Minnesota State Parks – Page 2

Old Mill State Park-Argyle-Minnesota

July 24, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Argyle, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Old Mill State Park, Outdoors, Parks3 Comments

We hiked Old Mill State Park on July 13th, 2023.

Our hike began on the Agassiz Self-guided Trail. We noticed bear scat on the trail. Thankfully, we didn’t see any bears.

The nice wide trail brought us to an overlook of the Middle River.

The trail led us through a variety of different tree groves.

Colorful wildflowers lined the trail.

I tried to take a close up of the tower in the field. Unfortunately, the deer flies had other plans. They attacked and we ran!

Down the hill from the parking lot was a swimming pond.

We took in the views of what is left of the WPA Historic Dam.

My favorite part of Old Mill State Park was the very cool looking stone bridge crossing over Middle River.

Our hiking adventure was 2 miles.

Red River State Recreation Area-East Grand Forks-Minnesota

July 18, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, East Grand Forks, exploring, Grand Forks, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Red River of the North, Red River State Recreation Area1 Comment

We hiked Red River State Recreation Area on July 12th, 2023.

The entrance to Red River State Recreation Area threw us off a bit. Our directions had us turn into a mall/business parking lot. At the end of the parking lot was the entrance to the park. We parked and began our hiking adventure.

The Red River of the North was on our left and the campground was on our right. If you’re looking for a more urban campsite, this is the park. Lots of restaurants and shops are all within a few minutes walk from the park. The wide trail was nicely paved throughout our hike.

The trail led under the highway. North Dakota is just on the other side of the bridge.

We diverted from the trail several times to take in views of the Red River of the North.

The trail continued across the road from the river. A huge beautiful park lay on both sides of the trail. We couldn’t believe all the open recreation space. We later found out that the reason for all the open recreation space is due to the floods that happen every spring. Some years, the floods were devastating.

The trail led us through a neighborhood. We could not help but notice the large stone wall that divided the park and the neighborhood. As beautiful as the river is, it can also be so destructive.

The trail continued through a tunnel under the road as we made our way back to our starting point.

After we finished our hike through the Red River Recreation Area, we decided to take in the view from the bridge.

Grand Forks, North Dakota had a monument showing the different heights the flood waters had reached throughout the years.

We crossed the bridge back to Minnesota.

Today’s hiking adventure was 3.4 miles.

Buffalo River State Park-Glyndon-Minnesota

July 17, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Buffalo River, Buffalo River State Park, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks3 Comments

We hiked Buffalo River State Park on July 12th, 2023.

Our hike began by the swimming pond that was depleted of water. The view was a bit surreal.

We followed the trail to the right side of the swimming pond to take in views of Buffalo River from the nearby bridge.

We backtracked a bit and decided to follow the River View Trail which was to the left of the swimming pond.

The trail followed the winding river offering beautiful views.

We continued on the trail. Wide open prairie views began to appear.

The next few photos are my favorite views of the Buffalo River.

We said goodbye to the river and began to hike the Wide Sky Trail.

Different shades of purple wildflowers were growing in the prairie along the trail.

We were happy it was a cool summer day as this prairie hike could be rather toasty in the hot sun.

We began our hike back to our starting point on the Old Grade Trail.

Our hiking adventure was 2.1 miles.

Gooseberry Falls State Park-Two Harbors-Minnesota

July 9, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, Gooseberry Falls, Gooseberry Falls State Park, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Two Harbors2 Comments

We hiked Gooseberry Falls State Park on June 25th, 2023.

The trail began just past the Joseph N. Alexander Visitor Center. As we crossed the Highway 61 Catwalk, we took in the view of the Upper Falls.

We continued our hike on the Gitchi Gummi Trail.

The trail had a steady incline. A view of the Gooseberry River Valley began to appear through the trees.

The Gooseberry River was flowing by with Lake Superior in the near distance.

A sandbar appears to stop the Gooseberry River from flowing into Lake Superior.

The trail continued alongside the lake offering a different view of the Gooseberry River flowing into Lake Superior. The river is flowing under the sandbar. The photos below show the rich brown river penetrating the lake.

One final overlook of the lake before heading back through the forest.

