Minnesota Trails Fall 2019

Hiking the SHT

Leaf Mountain Foot Race New Mille Lacs Scenic Byway

TRAILS Minnesota

T h e P a r k s & Tr a i l s J o u r n a l

w w w . M n Tr a i l s . c o m

Fall 2019

65 BYWAY

DESTINATIONS

Tr ai Pa l Bu ge ild 5 er

HIKING GUIDE FALL BIKE TOURS

Crosby - Ironton - Deerwood Bay Lake - Cuyuna - Emily 522 Sinclair Lewis Avenue Sauk Centre, MN 56378

www.MnTrails.com Minnesota Trails Staff Jan Lasar Editor/Publisher Joyce Frericks Accounting Brian Dingmann Page Layout & Design Graphic Design

Editorial Board Brett Feldman Executive Director Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

Vol. 24, No. 3 August 2019 Minnesota Trails magazine is a continuation of Minnesota Bike Trails & Rides, published quarterly in cooperation with the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that acquires, protects and enhances critical lands for public enjoyment. Your $35 membership subscription supports this work.

Minnesota Trails is not responsible for the return of unsolicited materials and reserves the right to reject unsuitable advertising.

Information in this publication is as accurate as possible. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not of Minnesota Trails.

SERVICES EAT & DRINK CUYUNA LAKES CHAMBER 117 West Main Street, Crosby 218-546-8131 www.cuyunalakes.com

CRMC

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CYCLE PATH & PADDLE 115 3rd Avenue SW, Crosby 218-545-4545 www.cyclepathpaddle.com

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Continuing the MID MINNESOTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION 117 West Main Street, Crosby 218-546-5428 www.mmfcu.org 2 Fall 2019

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MOTEL

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Index Features

Columns

Departments

5 Photo Contest Lisa Filter

4 Minnesota Miles

11 Hiking Guide

Parks and Trails Council

6 Tettegouche State Park Project

Lisa Filter Parks and Trails Council

8 All You Have To Do is Walk

Jan Lasar

15 Minnesota’s Newest Scenic Byway Holly Slagle

Jan Lasar

Cover photo:

Beth and Jason Gary hike through Cascade River State Park on the Superior Hiking Trail. Story on pg. 8 Jan Lasar photo

Tom Watson 14 Great Minnesota Hikes

16 Scenic Byway Guide

Scenic Byway Points of Interest

30 Bike Ride Guide Fabulous Fall Rides 33 Trails Q&A Conversations with trail users 37 MN Trails Map

Minnesota’s Trails At-A-Glance

38 Business Directory Find your Trail Partners

28 Nirvana In The Hills Jan Lasar 34 Mission Accomplished Patrick McNeal 36 McCarthy Beach State Park Rudi Hargesheimer

Index photo:

Along the Superior Hiking Trail at Cascade River State Park. Jan Lasar photo

Thank you!

Find us on:

Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 3

W

25 YEARS IN THE MAKING

atching live coverage of government proceedings does not exactly make for riveting television, but last March Matt Davis, North Country Trail Association (NCTA) Regional Coordinator for Minnesota and North Dakota, was glued to the screen. Finally, after 25 years of grassroots efforts, the US House and Senate passed legislation to officially change the proposed route of the North Country Trail in northeastern Minnesota to what’s called the Arrowhead Re-route.

I had a chance to talk to him about what that means for hiking in Minnesota.

Your organization has been pushing for a re-routing of the original route of the North Country Trail through Minnesota for 25 years. Why did the trail need to be realigned?

Why was it written into law the way it was?

Both the NCTA and National Parks Service (NPS) realized by the early 1990s that the original trail route from Jay Cooke State Park west to Remer was not feasible because of extensive wetlands and a lack of volunteer interest. That original route was chosen by the NPS because it had abundant public lands. In 1980 the Superior Hiking Trail had not yet been envisioned and so a route through the Arrowhead must have seemed impractical.

After studying it extensively and involving the public, the NPS determined in 2004 that the Arrowhead Re-route should be followed. This route change would have the North Country Matt Davis Trail (NCT) follow the Superior Hiking Trail from Jay Cooke State Park up the North Shore, then follow the Border Route and Kekekabic Trails west through the Boundary Waters. These volunteer-maintained trails offer 400-miles of contiguous hiking through some of the state’s most scenic landscapes. The Re-route also requires about 150 miles of new trail to be

built between the Kekekabic Trail and Minnesota Miles Country National Scenic Trail Route Remer. We are looking for many new Adjustment legislation back in March volunteers to help in identifying the as part of the omnibus public lands optimal route, building the trail, and bill. It means that hikers on those then maintaining it in the future. three existing hiking trails are now What is the North Country Trail officially on the NCT. It also means Association’s mission? that we now have the green light to The mission of the NCTA is to build about 150 miles of new trail develop, maintain, protect and to close the big gap between the promote the North Country National Chippewa National Forest and the Scenic Trail as the premier hiking path Kekekabic Trail. In some sense, that across the northern tier of the United means that our work has really just Jan Lasar States, through a trail-wide coalition Trails Editor/Publisher begun in northeastern Minnesota. of volunteers and partners.

The legislation also officially Basically, our volunteers build, maintain, extended the NCT into Vermont to meet up with protect and promote the nation’s longest hiking the Appalachian Trail. This is pretty big news as trail. It extends 4,600 miles from Lake Sakakawea hikers can now walk on a National Scenic Trail from State Park in North Dakota to the Appalachian Trail Georgia to North Dakota if they so choose. in Vermont.

What does it mean to trail users?

How many members does the NCTA have?

The NCTA has shown the Arrowhead Re-route Currently, the NCTA has about 3,700 members as the unofficial route of the NCT for many years from all over the US with 30 NCTA chapters and so NCT hikers have already been hiking it. In the eight affiliate partner organizations. Minnesota long-term, however, it will mean that the NCT will volunteers are involved through six chapters: be taken off the Mesabi Trail, its temporary route in Minnesota Waters and Prairie, Laurentian Lakes, between Grand Rapids and Ely, as new segments Itasca Moraine, Star of the North, Arrowhead of footpath are built north of the Iron Range. and Kekekabic Trail. There are also two affiliate Currently, there are gaps in the Minnesota partners, the Border Route Trail Association (BRTA) route. When do you anticipate the NCT to be and Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA).

100% complete in Minnesota?

Can you give a brief history of the NCT Completing the NCT in Minnesota will be a long overall and specifically Minnesota? effort for which we don’t have an estimated end Our community is getting ready to celebrate the point. The 150 miles of new trail to be built in Trail’s 40th anniversary as Congress authorized the northeastern Minnesota has the benefit of ample NCT as a National Scenic Trail in 1980. The non- public land but we’re starting out with very few profit NCTA was formed in 1982. Trail was initially local volunteers. In western Minnesota we have built here in the mid to late 1980s within the ample volunteers but the NCT must be located on Chippewa National Forest. Slowly, new chapters private lands with the willing permission of the built trail west to connect with Itasca State Park landowners. As readers can imagine, this is a very and then south to Tamarac National Wildlife slow and difficult endeavor.

Refuge. New trail connections were made more Where we don’t have off-road footpath, we recently in Maplewood State Park and Fergus Falls. designate the best, meaning most scenic and The Re-route is now official. What does safest, not necessarily the shortest, roadwalk that mean to you? connectors that we can find. This means that the Yes, Congress finally passed the North 840 miles of the NCT across northern Minnesota is definitely hikeable right now and people are out hiking it.

How to get involved “I would like to encourage folks to learn more about the nation’s longest hiking trail and what you can experience along its route. Humbly, I also would like to ask all Minnesota hikers to support the NCT by volunteering or donating to the NCTA, SHTA, or Border Route Trail Association (BRTA).

The NCT is your trail and your adventure starts nearby!”

4 Fall 2019

www.northcountrytrail.org/ trail/minnesota/

people saving special places

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www.pincushiontrailsinn.com Fall 2019 5

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Courtesy of Rudi Hargesheimer

people saving special places

Soon this beach will be owned by the park and accessible to all park users.

Saving a pebble beach for Tettegouche State Park Rugged cliffs and giant boulders create the iconic beauty of Minnesota’s North Shore of Lake Superior. Another, less common feature that’s equally iconic are the pebble beaches.

There are just a few places along the shore that offer the public the opportunity to experience these beaches of richly hued pebbles; to stroll up to the water’s edge; to gently step into the frigid water—well at least a toe or two.

Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota (P&TC) is working to add one more beach for the public to enjoy.

In November 2018, P&TC purchased six acres of land, including a beach on Lake Superior that is located adjacent to Tettegouche State Park’s cart-in campground. The land is already in the statutory boundary of the park, but has been privately owned. We are now working to transfer ownership to the park, a process which could take a year, or more to complete. Our purchase was made possible in part by grants from the Henry S.

6 Fall 2019

Crosby Jr. Foundation and the Minnesota Environmental Fund.

While no trails currently lead here, the beach is located just a short walk from the main usearea of the park. It is enclosed on either side by boulders and is a relaxing place for beachcombing or lounging on the shore and will allow for easy launching of kayaks into Lake Superior.

The land comes with an inn that was built on a bluff overlooking the beach. The inn, known of the Inn at Palisade, operated from about 1991 until a few years ago. While the land and beach are the main reasons to add this land to the park, there could be potential to use the small inn, but that will need to be determined by park staff in the future.

Closing the gap of privately owned shoreline within the park has been a long-term goal of P&TC and we’re excited to add one more, critical parcel to this effort.

Minnesota Trails

people saving special places

How Tettegouche grew from a small wayside to its impressive size today Tettegouche’s status as Minnesota’s fifth largest state park came about as the result of three major acquisition events. The original acquisition creating the park occurred in 1945 at the urging of P&TC founder Judge C. R. Magney; it was just 506 acres.

The story goes that he was driving along the North Shore and saw signs advertising “Lakefront Land for Sale.” Magney put up option money to hold the land until the legislature could act, which it did promptly.

www.parksandtrails.org

The park remained small and mostly undeveloped until 1979, when the owner of Tettegouche Camp decided to sell his roughly 4,000acre retreat. This rare opportunity extended the park inland to encompass several pristine lakes as well as the series of rustic-style cabins that were built circa 1911 as part of the recreation club retreat.

The park’s name changed from Baptism River to Tettegouche State Park at this time.

The latest major expansion happened in 1991, when the park more than doubled in size again to enclose 9,346 acres. This addition is known as Palisade Valley and

was instigated in a joint effort

by The Nature Conservancy and P&TC along with local recreation clubs (note: this land is reflected in the map below with hash lines).

That same year, the rocky, coastal overlook known as Palisade Head was also transferred into the park’s ownership. Since then it has been an isolated place, standing roughly one mile down shore from the rest of the park. Adding the land in between here has been a logical goal; one that P&TC has been working toward since Palisade Head was added.

Tettegouche State Park Map Showing P&TC projects past & current

Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 7

All You Have To Do Is Walk

by Jan Lasar When Beth and Jason Gary North Country Scenic Trail, stepped out of the forest and onto which crosses the state on the rock outcropping they wanted to its 4,600-mile journey from see Lake Agnes far below them. But a North Dakota to Vermont. heavy fog had settled on the woods like On a Thursday a damp blanket and the scenic views afternoon in late August they’d hoped for were hiding behind a the couple met their shuttle wall of mist. They had two more days driver, Harriet Quarles, to make it to the Cascade River Valley in the parking lot of the and decided to move on.

