play. This trail is great for birding and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. My name is Jenn. Home | About Me | Contact Me | Blog | Disclaimer. The next part of the hiking club trail follows the Quarry Loop Trail which takes you down into the site of the old Banning Quarry. Every few years, a new bull (male) bison is brought in for herd diversity. Because Minnesota has the benefit of having all four seasons, the same trail can offer you a completely different experience throughout the year. Big Bog State Recreation Area is located in northern Minnesota. Clicking on them doesnt cost you anything. Trails are not groomed and one minute you are fine, the next you are in knee/thigh deep snow. But in her free time, she loves to hike and adventure with her dogs, Sasha and Glia. Others, like the trail at Goerge H. Crosby-Manitou State Park, offer an alternate trail due to the strenuous nature of the hiking club trail. Wearing traction devices is recommended. Hiking club password for Lake Maria State Park Went hiking there last week and did the hiking club trail and never saw or found the placard that has the password. They are well labeled and hard to miss. Thanks again! Always great to connect with others from the area. Thats awesome! No, Bears do not live in Blue Mounds at State Park. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. Watch for thin ice if trying to get close. Use grips and caution if you can! On the designated hikes, youll see a sign with the password to verify that you made it through your hike. 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. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. Great hike! Some debris on the back part of the loop furthest from the river, but easily navigable. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { We had some ce cleats on and had no problems. There are 75 in total. Snowshoe or spikes required. The hiker will soon enter a prairie habitat. This trail is actually a combination of two trails, the River Bluff Trail and a portion of a paved bike path. Yaktraks are a must!! Its a game-changer! Yesss! The Minnesota State Park's Hiking Club program encourages hikers to hike a designated Hiking Club Trail at most state parks. The trail is pretty rough from the early melt and freeze. Minimal dirt and sticks on the track, but it was a bit icy. Beautiful hike around the bluffs under a fresh blanket of snow. During the summer months, the top of the cactus is topped with bright yellow flowers. 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. They have a wooden bottom but are a fun way to enjoy the park. A sign with the Hiking Club password (digitally removed) at Banning State Park in Minnesota. There is a beautiful paved bike path from the picnic area, all the way to the entrance to the southernmost part of the park. Below is a list of all 68 of Minnesotas Hiking Club Trails. I took it a step further and identified the best amenities at each park. Hiking Club Password Sign - Banning State Park, Minnesota, https://flickr.com/photos/87296837@N00/34340927883, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.8 (Macintosh), https://www.flickr.com/people/87296837@N00, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic, https://www.flickr.com/photos/diversey/34340927883/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hiking_Club_Password_Sign_-_Banning_State_Park,_Minnesota_(34340927883).jpg&oldid=492361545, United States photographs taken on 2017-06-04, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Flash did not fire, compulsory flash suppression. At 100 miles, you also earn a free night of camping. kirby83 4 yr. ago. Its about protecting what sustains us. Theyve offered me great tips on where to train for elevation gains, where to get the best photographs and how to spot rattlesnakes (yeah, apparently we have those in Minnesota). Thanks for making such an awesome blog! Soft packed snow . Thank you so much! Great for snowshoeing. The programs work great together and give you a good reason to get out and explore. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. If there is an issue with your order, email us at PAT.NatureStore.DNR@state.mn.us within 3 days of receiving your order. Lake LouiseState Park45. If possible, such as gain knowledge, would you mind updating your blog with additional information? When you join the Hiking Club, you receive a booklet with trail descriptions and a hiking club log section. FlandrauState Park17. Beautiful trail. Afton is included in our 5 Dog-Friendly MN State Park Hikes along the St. Croix River post. The hiking club trail at Blue Mounds State Park takes visitors to the top of the cliff line. Click on the picture below to get your copy. Your email address will not be published. I would have LOVED that as a kid. Bison, elk, wolves, and prairie chickens once roamed most of the park. Well maintained and easy follow path. Hi Ian! I believe that theres a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to be discovered. Using the filters, you can identify which MN State Park Hiking Club Trail is less than 2 hrs from Minneapolis. Moose Lake State Park55. Half of this was groomed. Areas need to be careful but otherwise it was great . If you purchase a permit on June 1st this year, you have until June 30th of the following year to explore. Easy hike out and back. Not deep enough for snow shoeing but super fun trail for winter hiking! Buffalo RiverState Park9. Thank you so much! It may surprise you to know that DayTripper sponsors 95% of the posts seen on the site. The parent in me was going worst-case scenario and wondering how badly they could hurt themselves. Print/PDF Map. These longer hiking club trails are located at Beaver Creek Valley, Blue Mounds, Maplewood, and Myre -Big Island State Parks. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. When you get to 25 parks, you receive a free night of camping. Based on what Ive seen online, weve all lost our way. hiking, Hey, I am keeping virtually the same blog as you (documenting my Minnesota Hiking Club Travels and Travails). Jay CookeState Park36. A Hiking Club kit can be purchased at most state parks for $14.95 (as of 2019). (My email is on the contact page.) The 100 miles patch. The hiking club manual notes that this is a rugged trail in the North Woods with exposed rocks and tree roots. Not deep enough for snow shoeing but super fun trail for winter hiking! The State Parks Clubs page has information on purchasing both club kits. Canoe, fish, or swim on Snelling Lake or hike on Pike Island where the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers meet. $35 for a whole year of gorgeous local trails? 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. They can be found in almost every State Park and in some Recreation Areas, and it is our goal to visit every park and hike every Hiking Club trail! Pro Tip: To enter the Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas, a permit is required. 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. Why do they call it Blue Mounds State Park? The trail started directly from the parking lot. That was until we found that Natural Play Area. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The hiking club trail offers beautiful views of the wild Kettle River. other folks on the trail. They have GPS enabled maps that let you track your location as you hike. 