As the trail looped us back to our starting point, we took a quick detour to take in the amazing view of the Gooseberry Middle Falls.

A beautiful Iris was growing alongside the trail.

Our hiking adventure was 2.4 miles.

Tettegouche State Park-Silver Bay-Minnesota

July 8, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Lake Superior, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Shovel Point Trail, Tettegouche State Park1 Comment

We hiked Tettegouche State Park on June 25th, 2023.

Tettegouche is the first state park we have visited that did not have a welcome sign at their front entrance. They do have a large Nature Center for visitors to rest, enjoy a coffee, shop and learn about the nature around them. We hiked the Shovel Point Trail alongside the magnificent Lake Superior.

The rain stopped shortly before we began our hike. Everywhere we looked the colors appeared to be richer and more vibrant. We approached our first overlook on the trail.

The beautiful wooden path the park put in place helped to preserve the land surrounding the trail. I can only imagine this is a well traveled trail.

Nature always seems to amaze me. I love how the tree continued to grow around the giant rock. Up, up, up, we went to the next overlook.

Are you brave enough to go to the edge of the cliff for the view? You better believe I am!

We reached the final overlook on the trail. The waves crashed into the rocky shoreline. The view was amazing.

We began our hike back to our starting point.

Our hiking adventure was 1.5 miles.

Temperance River State Park-Schroeder-Minnesota

July 5, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Temperance River, Temperance River State Park4 Comments

We hiked Temperance River State Park on June 24th, 2023.

We parked at the wayside rest area off of Highway 61 and began our hike on the paved trail.

The paved trail ended once we reached the river.

The Temperance River flows through a steep and rocky gorge. The views were amazing and in places, very dangerous.

The higher we went up, the better the views.

The water spun around inside these carved out cauldrons.

The cascading waterfalls were such a sight to see.

My adrenaline was pounding as I stood on the edges of the rocks watching and hearing the river rush by me.

As we continued on the trail, the sounds of the river faded. The river became almost silent.

The trail led us away from the river and into the forest.

A little bird landed right in front of us on the trail. It watched us just as closely as we watched it. We ended up having to walk around it as it would not move. As soon as we made our way around it, it flew off.

The trail looped us back around to our starting point.

Our hiking adventure was 2.5 miles.

Cascade River State Park-Lutsen-Minnesota

July 4, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Cascade River, Cascade River State Park, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Lutsen, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks2 Comments

We hiked Cascade River State Park on June 24th, 2023.

Our hike began at the Trail Center. Rushing water from the river could be heard in the near distance.

A short distance from the stairs, we saw the Cascade River crashing down through the rocks creating a cascading waterfall. The photos I took of the majestic beauty of these falls cannot be compared to seeing it with one’s own eyes and hearing the rush of the water hitting the rocks with one’s own ears.

We continued on the trail alongside the river.

We diverted from the main trail for a few minutes for another closer view of the river. When the opportunity presents itself to take a quick detour, you better believe we take it.

Up the 96 steps back to the main trail towards Lookout Mountain.

I absolutely love when the trail is made from Mother Nature’s dirt and tree roots. To me this sight signifies a great hike ahead.

We crossed over a bridge taking in views of the river.

Once on the other side of the river we began our incline towards Lookout Mountain.

Now, I know we don’t have actual mountains in Minnesota however, climbing a giant hill sure feels like climbing a mountain. But, the view! The view is always worth the climb. Every! Single! Time!

After soaking up this amazing view, we made our descent from the overlook. The trail was lined with wildflowers and ferns.

Pioneer Trail was a quiet trail. Tall trees towered over us. Forests are a magical peaceful place, and this trail reminded us of that.

We crossed back over the river towards our starting point.

Our hiking adventure was 3.5 miles.

Judge C.R. Magney State Park-Grand Marais-Minnesota

July 3, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Devil's Kettle, exploring, Grand Marais, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Judge C.R. Magney State Park, Judge Magney State Park, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks1 Comment

We hiked Judge C.R. Magney State Park on June 24th, 2023.

Our hike began at the trailhead parking lot. The trail immediately led us across the Brule River.

The rocky unpaved trail ran parallel to the Brule River.