Pincushion Mountain The Garys had lived in Minnesota trailhead north of Grand from 2007 to 2015 as Texas transplants. Marais to get a ride to the “We both love the peace and quiet of Lutsen Mountain trailhead Jason Gary pumps water the outdoors so we tried to spend as near Tofte. “Harriet was from Spruce Creek. much time hiking and camping as we a hoot,” Beth said. By could,” Jason said. They had day-hiked the time they made the Superior Hiking Trail, but decided 24-mile drive they to return to Minnesota last both learned details about opted to make it at least two and a half Camp at September for a four-day Harriet’s life and how miles,” she said.

Spruce Creek.

They woke up early the next day backpacking trip from she came to be a Lutsen Mountain to shuttle driver late in to find their tent wet from overnight the Cascade River life, working seven rain and a mist hanging over the small Valley. days a week and campsite on the river. On the way The Superior driving hundreds to the lunch spot at Lake Agnes the weather didn’t improve much. “It was Hiking Trail of miles. snakes its way A f t e r misty rain all day and we couldn’t see up Minnesota’s some advice much of anything,” Beth said. After North Shore from from Harriet passing up three scenic overlooks Duluth to the USabout mosquito along the way, they reached the Canada border at repellents, they Agnes Creek Bridge. It was a steep the Pigeon River. shouldered their climb to the Lake Agnes overlook Volunteers of the nonbackpacks and set off from there, but they could barely see profit Superior Hiking Trail for their first campsite on through the fog once they got there.

After following the trail down to the Association maintain its 310 the East Poplar River. With a miles of footpath and 96 backcountry long day on the road behind them, this lakeshore, lunch was a quick affair of campsites. Together with the Kekekabic first hike was a short one. “We had a freeze-dried beef stroganoff cooked in and Border Route Trails, it’s part of the few hours to get to a campsite, so we the bag. They quickly moved on. The

Finally, a view: Lookout Mountain at Cascade River State Park.

All photos

by Jan Lasar 8 Fall 2019

Minnesota Trails

sun hadn’t made a showing all day and After lunch, the climbing they were feeling the cold creep in. continued up to Lookout Mountain They reached Spruce Creek camp on Cascade River State Parks’ crossin the early afternoon after hiking country ski trails. The sun was eight miles through spruce swamp and growing stronger by the minute and maple forest and crossing many small they were glad they had filled their footbridges. hydration packs with cold water The Spruce Creek campsite was from Indian Creek. tucked into a small patch of forest When they stepped out of the between Spruce Creek and a steep rock woods into the clearing on Lookout face, sheltered by huge conifers.

Mountain, the pair was greeted by After dinner, they washed up in the dozens of day visitors to the park icy water of the creek and settled into who were scampering around the their tent before the sun had fully set. rocks and taking selfies at the scenic “We went to bed only to be woken overlook. Families wearing crisp, by a storm,” Beth said. “The rain and clean polo shirts and tank tops thunder were so loud it was hard to tell with bright-white sneakers and flip the difference between the flops slowly turned their two. The lightning lit up heads as the couple Mist lends a fairytale the sky and gave the lumbered past look to the woods. illusion the woods them, sweaty, around us were muddy and on fire.” Jason tired from remembers a restless it well, too night.

“Laying in a T h e y tent during dropped their a strong packs and thunderstorm, rested up for miles from the last leg any rigid shelter of the day, the makes you final three miles understand just to Big White Pine how insignificant campsite. you are in the grand This meant a steep scheme of things,” he descent from Lookout said.

Mountain to the Cascade River, Several rounds of storms a difficult and rooted march along the continued until the early morning. “At banks, another climb, then a sharp some point, after weighing options and drop to a small creek. After realizing there were no good ones, we crossing the creek at a bridge drifted off to sleep,” he said. there was one more short but The next day started out much steep climb up the bank to better. Storms had moved out, but the campsite. Rather than a slight haze lingered. Spruce Creek hauling both their roared, swollen by the overnight backpacks and downpour. They dried out what they water up, they could, packed up the rest wet, and set decided to drop out for Indian Camp Creek, their lunch the packs at the spot. They met several hikers going the site and go back other direction and exchanged tales of down for water the previous night, trail conditions, and later. “After the the best campsites along the way. “The climb to Lookout hike was tough,” Beth said. “All of that Mountain and the rain made the trail muddy and slippery roots on the west side in parts, especially when climbing.” of the river, we were in The higher they hiked on the no mood for another ridgelines, the more fog burned off climb,” Jason said. and, finally, the sun broke through the clouds. By the time they reached Indian Creek, it was sunny. They hung their damp tents, sleeping bags and clothes on ropes strung between trees. “I was hoping some of the gear would dry out, especially my boots,” Beth said.

Minnesota Trails

Final Destination: The Cascade River Valley Overlook

That evening they were joined by a single hiker from Catalonia who was out for a one-day overnight hike while visiting Minnesota. “He and Jason discussed bears, which I think made the poor guy nervous,” Beth said. They assured him that Minnesota’s black bears aren’t typically a problem on the trail and would likely stay far away from humans, but he still decided to hike 6 Continued on page 10…

Day two along the Poplar River Fall 2019 9

…Continued from page 9

miles round trip to take his bear-proof food container back to the car.

The last day was the shortest at about four and a half miles and the couple lingered around camp a little longer than normal. They eventually shouldered their packs for one final hike.

Right away they passed by Cut Log campsite, which was dotted with huge pieces of white pines left behind by loggers decades ago. Then the trail traveled through old-growth maple forest where massive, moss-covered trunks flanked the path and disappeared into the canopy high above.

Finally, they came the end of their journey when they unceremoniously popped out of the woods on County Road 45, their shuttle pickup spot. They threw down their packs and hugged and kissed. While they waited for Harriet, they enjoyed the breathtaking views of the rushing Cascade River in the lush valley below.

To learn more visit www.superiorhiking.org

10 Fall 2019

ABOUT THE TRAIL

The Superior Hiking Trail is a footpath only, with a natural surface 18-inch treadway through a clearing approximately four feet in width.

The SHT is 326 miles if each section is hiked separately. This breaks down into 310 miles of main trail and 16 miles of spur trail.

Back in Grand Marais, the Garys revisited the last Slippery conditions four days with a cold soda made the last and pizza on the rooftop of descent on day My Sister’s Place Restaurant. three difficult.

It was finally sinking in that the 22-mile hike they had been preparing for the last six months, had finally come to an end.

For Beth the highlight of the trip was when she saw a Bald Eagle fly from the tree tops just a few feet away at a scenic overlook of the Sawtooth Mountains.

“Of course none of us had our cameras ready,” she said.

Although they said the hike was tough at times, both feel it was time well spent and they plan on coming back to hike another section of the trail.

“I learned that the Superior Hiking Trail was much more challenging than I expected,” Beth said, but adds she would have liked more time hiking, While even the logistics of setting regardless.

Jason agreed. “I would like to up a four-day hike from 1,200 miles have gone further and had more time, away were daunting, Jason said, stressbut overall the trip was enjoyable. I free time spent outdoors was a huge challenged myself physically, witnessed reward.

“Life gets simple when all you have the power of nature close up and personal, spent quality time with Beth to do is walk,” he said. and enjoyed the break from the Texas heat,” he said.

Minnesota Trails

The Beaten Path

by Tom Watson

14 HIKES

GREAT MINNESOTA

Amid hundreds and hundreds of miles of broad, paved multi-use trails throughout the Twin Cities and surrounding countryside is a network of beaten pathways woven through parks and along waterways: Well-trodden, earthen trails formed from countless foot travelers over the centuries.

Here’s a brief introduction to some of the best earthen trails-all within an hour’s drive of the Metro area. Feeling the earth beneath your feet is comforting for the soul - and the sole.

Minnehaha Creek/Falls Trail

Minneapolis The city’s quintessential natural landmark provides a unique city setting for a hike along the creek down a tree-lined ravine, from the waterfall to its mouth at the Mississippi River just a mile away. The more primitive path down the west side (right side going downstream) includes a raised walkway through wetter sections. Bog flowers, songbirds and the roar of the creek all add character to this packed earth trail.

Long Meadow/Bluff Line Trail

Bloomington Starting at the Old Cedar Bridge, an earthen path follows the bluff line of the Minnesota River for over 3 miles.

Pedestrian crossings over freeway bridges let hikers link up to miles of dirt trails extending northward to Fort Snelling and beyond.

Lake Elmo Regional Park

Lake Elmo The 3.8-mile Eagle Point Lake Trail follows almost the entire shoreline for a pleasantly bucolic journey around a reed-lined lake. Several intersections along the western route lead to long loops across the prairie-like landscape, while eastern routes merge to join the more developed east side of the park.

Afton State Park

Afton This entire park is a hiker’s delight. The northern Prairie Loop winds through the bluff-top, grassy hills where some sections are shared with horseback riders. A route through the northeast section provides incredible views and a steep descent down to the shoreline of the St. Croix where a paved trail takes you back to the Visitor Center.

Southern grassy trails follow the bluff line.

Crow-Hassan Park Reserve

Lake Independence This park has trails suited for two and four-legged users. All hiking trails, from those along the Crow River to the expansive prairies restoration sections, accommodate hikers and horses.

There are 10 miles of dog-on-leash trails shared by hikers and horses and a 40-acre off-leash area just for dogs and their human companions.

Murphy-Hanrehan Regional Park

Savage A shorter network of trails in the northern corner of this park offers a demanding and rewarding landscape formed by glaciers. A loop of more than four miles winds up and over numerous hills under a canopy of northern hardwoods. This park has lots of intersections and trail segments to choose from among its wooded hills.

Hiking trails along the creek in the Minnehaha Ravine. Tom Watson photo Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 11

14 Great Minnesota Hikes Louisville Swamp/Mazomani Trail

Carver This 4.5-mile trail rich in Native American and early Minnesota pioneer history provides an often-soggy route through upland forest, across grassy plains and down through a swampy floodplain on the banks of the Minnesota River. Remnants of the Ehmiller home site and the restored building at the Jabs Farm site offer quaint reminders of some who walked these grounds a long time ago.

Barn Bluff

Red Wing A short, 1.75-mile out-and back hike scales this massive sandstone monolith rising 340 feet above the Mississippi River. Once atop, the grassy plateau is modestly etched in pathways that lead to overlooks above the city and the Wisconsin side of the river.

Hikers atop Barn Bluff in Red Wing. Jan Lasar photo

Memorial Park Mountain Bike Trails

Red Wing, MN

RedWing.org

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Lift-Served downhill mountain biking Welch, MN 12 Fall 2019

Welchvillage.com Minnesota Trails

14 Great Minnesota Hikes Nerstrand-Big Woods State Park

Faribault Half of the park’s 11 miles of earthen trails are woven into a series of loops in the northern half of this hilly, forested landscape. White Oak Trail skirts the perimeter of the park while others wind through stands of hardwoods.

All trails connect to bring hikers to the backcountry beauty of Hidden Falls.