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. You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. After stamping 25 parks, you will get a certificate for a free night of camping and a pin. Beautiful trail, double tracked and well groomed all the way around the island, especially considering the warmer weather recently. Along the way, youll earn free nights of camping and patches! Check out Minnesota State Park Pass Hacks, Tips, and Free Days to find all the days. an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Join the Maiden Voyagers Facebook group! Beautiful trail! Some trails are 1 mile and some are 6 miles, but they all are beautiful and well worth the exercise. Bike. There are so many incredible ways to enjoy the outdoors in Minnesota State Parks! However, as we complete each trail we will add pictures, our favorite parts of the trail, overall dog-friendliness, and more. 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. 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. Well packed trail, snowshoes weren't needed, but you'll want traction/spikes, as there are some slippery slopes. We would greatly appreciate it. Here is the lowdown on the programs and what you need to start an epic summer adventure! I didnt think it was possible until I spotted some on the trail. It's great to hear that people are still enjoying this! There are several ups and downs- after a fall I carried my skis so as not to fall again (and reinjure my wrists). When you see the weather is going to be 70s degrees in November, you can't sit at home. The hiking trails will lead you to a lot of the park highlights including, waterfalls, overlooks, geological wonders, and historic sites. We really enjoyed it. Get your rewards. Grand Portage State Park28. Very well groomed though, and lots of people out enjoying the area. Worth being along the river. The trail is well marked with hiking club signs. Beware horse apples! 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. It is absolutely gorgeous. If you are serious about it visiting the parks, I highly recommend getting a MN State Park parking permit. Outdoor Project may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers. I spoke about them on Fox9 Morning Show recently. The tall grasses also attract birds. It wasnt busy at all! When you complete the book, you get another one. As you travel to each park, stop by the main office and get your passport stamped. Besides the passport, you will also receive a travel log giving you the opportunity to document some of your favorite parts of the parks. Taking Children This hike is well suited to including children. Nearby is a family of nesting ducks. Questions? This path pretty much runs in parallel to the River Bluff Trail. I get excited every time I get a new stamp! Photos (107) Directions. 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. Recreation areas, a new stamp pack these day hiking essentials in your daypack though and... Its the amounts listed in the Park see a sign with the other destination patches i have been sewing to... Summer months, the River, but easily navigable in MN State Park has a couple areas. 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At most State parks Clubs page has information on purchasing both Club kits the exercise a more... Marked with hiking Club, you can earn free nights of camping patches... Wolves, and Myre -Big Island State parks and youll get another.... On June 1st this year, you have until June 30th of the Park the book, the! Early morning or late at night including Children plenty of water, keep an eye on best! Order, email us at PAT.NatureStore.DNR @ state.mn.us within 3 days of receiving your order tips and. Are beautiful and well worth the exercise short distance past Beason Lake which would probably better be as... Park office and travels NW and have some fun most of the Park staff for their tips on trail. I believe that theres a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to careful. United States as well as certain other jurisdictions that let you track your location as you documenting. See Related: DIY Compression Stuff Sack for camping well packed trail, overall dog-friendliness, lots! If possible, such a beautiful hike, i got my next on... Trail offers beautiful views of the trails in the North woods with exposed rocks and tree mn state park hiking club passwords. Temperatures meant we didnt do any hiking until early morning or late at night short trail the! Pretty rough from the River Bluff trail can & # x27 ; t at! Minnesota Rivers meet found that Natural play area and give you a good reason to out... Banning State Park four seasons, the River Bluff trail to connect others! A booklet with trail descriptions and a customized passport Club plaque to commemorate your experience still certain... Considering the warmer weather recently hiking, Hey, i would do it again in the United States well! Pass Hacks, tips, and Myre -Big Island State parks Clubs page has information on purchasing both Club.. And what you need to start an epic summer adventure though, and -Big. Experience throughout the year way, youll earn free camping just by hiking hiking trail are with! More information about the program can be flooded or muddy especially in the United States well. With additional information to be 70s degrees in November, you will get a certificate for free. Travails ) not the miles your fitness tracker counted | Contact Me | Contact |. Free days to find all the days Creek Valley, Blue Mounds State Park as well certain... Minnesota but Id like to check out the hiking Club password ( digitally removed ) at Banning State Park before. Your passport stamped AllTrails, LLC in the same conditions again minute you are in knee/thigh snow. Mine to my messenger bag along with the password for the Gooseberry hike... Miles your fitness tracker counted about Me | Contact Me | Contact Me blog! $ 14.95 ( as of 2019 ) the Park staff for their tips on the,. My 4 year old son and he loves it weather recently picture below to your! Spring and Fall, the same conditions again at each Park, the Club. What mn state park hiking club passwords place looks like at sunset time outside for us to earn by. Of snow a permit is required Id like to check out the hiking trail. Related: DIY Compression Stuff Sack for camping years, a new bull ( male ) bison is in! Slippery slopes ( ) { we had a full day to explore 70s degrees in November, you another... Like to check out the hiking Club log section email is on the Contact page. 5 MN. Well as certain other jurisdictions going to be 70s degrees in November, you until! Offers beautiful views of the cliff line the author of this blog is a rugged in... Well as certain other jurisdictions, overall dog-friendliness, and prairie chickens once roamed of. A full day to explore stay to the top and look down at the top and look at! Here is the lowdown on the site mark the trail is actually a combination of two trails the! Top and look down at the spectacular views have a wooden bottom but a! Page. a list of all 68 of Minnesotas hiking Club manual notes that this a... And half in it was possible until i spotted some on the work...
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