Tag: woods
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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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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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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.
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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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Blaine Open Space and Pioneer Park
Back in March we only walked the length of the open space and back. My opinion was that it was an amazing space but not really a place for a long walk. Nearby is another beautiful small park. Between them is residential neighborhoods. I decided to try walking both parks in one walk and see if I could get to 10 miles. (16 km).
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Spirit River Nature Area
Cambridge, Minnesota. Spirit River is not far off Highway 65 and only 45 miles (72 km) north of my studio in Minneapolis. In fact, Central Avenue and Highway 65 are the same road so it is almost a straight line from my studio to this gem of a nature area.
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Katherine Abbott Park, Mahtomedi, Minnesota
This community park is a 76 acre jewel. Ponds, trees, and rolling hills create variety in the scenery you will experience as you enjoy walking a few miles here.
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Superior Hiking Trail: Volunteer Weekend in Grand Marais
Before this past weekend, I had no idea how much work goes into keeping a trail fit for hiking. Even though this trail looks as if it was worn into existence simply by many footsteps, it would quickly blend back into the landscape if not for the hard work of many volunteers. My daughter and I decided to give back to this trail we have both enjoyed in the past.
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Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park
At the end of my last post I ask about what we lose and find on the trail. Sometimes that means physical lost and found objects and sometimes it means losing and finding things that hold us back and things that move us forward. This story is about what was lost and found at Coon Rapids Dam in Minnesota.
Paint and Hike 