Frontenac State Park

Frontenac Of the 13 miles of trails, the short stretch along the steep bluffs above the river is the most challenging and scenic. Some sections pass 30-foothigh limestone outcroppings, others provide steep access to the river’s edge. Other side trails lead to and from the campground, including a spur to In-Yan Teopa Rock at the bluff’s edge.

Scenic overlooks provide incredible views of Lake Pepin.

Lake Maria State Park

Monticello The terrain is quite hilly and covered in birch, maple and other hardwoods making it a great fall hiking destination.

Bjorkland and Big Woods loops offer nearly 8 miles of woodland walking, while the 2-mile Kettle Kame Trail winds through classic glacial moraine amid beautiful birch forests. Camper cabins along hiking routes make it possible to stay and explore the trails over several days.

Pine needles soften your step on a path along the Saint Croix River at William O’Brien State Park. Tom Watson photo

The Old Cedar Bridge in Bloomington serves as a trailhead for hikes on the Bluff Line Trail. Tom Watson photo Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 13

14 Great Minnesota Hikes William O’Brien State Park

Marine-On-St. Croix Best known for its St. Croix riverfront, the grassy hills on the west side of the park provide excellent upland hiking through a series of loops off the main route, Woodland Edge and Wetland Trails. Another path leads you down through the tall pines along the St. Croix River.

Interstate Park/Minnesota

Taylors Falls Another iconic natural landmark offers a rambling route along the steep, rocky, root-strewn path high above the St. Croix River canyon. A return trip option includes a steep ravine interpretive trail followed by a treelined corridor along an abandoned railroad right-of-way.

Tom Watson is an accomplished writer, columnist and photographer. His newly revised books Best Tent Camping: Minnesota and 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Minneapolis and Saint Paul are out now and available through AdventureKEEN Publishers.

Maps show the way on the Lower Bluffline Trail at Frontenac State Park.

Jan Lasar photo

Wild River State Park

Almelund The short, 1.2-mile walk along the banks of the St. Croix makes a trip to this park worthwhile. A series of looped trails in the southern half add to the earthen path mileage while the paved Old Logging Road connects hikers with more routes at the north end.

www.tomoutdoors.com www.adventurewithkeen.com

A late fall hike on the Big Woods Loop at Lake Maria State Park. Jan Lasar photo 14 Fall 2019

Minnesota Trails

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Scenic Byways

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are a great way to get to know the state like you never knew it.

On the following pages we’ve compiled a list of 65 points of interest on six of our 22 scenic routes.

Find out how many natural, recreational, cultural, historical and archeological attractions wait to be discovered on and near the byways, whether you travel on foot, by bike or in your car.

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23

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108

371

169 27

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Map courtesy of MN Department of Transportation 16 56

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Minnesota's newest scenic route is waiting to be discovered

by Holly Slagle, State Scenic Byway Coordinator Minnesota’s 21 Scenic Byways have been a part of our Minnesota travel experience since the Scenic Byway Program was launched in 1992. This year, the Minnesota Scenic Byway Commission added one more to the list, bringing the total of designated scenic routes in Minnesota to 2,948 miles.

Work on the designation began about two years ago when the East Central Regional Development Commission and the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission led a grassroots effort to gain support.

The two commissions studied the route possibilities, inventoried the prominent features and held public meetings in communities, including tribal communities, to gather input.

The 68-mile Lake Mille Lacs Scenic Byway fills all the requirements for being an official Minnesota Scenic Byway.

Surrounding Minnesota’s second largest inland lake, highways 169, 47, 27 and 18 have earned the title for the area’s archeological, cultural, natural, historic, recreational and scenic significance.

Lake Mille Lacs’ natural and scenic

Minnesota Trails

beauty is undisputable. At 132,516 acres, approximately 200 square miles, its size and low shoreline, give the lake a near oceanic feel. The two islands in the center comprise the Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuge, the smallest such refuge in the United States. The refuge is home to a thriving colony of doublecrested cormorants and one of only five breeding colonies of the common tern in Minnesota. Mille Lacs’ shorelines remain barely visible even on the clearest day, giving visitors a wild, very natural feel as they gaze across the lake with its expansive views, surrounded by lush forest. Bird watchers visit the area to check many species off their life list.

Undoubtedly, Lake Mille Lacs is one of the most popular lakes in the state. Its recreational value was another reason it joined the ranks of Minnesota’s scenic routes. Fishing, boating and swimming bring tens of thousands of visitors every year, but so do the two state parks on its southern edge. Mille Lacs Kathio and Father Hennepin state parks offer a combined 40 miles of hiking trails, 20 miles of ski trails and 27 miles of equestrian trails. A ten-mile

paved segment of the Soo Line Trail connects them both and is a favorite for biking, walking and rollerblading.

The two state parks, the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post in Onamia, and the Mille Lacs Historical Society Museum in Isle feature archeological, cultural and historic exhibits about human settlement in the area and tell the story of the Ojibwe, Dakota and, in more recent times, European settlers, fur traders and loggers. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park has been named a National Historic Site, because of its numerous archeological sites, some dating back to the Paleo period at the end of the last ice age about 9,000 years ago.

Interpretive wayside stops round out the history lesson along the route.

The communities of Garrison, Wealthwood, Malmo, Isle, Cove, Onamia, Wahkon and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe community surround the lake and exemplify small town living at its best. Visit these charming small towns and take in the rich history and culture they have to offer. Whether you’re into fishing, hiking, biking, shopping, dining, birding or just relaxing in a cozy resort, it’s a trip worth taking.

The state’s newest scenic byway is waiting for you to discover it.

Fall 2019 15

Be Amazed

Cruise Studios

Over 900 acres of hiking, biking, horseback riding, ski and snowmobile trails wait to be discovered just north of Bemidji.

Artisans from around Bemidji open their studios for this scenic drive-it-yourself tour each October.

Movil Maze

Great River Road

Route Length: 565 miles Route: A series of roads following the Mississippi River from Itasca State Park in northwest Minnesota, down through the Twin Cities and along the southeast border of the state.

www.visitbemidji.com

Take a Bog Walk

Lake Bemidji State Park

For a “do not miss” experience, visit the Lake Bemidji bog and take along an audio podcast.

www.dnr.state.mn.us

Follow History

Itasca State Park

At Itasca State Park, the Chester Charles II will pick you up at the port of Douglas Lodge and take you on a 10-mile cruise of Lake Itasca so you can follow in their footsteps while a naturalist narrates your trip.

www.lakeitascatours.com

Travel through History Bemidji

The Great Northern Depot is the last depot built by James J. Hill and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1968.

Get Sculpted Bemidji

Take a walk around town and discover an ever-changing outdoor exhibit.

Bemidji

www.visitbemidji.com

Salute

Camp Ripley

Learn about the men and women who served in all branches of the military from Minnesota’s early statehood days to the present. Permanent indoor exhibits include Forts on the Frontier, Story of the Jeep and the Arms Room with models of firearms from revolvers to submachine guns. Outdoor exhibits let visitors explore more than 60 vehicles like tanks and aircraft.

www.bemidjisculpture.com

www.mnmilitarymuseum.org

Play in the Sand

Get Crafty

Bemidji

An augmented reality sandbox is only one of many science exhibits geared towards kids and the young at heart at the Headwaters Science Center.

www.hscbemidji.org

www.visitbemidji.com

Little Falls

The Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair is an award-winning fair that draws over 100,000 people over two days and is one of the largest in the Midwest with 600 artists. Also part of the celebration: A car show, and antiques fair and a farmers market.

www.littlefallsmnchamber.com

Trails Only Minutes from Our Door!

THE BEMIDJI SUPER 8 The Pride of Super 8 Quality Award Winner

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Trails from 6-160 miles!

Bike the trail that loops Lake Bemidji with shopping, dining and parks to visit along the way.

VisitBemidji.com

www.bestwestern.com/bemidji 16 Fall 2019

Minnesota Trails

Meet the Lindberghs

Get Hands On

Stop and Play

Charles Lindbergh’s 1927 flight from New York to Paris launched an aviation revolution. Tour his boyhood home, explore the visitor center exhibits, including a “Spirit of St. Louis” flight simulator.

Besides year-round musical and theatrical performances in their 800-seat, renovated 1921 Theatre, the Paramount Center for the Arts also offers classes. Try gelatin painting, weaving, woodworking or calligraphy and take home your own masterpiece. Also worth a visit: The giftshop with handmade artist items and the ever-changing art displays in the Gallery St. Germain across the street.

The Mississippi River Visitor Center provides information about the 72-mile stretch of the Mississippi River designated as the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. They offer interpretive displays, maps and naturalist programs, and there’s no admission fee. A great place to start your journey on the Great River Road.

Little Falls

www.mnhs.org/lindbergh

Go to the Island Saint Cloud

Named after a cluster of Islands in the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, Beaver Island Brewing Co. offers up four yearround and five seasonal beers. Join them for Bikes, Beer and Burritos every Thursday through September 26 and their annual Oktoberfest on September 21.

www.beaverislandbrew.com

Smell the Roses Saint Cloud

The history of the Munsinger Clemens Gardens goes back to 1915 when the city of Saint Cloud purchased the site of a former sawmill on the banks of the Mississippi River and turned it into a park. Today visitors can visit six distinct garden areas, including a rose garden with 1,100 rose plants.

Saint Cloud

www.paramountarts.org

Saint Paul

www.nps.gov/miss

EXPERIENCE THEL COLORS OF FAL

www.munsingerclemens.com

A. T.

116 First Street Southeast Little Falls, MN 56345 (320)BLACK 632-5374 & WHITE THE View Our Menu Online www.attheblacknwhite.com 116 First Street Southeast Little Falls, MN 56345 (320) 632-5374

Large selection of Minnesota craft beers and wines from family-owned vineyards.

Le Cordon Bleu trained chefs

VISITSTCLOUD.COM

ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

September 7-8, 2019

(Always held on the weekend after Labor Day)

Downtown Little Falls, Minnesota

Sat., September 7, 8 am-6 pm • Sun., September 8, 9 am-4 pm

600 Juried Artisans and Crafters

Market Place Fair on West Broadway featuring commercial cash & carry vendors Sponsored by the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce 320.632.5155 www.littlefallsmnchamber.com • Follow us on fa Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 17

Release Raptors Hastings

This September 28, the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center holds their annual Fall Raptor Release where rehabilitated birds are returned to nature.

www.carpenternaturecenter.org

Loop the Town Hastings

The paved 10-Mile Loop is the highlight of Hasting’s 28-mile trail system. This scenic loop takes you along the shores of the Mississippi and Vermillion Rivers with great views of the 35-foot Vermillion Falls.

www.visithastingsmn.org/parks-trails

Take a Joy Ride Welch Village

The downhill mountain bike trails at Welch Village will take you on a wild downhill ride on two wheels. There’s no shortage of jumps, berms, bridges and rollers for experienced mountain bikers.

www.welchvillage.com

Get the Boot Red Wing

The Red Wing Shoe Company Museum in downtown Red Wing is home to the world’s largest boot, a US size 638 1/2, standing over 20 feet tall. How tall would you be if you wore shoes that size?

www.redwing.org/map-of-attractions

The Hastings 10-Mile Loop with views of the Mississippi River.

Lee Stoffel photo

Shoot the Cannon

Take An Art Walk

The 20-mile Cannon Valley Trail connects Red Wing to Cannon Falls and Welch in beautiful southeastern Minnesota. Keep an eye out for endangered Minnesota plants as you follow this scenic trail along the Cannon River.

