Tag: Minnesota hiking
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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).
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Superior Hiking Trail: Jackson Lake Road to Judge Magney State Park
The Jackson Lake Road Trailhead is miles off Highway 61 near the town of Hovland, Minnesota. We kept thinking, “Did we miss it?” Finally we found it, just a small pullout, no bathrooms or pit toilets. It was big enough for three vehicles. The first thing we noticed when we got out of the car was the mosquitoes! We were thankful for our bug hats. There were also lots of berry bushes, but it was too early for berries. We were there in mid-July, 2022.
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Sand Dunes State Forest
First of all, if you are looking for information about Sand Dunes National Park, this is not it. Sand Dunes State Forest is in Minnesota. You will not find huge flowing waves of sand here, but you will find miles of good hiking that is not too crowded. If you have horses, this is also great for trail rides.
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Hikes: North Metro
Looking for a trail to explore near Minneapolis or St. Paul? I have found some great ones in the Northern Suburbs. Minnesota, USA is a great place for getting outside. This page is a work in progress. There are more posts here at paintandhike.com that fit in this category, and more
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Charles A. Lindbergh State Park
This park is a great place to stop and stretch your legs anytime that your travels take you through Little Falls, Minnesota. I walked most of the trails here in a few hours. It is a beautiful place with interesting history but not a place for an all-day hike.
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St. Croix State Park
This park is HUGE compared to other Minnesota state parks. At 33,895 acres (13,717 ha) it is the largest Minnesota state park. I was driving there on a Friday afternoon. I knew it would be a challenge to get there before dark.
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Moose Lake State Park
your legs. It is just off the freeway and has just over 5 miles (8 km) of really nice trails arranged in loops that let you choose your distance. The ranger station has a geological history center.
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Lake Maria State Park
If you like to hike unpaved loop trails without having to share the trail with bikes, this Minnesota State Park might be for you. You also will not see RVs or car campers. This park has only hike-in campsites and a few hike-in cabins. My husband and I almost camped here once years ago but the mosquitoes convinced us to go elsewhere. This past Sunday was my first time back since that buggy day and I am happy to report that bugs were not an issue at all. Disclaimer: It is mid-September and it has been unusually dry. That explains the change in mosquito population.
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Crow-Hassan Park Reserve
Many miles of trails through woods and prairie are what you will find here. Bring your dog, but not your bike. These trails are shared between hikers and horseback riders. I’m no expert on horse or bikes, but I imagine it would be best to keep those two types of trail users separate.
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Crow Wing State Park
This park is between Little Falls and Brainerd, Minnesota on Highway 371. Starting the hike, I had the choice of following the river upstream or downstream, or entering the forest. I chose the forest
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Crow-Hassan Dog Off-Leash Area
40 acres of packed earth trails through woods and open prairie is only a short drive northwest of Minneapolis. Crow-Hassan Dog Off-Leash Area was designed for people with dogs and I own zero dogs. Still, I enjoy being in the same space as dogs. Each dog and their human is a unique pair.
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William O’Brien State Park
I was bundled an appropriate amount: fleece headband over the ears and a wool hat. Turtleneck, sweatshirt, coat, leggings, jeans, wool socks, hiking boots, mittens, and a mask. At the beginning of my walk I marvelled at how I was walking outside in the snow, completely comfortable. I was glad to have the mask to keep my face warm. This was such a nurturing walk. At one point I overheard another walker talking on a phone, “Yes, it’s 29 degrees and snowing, but it is nice to get out of the house”. Amen to that!
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