The trail continued to have a slight incline as we hiked up the cliffs. Small overlooks allowed us to view the river rushing below.

We reached another set of wooden stairs. Someone wrote on the staircase that there were 192 steps to the bottom. The view on the way down was astonishing.

We reached the bottom of the stairs and we heard the rushing of the Brule River going over the Upper Falls. Unfortunately, the staircase to view the falls was out of order/broken. I snapped a few photos through the trees and then we hiked up another set up stairs to view the Devil’s Kettle Falls.

There is a mystery that surrounds Devil’s Kettle Falls. One section of the river flows down a beautiful waterfall. The other part of the river flows into a huge pothole called Devil’s Kettle. Where the water goes after it enters the pothole has been a mystery for years. Scientists believe the water reappears further down the river, however, any item that has been dropped inside the Devil’s Kettle has never reappeared.

We spent a moment taking in the breathtaking sight.

We went back up the 192 steps and down the trail back to our starting point.

Our hiking adventure was 2.1 miles.

Grand Portage State Park-Grand Portage-Minnesota

July 2, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, Grand Portage, Grand Portage State Park, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks1 Comment

We hiked Grand Portage State Park on June 24th, 2023.

Grand Portage is near the Canadian border. It is so close to the border that the welcome to Minnesota State sign was visible from the parking lot.

We took in the views of the Pigeon River and Canada.

A very nice wide paved trail took us directly towards the High Falls. A large bunny hopped past us.

The park has two observation decks to view the highest waterfall in Minnesota, High Falls.

Our hiking adventure was 1.4 miles.

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park-Two Harbors-Minnesota

July 1, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, Gitchi-Gami State Trail, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Split Rock Lighthouse, Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, Two Harbors5 Comments

We hiked Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on June 23rd, 2023.

Our hike began at the trail center. Immediately we had amazing views of the historic lighthouse and Lake Superior. The air by the lake was cool and a light fog danced on top of the water.

Many other visitors were enjoying the view with us. People were kayaking, kids were playing on the rocks, a bride and groom were getting their photos taken and others were just sitting taking in the impressive view.

As we began to hike away from the lighthouse, we had the trail to ourselves.

We made our way to Bob’s Stairs.

At the bottom, we found a small beach. Not much swimming happens in Lake Superior though, being the water temperature is usually below 55 degrees even on hot days.

Beautiful wildflowers lined the trail.

The trail led us across a bridge where a giant tree made itself a home.

The different overlooks of Lake Superior on the trail were breathtaking.

We diverted from the main trail we were on for a few minutes to take in the bay and cross under Highway 61. The second photo is the view from the other side of the highway. I was amazed how completely different the view was from what we have seen so far on the trail.

Back under Highway 61 and through the tunnel we went.

We hiked a small part of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail. The Gitchi-Gami State Trail is a wide paved trail that is over 34 miles long!

We reached the part of the trail where we exited the Gitchi-Gami State Trail and began the Day Hill Trail. There were two different trails at this point; one that went straight up the cliff and the other was a regular non paved trail. Up the cliff we went. And let me tell you, we were not disappointed in our decision. The view was AMAZING!

We found a stone fireplace at the top of the cliff. The sign nearby explained it was a mystery as to who built the fireplace. They think it was built in the early 1900’s. I included a photo of the sign as there is another explanation of the fireplace.

We followed the trail back down the cliff and began our hike back to our starting point. We took in a few more views of the lighthouse which was almost out of sight due to the fog.

Today’s hiking adventure was 6.6 miles.

Hiking Essentials

May 8, 2023December 10, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Amazon Favorites, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Hiking essentials, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, OutdoorsLeave a comment

The following are my personal recommendations of items for average hikers like myself. They all make great gifts for the hiker in your life or for when you want to treat yourself! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my hiking adventures!

TrailBuddy Trekking Poles are lightweight and collapsible. They come with interchangeable accessories for different weather and terrain. The poles easily attach to my backpack. The Trekking Poles come in different colors.

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The INOXTO Lightweight Hiking Backpack has lots of pockets to store all my needed items. It also comes with a waterproof rain cover. The best part is that the backpack has two straps. One connects around the waist and the other connects around my chest. It helps alleviate any pain from my shoulders and back that come with wearing a backpack.