The 350-acre Tower View Estate houses a 15-acre sculpture garden with over 30 outdoor displays.

Red Wing

www.cannonvalleytrail.com

Red Wing

www.andersoncenter.org

Discover a Pearl Lake City

Get Educated Mendota

Henry Hastings Sibley was Minnesota’s first governor in 1858 and one of the most influential figures of our state’s history. The Sibley Historic Site in Mendota includes four limestone and brick buildings that are among the oldest still standing structures in Minnesota. Today, the restored buildings help tell the history of the region’s fur trade, Sibley’s involvement in Minnesota business and politics, as well as his role in the U.S.Dakota War of 1862.

-Courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

The Pearl of the Lake is a modern day replica of the boats that ferried passengers and goods up and down the river in the 1800s. Today, passengers can enjoy a day or evening sightseeing tour or a dinner cruise on Lake Pepin.

www.pearlofthelake.com

Experience Water

Bike Hastings!Winona

www.mnhs.org

From traditional oil on canvas paintings of sailing ships in roiling seas, to Picasso’s Homme Assis watercolor, the Marine Art Museum explores the depth and breadth of our species’ relationship with water.

www.mmam.org

• 30 miles of city trails • Bike the Scenic Circuit: A 10-mile loop around the city. • Ride the MRT

More than 28 miles of stunning trails along the Mississippi River, Vermillion Falls and other scenic byways.

Hastings Area

Visiting cyclists get down low to take in the whole thing at the Red Wing Shoe Store. Red Wing VCB photo 18 Fall 2019

Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau

For more information or to request a trail map, please call (651) 437-6775 · (888) 612-6122

or visit www.HastingsMN.org

651-437-6775 or visit www.visithastingsmn.org Minnesota Trails

Lake Country

Route Length: 88 miles Route: Hwy. 34 from Detroit Lakes to Walker, and a spur north from Park Rapids to Itasca State Park on Hwy. 71.

Get to know Paul Akeley

The Paul Bunyan Historical Museum contains an interesting collection of pictures and artifacts about early Akeley history.

www.akeleymn.com/pbhs

Take a Smoke Break

Smoky Hills State Forest

It’s good to get out and stretch your legs every now and then when you’re traveling along a scenic byway. A great place to view fall foliage is the 25,000-acre Smoky Hills State Forest between Park Rapids and Detroit Lakes.

25 miles of hiking trails let you explore your rugged side and get back in touch with nature.

www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_forests

Thirty of these sunfish sculptures wait to be discovered in Detroit Lakes.

Detroit Lakes Visitor Bureau photo

Take a Leap

Pick a Trail

Fall colors will be at their peak for the Heartland Arts’ annual Art Leap. This Open Studio event features more than 65 artists in 20 different locations in and around the Park Rapids Lakes Area. See artist demonstrations, hear live music performances and get your Christmas shopping done early. Art Leap 2019 dates are September 28 and 29.

The Heartland, Paul Bunyan and North Country Trails meet near Walker. There are also a hundred miles of hiking trails in surrounding parks.

Park Rapids Area

www.prlaac.org

Walker Area

www.leechlake.org

Pose with the Muskie Nevis

The World’s largest tiger muskie has been the backdrop for photos since 1950 and it even works for today’s selfie.

www.nevischamber.com

Catch a Show Park Rapids

When you’re done catching fish on one of the many area lakes, put on your dinner jacket, sit back and enjoy a performance in one of Park Rapids’ live entertainment theatres. Jasper’s Theater offers music, magic and comedy performances in a familyfriendly atmosphere through the end of September.

www.jasperstheater.com

Go to Church Hubbard

The Long Lake Theater, housed in a former church, has anything from zany comedy to touching drama on their playlist. Past productions include On Golden Pond, Nunsense and The Odd Couple. Take a short detour off the Lake Country Scenic Byway and be entertained.

www.longlaketheater.com

Walk on Pennies Detroit Lakes

The Historic Holmes Theater in Detroit Lakes has a year-round schedule and features shows like The Music of ABBA, Pinocchio and the Loony Lutherans. While you’re there, check out the unique floor made up of 600,000 donated pennies.

Paddle the Crow Wing River Water Trail or one over 400 lakes to enjoy fallPARK colors from a new WORLDofFAMOUS ITASCA STATE perspective. Rentals are available and lodging WORLD FAMOUS amenities abound to make your trip enjoyable.

ITASCA 800-247-0054 STATE PARK www.parkrapids.com • #VisitParkRapids

Home of

www.dlccc.org Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 19

Buggy all Night

Crawl along

A final farewell to summer, while welcoming the return to fall. Enjoy a horse-drawn buggy that takes you to the Historic Log Village. Also features strolling musicians and hot cider. One of many events at Crosslake Days every September.

The annual Arts Off 84 art crawl on August 31 and September 1 features dozens of artists at seven different stops.

Take a ride on scenic Highway 84 between Pine River and Longville and find that one of a kind piece to take home.

Fiber arts, furniture, jewelry, woodwork and even up-cycled creations are all part of the mix.

Crosslake

Paul Bunyan

Route Length: 54 miles Route: Double-circle route between Pequot Lakes and Crosslake, in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

www.crosslake.com

www.artsoff84.com

Take Concrete Steps

See a Model

Fourteen feet long, five feet wide and five inches deep: Paul Bunyan’s baby footprints are in towns along the scenic byway, cast in concrete for you to find.

The Northern Minnesota Railroad Heritage Association is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the railroad industry in northern Minnesota with scale models and working model train displays.

Brainerd

www.paulbunyanscenicbyway.org

Pine River to Longville

Crosslake

www.northerntrackersrrclub.com

Cache In

Paul Bunyan Trail

Start your Engine

www.mnbiketrail.com

If watching the races isn’t exciting enough, get in the driver’s seat and shift from fan to driver in one day at the Brainerd International Raceway Driving School.

Geocachers call the Paul Bunyan Trail a Power Trail, because almost 1000 geocaches wait to be discovered along its 120 miles. Leave the car behind and see how many you can find.

Brainerd

www.brainerdraceway.com

Bike. Eat. Shop. Repeat. mnbiketrail.com

ASSOCIATION

Riders on the Paul Bunyan Trail at Crow Wing State Park. Jan Lasar photo

VISITBRAINERD

Choose Your Biking Adventure in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Enjoy all the area has to offer from centrally located Brainerd and Baxter, MN. Maps, routes, lodging and visitor information available online.

Paul Bunyan Trail • Gull Galivant Route • Cuyuna Lakes Trail • Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails • Pillsbury Forest Mountain Bike Trails

#LoveBrainerd

20 Fall 2019

MN_Trails_Aug2019_Revision_190729.indd 1

www.visitbrainerd.com

Lum Park Campground

Minnesota Trails

7/29/2019 11:32:48 AM

Skyline Parkway

Route Length: 25 miles Route: Roads along a high ridge in Duluth between Becks Road and Brighton Beach.

Elevate Yourself Duluth

When you climb to the top of Enger Tower you’re officially 531 feet above Lake Superior and the views are spectacular. The five-story stone structure was built from Blue Stone in 1939 after Bert Enger, a native of Norway, donated most of his estate to the city of Duluth. Even Crown Prince Olaf and Crown Princess Martha of Norway came to the dedication ceremony on June 15, 1939.

Today, the grounds include a Japanese garden and a golf course.

www.engertowerduluth.com

Get to the Peak Duluth

Bardon’s Peak on the western edge of the Skyline Parkway is easily the best view of Duluth and the Saint Louis River.

Take a break and imagine what it looked and felt like to be standing there before the area was settled.

A grand view of the St. Louis River and Duluth from Bardon’s Peak. Jan Lasar photo

Coast Downhill

Migrate

The Timber Twister Alpine Coaster zips down the hills of Spirit Mountain Adventure Park at up to 26 miles an hour on a 3200-foot elevated track. The Adventure Park also has a zip line, scenic chair lift rides, mini golf and a huge outdoor jumping pillow.

September and October are prime months for birding and Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory is known as one of the major sites for observation of raptor migration. Grab your binoculars and see how many you can spot.

Duluth

www.spiritmt.com

Duluth

www.hawkridge.org

www.skylineparkway.org

Solve a Mystery Duluth

The Minnesota Department of Transportation simply calls it Bridge L6007, but it’s more than just an inventory item. The Stewart Creek stone arch bridge was built around 1925 from locally quarried gabbro rock and what sets it apart from other bridges in the area are the double rows of jagged, tooth-like rocks on its railings.

It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Bridges, but to this day it’s not clear who engineered it.

www.skylineparkway.org

Ride a Wildcat Duluth

Happy Camper, Wildcat, Wrecking Ball and Boss Hog are all trails waiting for you at Spirit Mountain Bike Park. The lift takes you up and gravity does the rest. Unbeatable views of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River with miles of mountain bike trails to explore.

www.spiritmt.com Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 21

RIDE MORE

Trek e-MTB – the latest pedal-assist tech from Bosch combined with Trek’s legendary ride quality. Go farther, go faster, and go more places on an e-MTB. These are the e-bikes that let you enjoy more of everything that makes mountain biking great.

Visit your authorized dealer today Adventure Cycle & Ski

Jake’s Bikes

Revolution Cycle and Ski

178 Center St, Winona, MN 55987

419 N. Nokomis St., Alexandria, MN

160 29th Ave. S, St. Cloud, MN 56301

507-452-4228 www.advcycle.com

320-219-7433 www.jakesbikes.com

320-251-2453 www.revolutioncycleandski.com

DL Bike Shop

Maple Grove Cycling

Rick’s Cycling and Sports Center

829 Washington Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

13950 Grove Dr., Maple Grove, MN 55311

320 SW 3rd St., Willmar, MN 56201

218-844-5320 www.dlbikeshop.com

763-420-8878 www.maplegrovecycling.com

320-235-0202 www.rickscycling.com

Downtown Bicycles

Northern Cycle

Rochester Cycling

321 Division St. S, Northfield, MN 55057

100 Mill Road, Park Rapids, MN 56601

1211 7th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901

507-786-9191 www.downtownbicyclesllc.com

218-732-5971 www.northerncyclemn.com

507-289-7410 www.cycling-fitness.com

Gateway Cycle

OneTen Cycles

Rydjor Bike Shop

6028 Hwy. 36 Blvd. N, Oakdale, MN 55128

1040 Dakota Dr., Mendota Heights, MN 55120

219 N Main St., Austin, MN 55912

651-777-0188 www.gatewaycycle.com

651-454-2066 www.onetencycles.com

507-433-7571 www.rydjor.com

Gear West Bike.Tri.Run.Ski

Ramsey Bicycle

The Bike Shop

1786 W Wayzata Blvd., Long Lake, MN 55356

6825 Hwy. 10, Ramsey, MN 55303

219 West Main Street, Marshall, MN 56258

952-473-0093 www.gearwest.com 22 Fall 2019

763-323-6666 www.ramseybicycle.com

507-532-3633 www.thebikeshopmarshall.com

Minnesota Trails

EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS

Route Length: 47 miles Route: Highway 38 between Grand Rapids and Effie, MN.

