Category: South Minnesota Hikes

• Whitewater State Park

  

  Southern Minnesota has beautiful river bluffs. A wonderful place to experience them is at Whitewater State Park near Elba, Minnesota. If Elba is not familiar to you, perhaps you have heard of Rochester or Winona? This park is close to the midpoint between those two Minnesota cities. The Whitewater River carved a landscape that offers a variety of trail types. It also created a valley that no cell service has been able to penetrate yet.

  Tammy Nara

  January 1, 2023

  Hiking, SE Minnesota Hikes, South Minnesota Hikes

  emotional benefits of hiking, minnesota parks, nature, river bluffs, south minnesota, state parks, trails

• Carver Park Reserve

  

  I first wrote about this park in September of 2020. Over the past couple years I have returned multiple times to explore it further. It is a gem of Southern Minnesota between the towns of Victoria, Waconia, and St. Bonifacius. Driving 45 minutes southwest from my studio in Minneapolis will get me there (if traffic is running smoothly).

  Tammy Nara

  November 17, 2022

  Hiking, SE Minnesota Hikes, South Minnesota Hikes, Twin Cities HIkes

  carver county, loop trail, Minnesota hiking, minnesota parks, Suburban hiking, trails, Victoria Minnesota, Waconia, woods

• Flandrau State Park

  

  New Ulm, Minnesota is south of Hutchinson, west of Fairbault, north of Fairmont, and east of Walnut Grove. If you are familiar with Little House on the Prairie, you might remember Pa Ingalls making trips to Mankato now and then. Most likely he crossed the Minnesota river at New Ulm.

  Tammy Nara

  November 24, 2021

  Central Minnesota Hikes, Hiking, SE Minnesota Hikes, South Minnesota Hikes

  Hiking in Minnesota, In town, Minnesota state parks, New Ulm, River walk, southern minnesota, woods

• Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

  

  Solo camping trips. If you have never done one I highly recommend it. Unplugging from everyone and everything for a defined amount of time can be so healing. If you have lots of “stuff” in your emotional backpack it can get intense. I’ve unpacked and re-packed all that many times. This trip was just me enjoying re-connecting with the woods.

  Tammy Nara

  July 11, 2021

  South Minnesota Hikes

  fairbault, Hiking, Minnesota state parks, oak trees, prairie, racial concerns while camping, racial data outdoor activities, southern minnesota, trails, waterfalls

• Red Wing, Minnesota: Memorial Park

  

  I’ve been to this park before and was disappointed at the lack of longer trails, but this time I found them! Follow the park road all the way to the end. It is called “lower quarry”. I walked 5 miles (8 km) and did not get to all of the trails.

  Tammy Nara

  April 21, 2021

  Hiking, SE Minnesota Hikes, South Minnesota Hikes

  day hikes, Red Wing Minnesota, river bluffs, Spring