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If you are looking for a smaller and lighter backpack, then I recommend the ZOMAKE Ultra Lightweight Backpack. Lots of fun colors to choose from.

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Another MUST have item is a water bottle. The Hydro Flask Bottle and the Thermoflask Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle keep your water nice and cool on hot days. I always carry a 40 ounce bottle with me.

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Hot sweaty summer days can deplete our bodies of the good stuff. I found Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier to be the best at replenishing the body’s need for electrolytes and vitamins. Lime and Passion Fruit are my favorite flavors.

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This next item is a game changer! The mosquitos and flies can be horrible on the trails. Pop one of these nets over your cap and never look back. Just don’t wear around open flames.

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Bug spray is an important item, especially to keep the ticks off. I have found OFF Deep Woods Aerosol works the best under hot and sweaty conditions.

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This small First Aid Kit is perfect for your backpack. Mine has come in handy when I have scraped my leg climbing over a fallen tree on a trail. Safety first!

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Another must-have summer item is sunscreen. I really like the spray sunscreen from Alba Botanica. It’s biodegradable and cruelty free. Bonus, it also works well. I use it all over my body including my face.

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Neutrogena has a great sunscreen for your face. This sunscreen is lightweight and non-comedogenic.

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After a long hike I use Neutrogena Cleansing Face Wipes to clean all the bug spray, sunscreen and sweat off my face. If you are prone to breakouts, I highly recommend using these to clean up before your drive home. They are also plant-based compostable.

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A good pair of socks can go a long way on a hike, especially on a long hike. Darn Tough Socks stay put on your feet-no bunching up in your shoe or slipping off and no blisters. They are also guaranteed for life.

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Balega is another great brand of socks and are a great option if you’re wearing sneakers on paved trails-they’re super comfortable.

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A great pair of hiking boots can make or break your hiking adventures. Oboz Sypes Mid Leather B-Dry Hiking Boots will keep your feet happy along those trails.

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Don’t let the rain stop you from going on a hike. Throw on the Anyoo lightweight rain poncho and hike on! They have many colors to choose from. I like this poncho because it covers me and my backpack all in one.

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I found the perfect lightweight long tank top. Most tank tops end just past my stomach, not this tank. It hangs much lower than most tank tops for a comfortable feeling all while covering your lady parts and bum area.

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I never hike without a baseball cap connected to my backpack. On hot sunny days I wear it to keep the sun off my head and on rainy days I wear it to keep the rain off my glasses. Being a Minnesotan, I gotta rock a Twins cap.

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Sukeen Cooling Towels are great to wear around your neck or to drop over your hot sweaty head. They help cool you down instantly and they are reusable.

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Never be without a charged phone again with an Anker Portable Charger. I take lots of photos so I drain my battery quickly on long hikes.

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Snacks! The best part of hikes are the snacky snacks. Clif Bars are my favorite snack. They give me energy. I have found that many of the power bars on the market make me sleepy after eating them, not Clif Bars though. My favorite are the peanut butter ones!

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That’s it Fruit Bars make a tasty hiking snack too!

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Hopefully, you will never need this item however, I recommend having it just in case you run into a bear or another large animal that you need to run away from.

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Winter Hiking Items

MSR Revolution Explore All-Terrain Snowshoes have great traction on snow, ice, up and downhill. They are easy to put on and they stay on. I found them to be very lightweight!

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These are a must-have item for my backpack during the winter months. YakTrax are easy to put on and they stay on. No more slipping on icy trails.

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I will continue to update this list as I find other must have hiking essentials. Please share the list with other hiking enthusiasts.

Fort Snelling State Park-St. Paul-Minnesota

April 15, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Coldwater Spring, exploring, Fort Snelling State Park, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnehaha Falls, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Spring1 Comment

Today’s hiking adventure began at Fort Snelling State Park.

We parked by the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center and began our hike towards Pike Island. Let me backup a bit, this past winter Minnesota experienced its 3rd snowiest winter. This past week, the weather was in the high 80’s which meant the snow melted fast! As we neared the bridge to cross over to Pike Island we noticed…well…as you will see in the picture below, the bridge was surrounded by water. Since we didn’t have a canoe, we needed to change our hiking plans.