Saw Logs

Grand Rapids

Discover the past, present and future of Minnesota’s forests through guided tours of a 1900s era logging camp and handson environmental learning programs. at the Forest History Center. Take a seat on the porch of a 1930s Minnesota Forest Service patrolman’s cabin, climb a 100-foot fire tower and explore the site’s self-guided trails.

www.mnhs.org

Find Remnants

Chippewa National Forest

The Mesabi Trail starts in Grand Rapids and traverses the Iron Range.

Jan Lasar photo

Meet the Wizard

Live on the Edge

Frances Ethel Gumm, or Judy Garland, was born in Grand Rapids in 1922, and went on to become an international star.

Visit her childhood home and view the Wizard of Oz collection.

It’s a theatre. It’s a gallery. Catch a show by the Edge Wild Players or take in an exhibit at The Edge Center for the Arts and find out why they call it ‘Wildly unexpected’.

Grand Rapids

The Suomi Hills semi-primitive recreation area was once home to the Day Lake Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. You can find traces of this former WWII POW camp at the north end of the Suomi Hills area, located nine miles south of Marcell, MN.

www.judygarlandmuseum.com

www.edgeofthewilderness.com

Bigfork

www.edgecenterarts.org

Seek a Legend

Grand Rapids to Ely

Legend has it, the ancient Mesabi created what we now call the Iron Range.

This paved, scenic trail leads you to discover the area’s history and beauty by bicycle, on foot or with rollerblades.

www.mesabitrail.com

Break Trail Cohasset

135 Miles of paved trail,

But who’s counting? mesabitrail.com

Register for the Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour—held Saturday August 3, 2019.

Minnesota Trails

2019 marks the official opening of the new Tioga mountain bike trails near Grand Rapids. This purpose-built trail system, a reclaimed former mine on Pokegama Lake, has 25 miles of singletrack to explore.

www.grimba.org

I

TASCA SPORTS

T RAIL

Bicycle Sales, Repairs, and Rentals

Authorized Dealer: (218) 236-1716 • itascatrailsports.net 316 NE 4th Street, Grand Rapids, MN 55744

Fall 2019 23

Miles of fun. Year-round.

Beautiful Decorah, Iowa is marked by the signature rolling hills and soaring bluffs of the Driftless Region.

Visit Decorah for an ideal trail riding experience in a picturesque setting along the Driftless Area Scenic Byway.

The 11-mile Trout Run Trail loop features casual riding over bridges and farmland, and challenging switchbacks with stunning views of the valley. There are more than 30 miles of off-road, single track trails for experienced riders looking for adventure. Decorah’s trails are open year round to riders, walkers, joggers, skiers, skaters…you get the idea!

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TWIN SPRINGS PARK 52

IMPORTANT-please read

DECORAH

IOWA

St

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POP. 8109

The Decorah Trail system is extensive and includes trails that can be challenging for riders of all skill levels.

Proper equipment and experience is necessary to ensure the safety of all who use the trails. Regardless of past mountain biking experience, we recommend you use extreme caution when testing out new trails.

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MILES OF FUN YEARROUND.

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visitdecorah.com 1-563-382-3990

TROUT RUN PARK

Looking for paved bike trails? Contact us to get your copy of our Paved Trails of Winneshiek County Map.

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DECORAH CHAMBER WINNESHIEK DEVELOPMENT

See you on the trail!

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Decorah

visitdecorah.com

Request a trail guide!

563-202-8529|visitdecorah.com

Minnesota Trails

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24 Fall 2019

FREEPORT

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unincorporated

Glacial Ridge Trail

Route Length: 245 miles Route: Several loops in the countryside between Willmar and Glenwood, with extensions to Alexandria and Sauk Centre.

Hike a Mountain

Sibley State Park

There is something for everyone at this popular west-central Minnesota State Park. Mount Tom is the high point in a 50-mile radius and offers great views.

www.dnr.state.mn.us

Jump in a Lake

Douglas County

It shouldn’t be hard to do in Douglas County. Over 300 beautiful lakes invite you to jump in, fish in, boat in or just kick back and relax by the beach. Find your favorite and explore 83 square miles of water.

www.explorealex.com

Visit Broadway Alexandria

Double Down

Bog Down

The Central Lakes Trail is a wonderful 55mile ride from Fergus Falls to Osakis. Like pearls on a string, 10 communities offer a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment options if the countless lakes and abundant wildlife aren’t enough.

In Osakis the trail makes a seamless transition to the Lake Wobegon Trail for even more riding. The best part is that, travelled west to east, it’s just a little bit downhill.

Sculpted by ancient glaciers, Lake Carlos State Park contains a tamarack bog, marshes, woodland ponds and lakes.

In the winter, ski from the tamarack bog to a maple-basswood forest. A variety of recreational activities revolve around the lake. Clear and deep, Lake Carlos offers visitors a perfect setting for swimming, fishing, boating, camping, hiking and horseback riding.

Central Lakes Trail

www.centrallakestrail.com Willmar

Willmar’s Barn Theatre is one of a few community theatres in the country that has its own building.

www.thebarntheatre.com

Rewrite History Alexandria

Discovered by a farmer in 1898, the Kensington Runestone suggests that Scandinavian explorers visited the area in 1362, much earlier than Columbus.

See it for yourself at the Kensington Runestone Museum.

www.runestonemuseum.org

Go Big

Find a Legacy

www.explorealex.com

Alexandria

Everything you ever wanted to know about what’s in and on the lakes is on exhibit at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum. The boat exhibit includes gleaming wooden vessels and sparkling, futuristic cruisers made from fiberglass.

www.legacyofthelakes.org

www.dnr.state.mn.us

Play in the Barn

The Alexandria Area Arts Associations’ Andria Theatre produces five mainstage shows a year. This season’s lineup includes shows like Hello Dolly, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Disney’s Frozen Jr. It’s miles from New York, but right on Broadway-in Alexandria, MN.

www.andriatheatre.org

Lake Carlos State Park

Alexandria

Big Ole, a 28-foot Viking statue weighing four tons overlooks the Central Lakes Bike Trail. Big Ole was built in 1965 for the New York World’s Fair and now stands along the Central Lakes Trail in Alexandria.

Ride a Trail Starbuck

The 5-mile Glacial Ridge Bike Trail connects Glacial Lakes State Park to nearby Starbuck for a quick ride into town.

The mystery of the Kensington Runestone has endured through the ages. Runestone Museum Foundation photo

www.glaciallakesstateparkfriends.com

55 miles of beautiful, paved rail-trails across central Minnesota.

Visit CentralLakesTrail.com for maps and resources Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 25

A weekend or a week long, loaded with family fun, an outdoor excursion or a getaway laced up with romance,

UNLEASH YOUR INNER EXPLORER THIS IFALL! Over 350 Lakes• Central Lakes State Trail Plentiful Parks• Thriving Downtown Glacial Ridge Scenic Byway• Fantastic Fishing Unique Museums• Over 150 Holes of Golf Wineries, Breweries & Distillery

26 Fall 2019

Minnesota Trails

Mill Around Terrace

A welcome stop on the byway, the Terrace Mill Historic District features a 1903 vintage flour mill, keystone arch bridge, weir dam, log cabin and other historic buildings. Visit them for the Fall Festival on September 29 and enjoy music, vendors and food.

www.terracemill.org

Make a Splash Alexandria

After you’re done cruising the Central Lakes Trail, get wet refreshment at the 38,000 square foot Big Splash Minnesota Water Park. If you’d rather stay dry, there’s always the Atikwa Championship Golf Course where you can work on your game and upper body on 18 holes around Lake Alvin. For tired muscles, the Darling Reflections Spa is the ticket after a long ride. Top it off with dinner at one of three dining spots and it’s a full day at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center.

www.arrowwoodresort.com

Rebuild History Pennock

Visit this replica log church that looks just like the one erected by Norwegian immigrants in 1868.

A fall hike at Lake Carlos State Park near Alexandria. James Feist photo

www.nllha.org

Get Wild

Starbuck

Prairie clover, pasque flowers, coneflowers, and goldenrods are just some of the wildflowers that blanket the hills of Glacial Lakes State Park during the summer, but many species of wildflowers bloom through October.

www.dnr.state.mn.us

Undertake Something New London

Housed in the historic Lebanon Lutheran Church, the Monongalia Museum has an array of unique items, including a wicker undertaker‘s basket.

The 1869 Sakariason cabin is also open to visitors.

www.glacialridgebyway.com

Travel Back in Time Fergus Falls

You can travel back to the days when it was okay to stand up in a boat as long as the fish were biting. The Otter Tail Historical Society has a museum in Fergus Falls full of classic treasures from the past.

www.otchs.org Minnesota Trails

CALL

Rates Greaat ckages &P E ONLIN

Fall 2019 27

Nirvana in the Hills The inaugural Leaf Mountain Foot Race at Glacial Lakes State Park

by Jan Lasar

SAVE THE DATE

At 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning in late September, the edges of the horizon where just beginning to glow faintly when people started gathering in the horse camp at Glacial Lakes State Park. Brett Larson had been up late into the night, prepping the racecourse by the light of a headlamp and was now signing in runners as the sun slowly crept over the glacial hills. At the official 7 a.m. sunrise, 75 competitors-maps in hand-scattered into the rolling prairie and nearby woods for the inaugural Leaf Mountain Foot Race.

Competitors in the inaugural event chose to complete one, two or three loops on foot, each about six and a half miles long, with a central start, checkin and finish location. The goal was to navigate the unmarked course in search of six books hidden along the way. “To prove that you made it through the entire course (...) you have to bring back a page from all of these books,” Larson said. Pages to be collected corresponded with runners’ bib numbers, but there was a hitch. Racers leaving on the third loop

alternated directions and were given a new bib number.

“People up in the front challenging for the win would not necessarily know where they stood or if they were gaining or losing ground,” Larson said. There were no marshals directing runners or making sure they stay on course. “You have to figure it out on your own,” he said.

It’s challenging on purpose, but Larson encourages anyone to try it.

Terrain at Glacial Lakes State Park varies.

“It’s not anything Wide open hilltops, grassy fields and oak forest [people] should be offer lots of variety. Jan Lasar photo scared of (...) It’s more to get them just out and looking bring more attention and draw more up and looking around and having to be visitors to what they feel is a hidden aware of something, rather just turning gem. “We heard that the state funding off their mind and putting it on auto- is based on how many people visit the pilot.” parks and Glacial Lakes was kind of Larson and co-organizer Jolene at the bottom. And it’s not very well Moen, president of the park’s friends known. People don’t really know it group, modeled the race after the exists,” Larson said. notoriously tough Barkley Marathons Glacial Lakes State Park near in Tennessee, but nowhere near as rural Starbuck, MN was established in challenging. “Our event is manageable 1963 and preserves a unique landscape by any runner, or even hikers,” he said. formed by glaciers within its 2,400Both Larson and Moen fell in love acre boundary in the transition zone with Glacial Lakes State Park because between the western hardwood forests it’s close to home. But they wanted to and the eastern prairies. About 50,000

28 Fall 2019

2019 Leaf Mountain Foot Race September 21 www.leafmountainrace. wixsite.com/race Minnesota Trails

people visit the park annually, type of event where you’re not going to a trend Park Specialist Deanna have to pull in 60 volunteers,” he said.

Massmann says has been holding Runners came from all over steady for a number of years now.

Minnesota and the surrounding The park’s friends group states, even Canada. For a has long been pushing first-time race pulled for improvements and together by only a trying to increase dozen volunteers, visitor numbers Larson was happy at Glacial Lakes. they nearly They’ll use the reached their cap proceeds from of 80 with 75 the race to registrants. “We furnish one of thought we’d the seasonal be happy if 40 camper cabins people signed with electric lights up for our first and heat, so it can event out here in be used year-round. rural Minnesota, so Larson said we were really pleased getting the course with the numbers,” he Wooden medals, ready for the race was said. handcrafted challenging. In order hide As the day wore on, by a local artist, the books in time for the more and more racers had await recipients.

5 a.m. registration opening completed their final loops Jan Lasar photo he spent the night before and welcomed back others running the trails in the with cheers and ringing dark. However, without race marshals cowbells at the finish line. or staff to worry about, the race was Jeff Pokorney from Alexandria one of the easiest he’s ever coordinated. said he found the hills challenging, but “We wanted this old-school, no frills laughed and said it could have been due

to a lack of training. “I enjoy races like this,” he said after gathering all required pages and finding his way without a problem. “I think more people should get out here and do this.”

“I loved it,” said Rachel Hedlin from Lowry after she finished faster than she expected and picked up her medal. “Compared to other races, this is very, very unique,” she said and would “definitely come back.”

Reactions like these are what Larson was hoping for. His reward for all of the hard work, he said, comes from positive comments from racers and the fact that the mission to bring traffic into the park was a success, evident by a full campground, including 2 camper cabins. Normally, he feels exhausted after heading a race, but the Leaf Mountain Foot Race actually left him feeling recharged.

“It kinda felt like this whole weekend was just this trail-runner Nirvana,” he said.

Runners on the High Peak Trail in the early morning light. Jan Lasar photo

Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 29

2019

bike rides & tours

2019 Bike Events The cooler temperatures of fall make for great riding here in Minnesota.

These bike events offer anything from a familyfriendly trail cruise to a multi-day challenge for experienced riders. Pack a jacket and go for a ride before the snow flies.

Camping!

Next to the Trail

FUN

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Caramel e Apple Rid gon Trail

on Lake Wobe

Tent and RV camping with modern restrooms and showers.

8 campsites with cement pads and electrical hook-ups.

320-293-6687

Biking!

Come join the fun!

Saturday, Sept. 7 Take a ride on the Lake Wobegon Trail and enjoy local caramel apple treats.

Saturday, Sept. 14

510 Sinclair Lewis Ave In-Door Art Crawl • Hosted by 510 Art Lab

Local and Regional Artists displaying and selling their art.

Come and tour the Art Lab– Classes start soon.

visitsaukcentre.org • 855-444-SAUK

Visit The Centre of it all!

• Stay in the Center of the Lake Wobegon Trail • Enjoy restaurants and the Gopher Original Main Street Prairie Inn • Bike to the Sinclair Lewis Boyhood home and Museum just off the trail • Rest at Sauk Centre’s Hotels & Campgrounds

Sinclair Lewis Campground

Go mountain biking, trout fishing, kayaking and paddle boarding in the heart of the Cuyuna Country Recreation Area.

Easy trail access!

Holdingford

Home of the Lake Wobegon Trail Covered Bridge Explore the newest stretch of Lake Wobegon Trail and bike the new Soo Line Trail!

Visit us Online www.holdingfordmn.us Ad courtesy of Holdingford Municipal Liquor • On Sale/Off Sale 320-746-2264 Cyclists Welcome!

30 Fall 2019

Cabins, tent and RV sites on beautiful Manuel Mine Lake in Crosby, MN. 23457 County Road 31 | Crosby, MN 56441 218-838-6858

For reservations visit www.redriderresort.com Minnesota Trails

2019 CARAMEL APPLE RIDE

September 7, 2019 Location: Sauk Centre, MN Website: www.lakewobegontrail.com/ lwta-rides Enjoy the fall colors and great apple refreshments at all the rest stops including caramel apples and other treats from local vendors. Spend the day riding the great Lake Wobegon Trail Country.

Jesse James Bike Tour

September 7, 2019 Location: Northfield, MN Website: http://jessejamesbiketour.org Distances: 10, 30, 45, 60, 100 miles This fabulous bike tour is an official event of Defeat of Jesse James Days, one of Minnesota’s largest community celebrations and the best century ride around.

September Song

bike rides & tours

Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour

September 8, 2019 Location: St. Paul, MN Website: www.bikeclassic.org Distances: 15, 32, 47 miles Discover traffic-free glee on Minnesota’s biggest bike tour and a wonderful ride through Saint Paul, Minnesota.

RIDEMN1-Minnesota Crossing

September 8 to September 14, 2019 Location: Lake Bronson, MN Website: www.ridemn1.org RideMN1 holds an annual bicycle ride across Minnesota to raise awareness and raise funds for cancer research. This year they visit Lake Bronson, Roseau, Baudette, Littlefork, Orr, Hoyt Lakes and Silver Bay.

PurpleRideStride

September 14, 2019 Location: Maple Grove, MN Website: www.support.pancan.org Distances: 8, 25 miles.

This year the event will take participants on a route at Elm Creek Regional Park.

Woodtick 100/Deertick 50

September 14, 2019 Location: Cuyuna, MN Email: info@woodtick100.com Website: www.woodtick100.com Distances: 50, 100 miles This gravel ride has some of the finest off-the-grid backcountry gravel Aitkin and Crow Wing County have to offer.

Things kick off with a party at Cuyuna Brewing Co. on Friday night.

DETROIT LAKES, MINNESOTA

September 7, 2019 Location: Rice Lake, WI Distance: 50 miles 2019 is the 51st anniversary of this classic road ride on relatively flat country roads and along the shores of Rice Lake. You’re on your own, but there are stores, restaurants and a beach on the way. The cost for the queue sheet is $1, just like in 1968!

TASTE OF THE TRAIL

September 7, 2019 Lanesboro, Whalan, Peterson, MN September 14, 2019 Fountain, Preston, Harmony, MN September 21, 2019 Houston, Rushford Area, MN Website: www.rootrivertrail.org/events/ taste-of-the-trail/ Three weekends each feature a different selection of towns. Each community will give you a taste of their town with different activities, food and music.

BIKE RENTALS - LIFT SERVICE GRAVITY JUMP TRAILS XC SINGLETRACK SKILLS PARK - HIKING & MORE!

detroitmountain.com

Lumberjacks and Loons Tour

Sept. 8 to Sept. 15, 2019 Location: Itasca State Park Website: www.mywahooadventures.com/ bicycling Distances: 18 to 44 miles a day.

An at-your-own pace ride through northern Minnesota, following the Mississippi River.

D E T RO I T L A K E S , M N

NEW TRAILS OPENING JULY 2019

Preston Get Hooked.

Visit us for

Taste of the Trail

September 14th www.rootrivertrail.org

Plan your trip to Bluff Country today! www.gethookedonpreston.com | #GetHookedOnPreston

Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 31

2019

bike rides & tours Minneapolis Bike Tour

September 15, 2019 Location: Minneapolis, MN Website: www.minneapolisbiketour.com Distances: 16, 32 miles.

The Minneapolis Bike Tour starts and ends at beautiful Boom Island and features multiple fully supported routes that take riders through the spectacular park and byway system of Minneapolis at their own pace, traffic free.

Pedal Prior Bike Ride

September 15, 2019 Location: Prior Lake Website: www.pedalprior.com Distances: 12, 32, 72 miles This ride is a fundraiser for the Prior Lake Rotary Club and is part of the 2019 Summer Charity Events Series. Starts at Prior Lake High School.

Mora Bike Tour

September 21, 2019 Location: Mora, MN Website: www.morabiketour.org Distances: 25, 50 miles The annual Mora Bike Tour will start and finish at the Vasaloppet Nordic Center and will offer routes around the Mora countryside on hard surface rural country roads with gentle, rolling hills.

Ride the Ridges

September 21, 2019 Location: Winona, MN Website: www.ridetheridges.bike Distances: 23, 44, 67, 105 miles Ride the Ridges will take riders through some of the most scenic areas in southeastern Minnesota, from lush valleys along streams to bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Four routes, ranging from short to a century. Each route has hills and valleys and spectacular views. All routes have well-stocked rest stops featuring local delicacies.

Tour de Hugo

September 21, 2019 Location: Hugo, MN Website: www.tourdehugo.com Distances: 6, 20, 35, 50, 62 miles Explore the beautiful variety of landscapes that Minnesota has to offer on the Tour de Hugo and enjoy the fall colors, which are likely to be at full peak.

Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival

September 21, 2019 Location: Eagan, MN Website: www.co.dakota.mn.us The Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival celebrates the great sport of mountain biking at Lebanon Hills Regional Park.

Autumn Trek

September 22, 2019 Location: River Falls, WI Website: www.rivervalleytrails.org/autumn-trek Distances: 25, 45, 65, 101 miles The Autumn Trek bike ride takes you through some of the most scenic country in Western Wisconsin.

Tour de Tush-Twin Cities

September 22, 2019 Location: Richfield, MN Website: www.coloncancercoalition.org Distance: 25 miles This tour happens alongside Get Your Rear in Gear - Twin Cities, a 5k run/walk, to bring awareness to colon cancer.

Bikes4Kids Legacy Ride

September 28, 2019 Location: Maple Grove Website: www.bikes4kidsmn.org Distances: 5, 15, 25 miles.

A Bikes 4 Kids fundraiser ride through Elm Creek Park Reserve’s beautiful trail system.

Headwaters 100

September 28, 2019 Location: Park Rapids, MN Website: www.itascatur.org Distances: 45, 75, 100 miles The premier fall event in Northern Minnesota, the Headwaters 100 has something for everyone.

Heck of the North

September 28, 2019 Location: North of Two Harbors, MN Website: www.heckofthenorth.com Distances: 20, 50, 100 miles.

Race on rugged and beautiful gravel and forest roads near Two Harbors.

Mankato River Ramble

October 6, 2019 Location: Mankato, MN Website: www.bikeriverramble.org Distances: 12, 26, 42 miles.

Savor the fall colors on this countryside ride with rest stops, ride support, delicious food and beverages, and live music.

Terravail Oremageddon

October 12, 2019 Location: Ironton, MN Website: www.cuyunalakesmtb.com/ oremageddon Distances: 12, 25, 50 miles The Salsa Oremageddon mountain bike race has varying levels of difficulty with intense twists, turns and vertical climbs on the Cuyuna red dirt singletrack.

The Filthy 50

October 12, 2019 Location: Lanesboro, MN Website: www.thefilthy50.com Distances: 50 miles The Filthy 50 is an unsupported, timed gravel bike event you can ride at a leisurely pace, or race to challenge yourself. This year it moves to Lanesboro in southern Minnesota’s scenic bluff country and registration is limited to 1,000.

32 Fall 2019

Minnesota Trails

TrailsQ&A

2019

snapshots of people we meet along the trail

Dale and Pam Burns

Henry Kent

Occupation: Happily retired.

Seen: Working as campground Hosts at Glacial Lakes State Park with their dogs Fred and Wishbone.

How long have you been hosts? This is our third year here.