We decided to hike the paved trail towards Coldwater Spring. The weather was cool and rainy. It sure was nice to see little bits of spring beginning to pop out.

In the distance, we could hear running water. We exited the paved trail and began to explore the unpaved trails. A mini waterfall surrounded by colorful graffiti appeared.

As we entered Coldwater Spring, more signs of spring began to appear.

We continued to hike the unpaved trails towards Minnehaha Falls.

The Mississippi River was flowing fast. Areas that were normally dry were now flooded.

The trails led us up and down the cliffs. The heavy snow storm we had a week ago did lots of damage. Many trees were down, thick branches were snapped, and even the cliffs weren’t immune to the damage.

The trail close to the river was underwater, so back to the paved trail we went. The Ford Parkway Bridge can be seen in the distance. There is an island in the middle of the river. Currently it is under water, however, you can still see the tops of the trees.

We took the staircase back down to the trails closest to the river.

The water is close to the top of this bridge’s archway.

The trail crosses under the Steel Bridge also known as the Minnesota Veterans Home Bridge.

The closer we got to the Minnehaha Falls the louder the rushing water became.

Minnehaha Falls

As we looped back towards our starting point, more signs of spring began to appear.

We crossed over an old bridge and down an old staircase. The trail at the end of the stairs was flooded.

We hiked the paved trail back to our cars.

Today’s hiking adventure was 8.2 miles.

Afton State Park-Hastings-Minnesota

February 5, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Afton State Park, Candlelight hike, exploring, Hastings, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Night hiking, Outdoors, Parks, Winter5 Comments

Last night’s hiking adventure was at Afton State Park.

We pulled into the park and there was a line of cars at the front office. One would have thought we were pulling into a nightclub. Since we already had a parking pass, we flew by all the cars in the VIP lane. I had to park in the overflow overflow parking lot. We were not surprised to see so many people wanting to experience a night hike. The moon was full, the trail was lit by candlelight and the temperature was decent. The sunset was gorgeous last night. The sky looked like it was on fire! By the time we began our adventure just a sliver of light was left in the sky.

The first part of the trail was smooth with a few icy spots.

There was a bonfire about a half mile into our adventure.

The next part of the hike was a little less smooth. The snow was soft and thick. One moment we are hiking on the snow, the next moment your foot falls through the soft snow causing you to trip. Everyone was making funny sound effects and laughing when slipping through the snow. At one point my right leg went deep into the snow and bam on my knees I went. We got lots of laughing in last night.

We decided to hike the trail twice due to it being a short loop. The moon was amazing!

I absolutely loved all the candles lighting our way.

I highly recommend taking in a candlelit night hike. Our hiking adventure was 4 miles.

Big Rivers Regional Trail-Mendota Heights-Minnesota

January 7, 2023Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Big River Trail, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Lilydale Regional Park, Minnesota, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Robert Piram Regional Trail, Winter2 Comments

Today’s hiking adventure began at the Big Rivers Regional Trailhead.

After a week of heavy snowstorms, it felt great to get outside while the sun was shining. The temperature was a bit cool at -1 as our adventure started.

Big Rivers Trailhead has an amazing year round view of the Minnesota River and the airport. Planes were flying low overhead coming and going from the airport.

The paved trail was freshly plowed.

Giant snowballs gripped the branches of the trees. It gave the appearance of fluffy cotton balls.

The trail continued through the small town of Mendota.

Frozen water cascaded down the side of the rocky cliffs.

The confluence of the Mississippi River and the Minnesota River at Pike Island

Train tracks lay parallel to the Big River Trail at times. A long train passed by us as we hiked.

We reached the Lilydale trailhead and decided to hike the Robert Piram Regional Trail.

Tree branches were covered in snow. The snow shimmered in the sunlight.

We decided to turn around and head back to our starting point.

Once back at the Big Rivers Trailhead we took in another view of the Minnesota River.

Today’s hiking adventure was 10 miles.