Why did you decide to become hosts? We became curious after seeing camp hosts at another state park and thought ‘Boy, this would be nice.’

We love greeting new campers and asking them if they need help.

What are some of your other duties? We make sure the campsites are picked up after someone leaves, so it’s ready for the next camper, make sure the bathrooms are stocked.

We sell firewood and also let people know if severe weather is coming.

Do you use the trails in the park? We have. We’ve been to the scenic overlooks and walked some of the trails.

What’s your favorite part of this park? The diversity of the different things you see.

When you go to the high point overlook you can see trees on one side and prairie on the other.

Do you have a favorite state park? Sibley State Park. We’ve gone fishing there since the 1970s and we know where all the fish are.

Future Minnesota plans?

We’ve been to most of Minnesota’s state parks, except a few in southeastern Minnesota.

Occupation: Student of costume design, Wimbledon College of the Arts.

Seen: Camping and backpacking at George Crosby Manitou State Park.

What’s so special about this park? There are so few people and the Manitou River is amazing.

Favorite spot at this park: Misquah Trail Overlook and the swimming hole at campsite seven.

Advice for novice campers: Reserve campsites far from the parking area and avoid bug season.

Favorite Minnesota park: The Boundary Waters and St. Croix State Park, both for canoeing.

Best experience in a park: Glacier National Park, hiking over the continental divide twice in one day, 19 miles.

Worst outdoor experience: Cold and rainy days paired with wet gear.

Trail treat: Epic beef stick and Luna Bars.

With $1,000 I would: Travel to cool parks on other continents.

New London, MN

Trails Q & A

Lisa Eiden

Susan Stevens

Occupation: Children’s Treatment Center in Minneapolis.

Seen: Hiking the trails at Flandrau State Park.

Gear: New Merrell hiking boots Favorite spot at Flandrau: The view from Indian Point Ridge.

Favorite park in Minnesota: Gooseberry Falls.

Gear tip: Get good boots like mine with great arch support, comfort, and they break in easily.

Best experience in a Minnesota park: Meeting nice people. I made and enjoyed a campfire with a new friend.

Worst experience: That same friend got me into some poison ivy.

Snack food: Granola bars and just plain water.

With $1,000 what would you do? I would donate to help burn victims.

What does this park mean to you? It’s a shining example of conservation and preservation of our natural ecology.

Advice for a park visitor: Watch for turkeys, deer, red squirrels and eagles.

Occupation: I work for a nonprofit organization.

Seen: Hiking at the Fifth Falls, Gooseberry Falls State Park.

Gear: BAFX trekking poles and camera.

Why do you hike here? I love the river, away from the crowds.

Favorite spot at Gooseberry: The riffle between here and the highway. It’s quiet, a good snack stop.

Advice: Know that these trails are rugged. Enjoy the journey even if you do not reach your goal.

Favorite parks in Minnesota: All of the North Shore parks and the city parks in Minneapolis.

Best experience: Watching my kids evolve on repeat visits to Gooseberry.

Worst experience: None.

Trail treat: Cliff Bars and an apple.

With $1,000 I would: Replace the Split Rock River Bridge on the Superior Hiking Trail

Robbinsdale, MN

QA

Your Adventure Starts Nearby.

Learn more at

northcountry trail.org/Minn Minnesota Trails

Look for E-book version available soon Fall 2019 33

Mission Accomplished

by Patrick McNeal

I

guess you could call my wife, Ellie, and I world walkers because we’ve hiked in over 80 countries around the world and trekked through most of our national parks. As teachers we were both lifelong learners and when friends told us about the Minnesota State Parks Hiking Club program, we immediately jumped on board. Excited about discovering our own state-which we had somewhat neglected-Ellie and I embarked on a mission, but our journey didn’t end as expected.

The concept was simple. Armed with a guidebook we set out to first find the iconic blue and yellow Hiking Club sign in each state park and followed the path. At the end of each hike we located the Hiking Club password and wrote it down in our books. Every 25 miles we were rewarded with a seal and patch, which we picked up at the park office, but more importantly, we created lots of memories.

Our expedition was full of surprises that punctuated the great diversity of our state. A continental divide in Minnesota? Yes, at Savanna Portage State Park. We hiked atop the divide where a drop of water on one side flows to Lake Superior, the St.

Lawrence Seaway, and the Atlantic and on the other side to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Add a historic portage linking Lake Superior to the Mississippi watershed and a fascinating bog walk, and it’s hike worth taking.

The bog walk at Savanna Portage State Park is lined with feathery tamarack and black spruce. It weaves through patches of sphagnum moss and carnivorous pitcher and sundew plants, hungry for insects to fall into their sinister hold.

We walked along North Shore paths where the rocks talked back to us with each step. They told us stories of volcanic upheaval and glaciation while piles of pink volcanic rhyolite crackled with each step. The trails led us to pristine waterfalls, one even vanishing before our eyes at Judge C. R. Magney State Park. Seeing High Falls at Grand Portage State Park brought on a flashback to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Both were roaring, frothing and sending up impressive waves of spray that engulfed us.

The winter hike to Shovel Point at Tettegouche State Park was nothing less than spectacular. Cliffs and trees were turned into sculptures of snow and ice as each successive wave licked

the shoreline.

Naturalist John Muir once wrote, “In every walk with nature one receives more than he seeks,” but I didn’t fully understand this until after Ellie and I started hiking in Minnesota. I never thought I could get too excited about walking through a prairie, but how wrong I was! Walk the trails at Blue Mound, Buffalo River, Old Mill, Camden, or Glacial Lakes State Parks and be transported back in time when an ocean of tall grasses waved in the wind, welcomed homesteaders and fed large herds of bison. These native animals are now making a comeback at Blue Mounds and Minneopa State Parks on mere remnants of the 18 million acres of grassland that once covered our state.

Walk the forest trails and smell the Itasca pines, or the autumn aromas of decaying leaves at Maplewood or Lake Maria State Parks, where-if you’re lucky-you may encounter the endangered Blanding’s Turtle. Hike the gallery forest at Old Mill State Park or an oak savannah at Lake Bronson or Buffalo River State Parks. At Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, each spring bountiful wildflowers rush to catch the

Bridge crossing over Pike Creek at Charles A. Lindbergh State Park.

Jan Lasar photo 34 Fall 2019

Minnesota Trails

Mission accomplished: A full Hiking Club Passport.

Jan Lasar photo

vernal rays of sunlight before the canopy explodes in greenery, stealing their light.

Ellie and I enjoy learning about our state’s history and the Hiking Club trails will take you back in time. A journey to the center of the earth might be a good description of the Pike Island trail at Fort Snelling State Park. This is a place where creation occurred for the Dakota people and where Zebulon Pike in 1805 purchased land from them for what some say was $200 and 60 gallons of liquor. It was also a dark place because of what happened here in the winter of 1862-1863.

Farther south, at Fort Ridgely State Park, there’s something hypnotic about hiking through the ruins of a once-thriving outpost and then a beautiful gully where one can only imagine the turmoil that erupted here during

the US-Dakota War of 1862.

Through our Hiking Club experience we have made many memories and our memories have made us. Memories are important when one has Alzheimer’s. For Ellie, it crept up slowly and unknowingly and then it was upon us. That was the unexpected ending but it was also a beginning – I had to finish our mission for both of us. We still hike trails, though shorter and closer to home, and we walk hand in hand closer than ever. We have always received more than we sought.

An inscription on a stone I once saw says it all – “Life is not measured in the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.”

My advice: Go out and take a hike. Create your own memories.

You won’t regret it.

Ellie and Patrick McNeal on a short hike near home.

Anne Studer photo

HIKING CLUB PATCHES

Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 35

McCarthy Beach State Park

by Rudi Hargesheimer

McCarthy Beach State Park, 16 Sturgeon Lake; just a stone’s throw miles north of Chisholm near Side away is Side Lake. The sand bar isthmus Lake, Minnesota is a great alternative separating them is the heart of the to Minnesota’s many busier state parks park on the Sturgeon Chain of Lakes. with its yellow tamaracks, dark old- Sturgeon Lake has an incredible growth pines, blazing red maples, clean swimming beach. White sand contrasts lakes for swimming, great fishing against tall pines on one side, but and gorgeous campsites. toward the middle of the Park Manager, lake the sand bottom Dawn Ryan, tells two extends hundreds A camper’s paradise under the tall pines at stories about the of feet outward.

Side Lake campground. history of the park.

Wading waist deep The first begins in water far from more than 12,000 shore is a magical years ago with experience. the retreating of F a s t the continental forward 12,000 glaciers.

“That years to 1945 to ridge up there the second story: is a terminal “John A. McCarthy moraine,” Ryan owned this land. explains, “and down His respect for World here was a sandy outwash War II veterans prompted plain. But big chunks of ice him to donate it to the state remained surrounded by all that sand. park system as a living memorial to The ice slowly melted and left behind those that died in the war.” Ryan pot hole lakes with sandy beaches.” explains.

The biggest of many such lakes is Park visitors Jeff and Jill Schyma consider fishing to be the big draw of the park. They love the Northern Pike A fall color hike fishing on Side Lake but the beauty of on Pickerel Lake Trail the campground pushes this park to number one on their list. They love what they call “the simple life” beneath the big pines. “There is no more beautiful place to camp in Minnesota,” Jeff Schyma says.

But McCarthy Beach State Park also delivers on hiking trails. The Pickerel Lake Trail and Big Hole Trail comprise the park’s Hiking Club loop. Walking

36 Fall 2019

Beach house on Sturgeon Lake. photos by Rudi Hargesheimer

among thousands of tall pines with colorful splashes of maple, birch and poplar makes for a splendid hike in late September.

September and October are also great times to escape crowds.

A September visit counted only 15 campers among 59 campsites at the main Side Lake campgrounds. A few miles away, the 30 campsites at Beatrice Lake campgrounds were all vacant.

Both campgrounds are wonderful all summer long, having so much space to yourself is pure indulgence.

Wintertime at the park is quiet and snowshoeing on the hiking trails is rewarding. Park Manager Ryan says that groomed cross-country ski trails may be coming back to the park with the help of new funding from the St. Paul DNR offices, a project The Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota supports.

A visit to McCarthy Beach State Park, one of Minnesota’s quieter destinations, is worth it year round.

Minnesota Trails

Garden Island Rec. Area

Lake of the Woods

Zippel Bay Lake Bronson

Red River of the North

Rainy River

Hayes Lake

Franz Jevne

75

International Falls

Old Mill

Red Lake

59

Crookston

Lake Bemidji

2 La Salle Lake Rec. Area

Leech Lake Walker

Itasca

Moorhead

Central Lakes

Lake Wobegon

Alexandria

75

Glacial Lakes

Sibley Chippewa

Monson Lake Lac qui Parle

Willmar

Lake Maria

Father Hennepin

59 71

212

Lake Rec. Area

Split Rock Lighthouse Gitchi Gami Trail Two Harbors

Moose Lake

Alex Laveau Segment

Sand Stone

Banning St. Croix

MAP LEGEND PRAIRIE DECIDUOUS FOREST CONIFEROUS FOREST TALLGRASS ASPEN PARKLAND

Snake

35

St. Croix River

STATE PARKS

Rum

North Branch Sunrise Prairie Hardwood Creek Grand Rounds

Minneapolis Luce Line Hutchinson Crow, Dakota LRT South Fork Greenleaf

212 Upper Sioux Agency

12

Kettle

Mora

94 Mississippi

Crow, Glacial North Fork Lakes

Gooseberry Falls

Hinckley

169

George H. Crosby Manitou Silver Bay

Superior Hiking Trail Lake Superior Duluth

Munger

Mille Lacs Lake

Lake Superior

Tofte

Tettegouche

Cloquet

Jay Cooke Savanna Portage Willard

Soo Line Saint Cloud

ROCORI Paynesville

Pomme de Terre

Big Stone Lake 12

Charles A. Lindbergh

Sauk Sauk Centre Albany

St. Louis

Crosby

Soo Line Little Falls

Lake Carlos

OHV Rec. Area

Grand Portage National Monument

Grand Marais

Temperance Cascade River River

Hibbing Iron Range

Hill Annex Mine

2

Cuyuna Country Rec. Area

Mille Lacs Kathio

71 Long Prairie 10

Bear Head Lake

Grand Portage Judge C.R. Magney

Kekekabic Trail

Eveleth

169 Mississippi

North Country Trail

Crow Wing

Glendalough

Glendalough

Mesabi

Grand Rapids

Heartland Park Buffalo River Detroit Paul Rapids Lakes Bunyan North Country Pine Trail Crow 59 Wing Maplewood Otter Tail 94 Brainerd Wadena Fergus Falls

McCarthy Beach

Lake Cass Winnibigoshish Lake Paul Bunyan Migizi Schoolcraft

Bemidji

75

BWCA

Lake Vermilion /Soudan Undergound Mine

Scenic

Erskine

Border Route Trail

53 Vermillion

Big Fork

71

Lower Red Lake

Red River Rec. Area

Voyageurs National Park

Little Fork

Big Bog Rec. Area

Upper Red Lake

Rainy Lake

Rainy Lake

Hugo

Fort

Saint Paul

52

Wild River Interstate William O’Brien Marine on St. Croix Brown’s Creek Stillwater Gateway

Afton Hastings

STATE RECREATIONAL AREAS BIKE TRAILS ROADS STATE WATER TRAILS MAJOR CITIES LONG DISTANCE HIKING TRAILS Not for Navigation Jan. 2019

Snelling Cannon Red Wing Minnesota Valley 61 Redwood Fair Frontenac Valley Cannon Ridge Rec. Area 35 Falls Lake City Goodhue Fort Camden Marshall Cannon Mississippi Pioneer 63 Flandrau Ridgely Sakatah Camden New Ulm Nerstrand Great Zumbro Cottonwood Lake Mankato Big Woods River 14 Carley Faribault 75 Springfield Sleepy Straight Douglas Ridge John A. Latsch Sakatah Eye Lake Shetek Whitewater Pipestone Minneopa Singing Hills 14 Watonwan National Monument Winona Owatanna Rice Lake Pipestone Great River Bluffs Rochester Whitewater St. James Des Casey 52 Root Moines Cedar Root 59 Jones River Kilen Woods Myre Blue Blazing 90 Split Rock Lanesboro Big Island Blue Earth Star Creek Shooting Mounds Beaver Creek Valley Preston Star 63 90 Blue Blue Austin Shell Albert Harmony-Preston Valley Earth Mounds Worthington Rock Lea Lake Louise Harmony Forestville / Luverne Minnesota

Mystery Cave

You, a road trip and a badge of honor.

The license plate provides you with unlimited visits to all 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas for an entire year. No vehicle permit required.

Available where license plates are sold.

Information on how to get yours at mnDNR.gov/ParksPlate

Minnesota Trails

Fall 2019 37

Business Directory Online & In Print $250/annually

INFORMATION

CENTRAL LAKES TRAIL ASSOCIATION 320-763-0102

324 Broadway, Alexandria www.centrallakestrail.com

FERGUS FALLS CVB

112 Washington Ave. W, Fergus Falls www.visitfergusfalls.com

VISIT BRAINERD

CYCLE PATH AND PADDLE

218-545-4545

115 3rd Avenue SW, Crosby www.cyclepathpaddle.com

EASY RIDERS BICYCLE & SPORT

HUTCHINSON CHAMBER

VISIT DULUTH

320-251-2844

FUN

JAKE’S BIKES ALEXANDRIA

320-219-7433

9500 Spirit Mountain Place, Duluth www.spiritmt.com

TOURIGHT BICYCLE SHOP

320-639-2453

OUTDOOR MOTION

320-587-2453

ITASCA TRAIL SPORTS

218-326-1716

NORTHERN CYCLE

218-732-5971

NORTHERN CYCLE

218-751-(BIKE) 2453

124 2nd Street NE, Little Falls www.tourightbicycleshop.com

141 Main Street South, Hutchinson www.outdoormotionbikes.com 316 NE 4th Street, Grand Rapids www.itascatrailsports.net 100 Mill Road, Park Rapids www.northerncyclemn.com 117 3rd Street NW, Bemidji www.northerncyclemn.com

BIKE KING

CARS BIKE SHOP

PIONEER CYCLE

763-755-8871

RAMSEY BICYCLE

St. Cloud

Southern Region

Metro Region Mankato 90

A quick and easy reference for planning your adventure!

Find your trail…

SINCLAIR LEWIS CAMPGROUND 320-352-2203

B&Bs

COUNTRY BED AND BREAKFAST 651-257-4773

5 miles from Taylors Falls www.countrybedandbreakfast.us

GREEN HERON B&B

2810 Meyers Bay Road, Grand Rapids www.greenheronbandb.com

218-999-5795

Do you have an idea to advance sustainability in your community?

Okey Ukaga Southeast RSDP Executive Director

...share the story We’re always looking for writers and photographers.

Contact jan@mntrails.com for more details.

763-323-6666

STRAUSS SKATES AND BICYCLES 651-770-1344

TONKA CYCLE AND SKI

952-938-8336

TRAILHEAD CYCLING & FITNESS

763-712-0312

11350 Aquila Drive, Suite 505, Champlin www.trailheadcyclingandfitness.com

More information at www.mntrails.com 38 Fall 2019

Duluth

826 Park Road, Sauk Centre www.ci.sauk-centre.mn.us

rsdp.umn.edu/Southeast

1751 Cope Avenue E, Maplewood www.shopstrauss.com 16 Shady Oak Road S, Hopkins www.tonkacycleandski.com

LODGING/CAMPING

763-784-6966

651-777-0188

6825 Hwy. 10 NW, Ramsey www.ramseybicycles.com

SPIRIT MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK 218-628-2891 800-642-6377

Community-University partnerships for sustainability serving Southeast Minnesota

GATEWAY CYCLE

12741 Central Ave., NE, Blaine www.pioneercycle.com

800-438-5884

651-457-7766

2661 Co Road I & Old Hwy 10, Mounds View www.CarsBikeShop.com 6028 Hwy. 36 Blvd N, Oakdale www.gatewaycycle.com

800-450-7247

Southeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnership

6489 Cahill Avenue, Inver Grove Heights www.bike-king.com

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Central Region

94

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FITZHARRIS BIKE & SPORT

REVOLUTION CYCLE AND SKI 320-251-2453

2

90

225 West Superior Street, STE 110 www.visitduluth.com

160 29th Avenue South, St. Cloud www.revolutioncycleandski.com

61

71

71

218-829-5516

419 N. Nokomis St., Alexandria www.jakesbikes.com

Bemidji

218-332-5425

320-587-5252

2 Main St., Hutchinson www.explorehutchinson.com

415 Washington Street, Brainerd www.easyridersbikes.com 105 7th Avenue S, St. Cloud www.fitzharrismn.com

Northeast Region

2

14084 Baxter Drive, STE 12, Brainerd www.visitbrainerd.com

BIKE SHOPS

Minnesota Trails Directory Regions

Northwest Region

WELCOMES YOU TO SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA PEPSI BOTTLING CO. PIPESTONE, MN Minnesota Trails

Where every season is above average!

Join us for our enjoyable trail rides!!

lakewobegontrail.com

Caramel R ll

100 miles: Shuttle RAIL TRAILS 100 out, ride back.

BIKE TOUR

RIDE

2nd Saturday in June

Sleep America’s Best Value Inn

1st Saturday in August

Eat & Drink Bad Habit Brewing

322 12th St. S, Sauk Centre americasbestvalueinn.com (320) 351-7256

25 College Ave. N, St. Joseph badhabitbeer.com (320) 402-4442

The Estates Bed and Breakfast

Barbacoa

29 E Minnesota St., Saint Joseph estatesbedandbreakfast.com (320) 557-0300

441 Railroad Ave, Albany Authentic Mexican & American food right off the trail (320) 403-1590

Come celebrate over 20 years of the Lake Wobegon Trail!

Avon Cabin Café 105 Avon Ave. S, Avon avoncabincafe.com (320) 356-7198

1998-2018

Cornerstone Deli and Market

379 Railroad Ave., Albany cornerstonedeliandmarket. arvigmedia.com (320) 845-2363

Shop The Outpost Mercantile

Lake Wobegon Trail Gallery

431 Railroad Ave., Albany lakewobegontrailgallery.com (320) 845-4100

PotSpot

Paint your own pottery 107 Avon Ave. N, Avon potspotceramics.com (320) 356-2233

Minnesota Trails

615 6th St. S, Sauk Centre theoutpostmercantile.com (320) 351-7678

Gathering Grounds

200 Avon Avenue S, Avon gatheringgroundsavon.com (320) 356-1106

Jordie’s Trailside Café

105 1st Ave., Bowlus jordiestrailside.com (320) 584-8193

Services Joel Schneider Auto Service

701 Railroad Ave., Albany Auto, cycle, ATV & snowmobile service and accessories (320) 845-4856

Helping Hands Outreach

Rent a surrey bike in Holdingford! holdingfordhelpinghands.org (320) 746-9960 Fall 2019 39

FREE HOT HOME-STYLE BREAKFAST

INVITING INDOOR POOL

UPDATED GUESTROOMS

ADVENTURE AWAITS AT

AMERICINN

[800] 634.3444 www.wyndhamhotels.com

See more about these locations at www.wyndhamhotels.com.

From Minnesota’s rugged north shore to its southwestern prairie, the northwestern tallgrass parklands, to the Minnesota River Valley, taking good care of people in this great state of ours is what we do best. We’ve earned our stripes when it comes to genuine hospitality, and you’ll feel it the moment you walk through our doors. From a friendly smile to a free, hot American breakfast, stop in and discover true AmericInn® hospitality.

Austin, MN Baudette, MN Cloquet, MN Hutchinson, MN Lake City, MN Pequot Lakes, MN Red Wing, MN Roseau, MN Silver Bay, MN St. Cloud, MN Tofte/Lutsen, MN Two Harbors, MN Virginia, MN

[507] 437.7337 [218] 634.3200 [218] 879.1231 [320] 587.5515 [651] 345.5611 [218] 568.8400 [651] 385.9060 [218] 463.1045 [218] 226.4300 [320] 253.6337 [218] 663.7899 [218] 834.3000 [218] 741.7839

©2019 AMERICINN INTERNATIONAL, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL HOTELS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED EXCEPT CERTAIN HOTELS MANAGED BY A SUBSIDIARY OF WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS, INC.

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Minnesota Trails