Best of 2022-Minnesota

December 31, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Best of 2022, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Photography, Winter, Winter hiking3 Comments

This past year, my cousin and I hiked 36 Minnesota State Parks and 30 different Parks and Trails. Whether it was raining, snowing, or the sun was shining…we hiked. Our hiking adventures accumulated to a total of 348 miles in 2022!

Minnehaha Falls-Minneapolis

Crow-Hassan Park Reserve-Rogers

Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park-Cottage Grove

St. Croix State Park-Hinckley

Elba Fire Tower-Elba

Great River Bluffs State Park-Winona

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park-Preston

Myre-Big Island State Park-Albert Lea

Blue Mounds State Park-Luverne

Broken Down Dam Park-Fergus Falls

Lake Shetek State Park-Currie

Upper Sioux Agency State Park-Granite Falls

Big Stone Lake State Park-Ortonville

Glacial Lakes State Park-Starbuck

Sibley State Park-New London

Flandrau State Park-New Ulm

Charles A. Lindbergh State Park-Little Falls

Crow Wing State Park-Brainerd

Quarry Park and Nature Preserve-Waite Park

Banning State Park-Sandstone

Salem Hills Park-Inver Grove Heights

Theodore Wirth Regional Park-Golden Valley

Louisville Swamp-Shakopee

Happy New Year! Cheers to more adventures in 2023!

Banning State Park-Sandstone-Minnesota

October 15, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Banning State Park, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Kettle River, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks3 Comments

Today’s hiking adventure began at Banning State Park.

The weather was a cool 34 degrees as we started our hike. Mother Nature’s glitter coated the forest floor.

We hiked on the freshly fallen leaves towards Wolf Creek Trail.

Rocks jetted out from the forest floor along the trail.

Large boulders intermixed with the trees.

We arrived at Wolf Creek Falls.

Our adventure continued on a trail that was not labeled. Fall color popped everywhere we looked.

The green moss covering the rocks was so vibrant.

Large cliffs loomed above us. At times, we may have been on a deer trail, however, we continued on the small path before us.

We reached the Kettle River. What a sight!

We reached a dead end at a giant boulder along the river. We thought about getting into the river and wading around the boulder but due to the cold weather we decided that was a bad idea.

We backed up a bit and climbed up the cliffs. After catching our breath, we continued along a trail we found. After a few minutes on the cliff trail we looked below and saw another trail closer to the river. The trail looked too adventurous to pass up. So, down the cliffs we went.

The trail led us under giant boulders.

We found these cool potholes. Not sure if they were made by the flowing river or if they were man-made.

Hell’s Gate Trail was the name of the trail we were on. It was an absolute blast and hard as hell.

Today’s hiking adventure was 4.7 miles.

Myre-Big Island State Park-Albert Lea-Minnesota

September 7, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Myre-Big Island, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks1 Comment

We hiked Myre-Big Island State Park on July 14, 2022.

Our hiking adventure started on the Big Island Trail which looped around the island.

Big Island’s plant life was a vibrant green. Surrounding the island was the cool water of Albert Lea Lake.

We crossed the causeway to the mainland where we hiked the Bur Oak Trail to the Great Marsh Trail.

A beautiful black swallowtail graced us with its presence.

We made our way to the Blazing Star Prairie Trail. This trail was HOT! The July summer sun beat down on us. The view though made the heat worth it.

The wildflowers were loving the sun!

Briefly, we hiked the White Fox Trail to the Plum Trail until we reached the causeway again.

A curious deer greeted us when we returned to Big Island.

Mushrooms were beginning to take over a tall tree stump which created an intriguing sight.

Our hiking adventure was 8 miles.

Sakatah Lake State Park-Waterville-Minnesota

September 3, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Sakatah Lake State Park, WatervilleLeave a comment

We hiked Sakatah Lake State Park on July 14th, 2022.

Our hiking adventure began early on a Thursday morning. The sun was brightly shining and the birds were singing. We started our hike on the Sumac Trail.

The Sumac Trail led us to the Oak Tree Trail.

We crossed over a little creek. It appeared to be more of a puddle than a creek though.

Briefly, we hiked the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail. We found a small frog on the paved trail. To keep it safe, we moved it to the side of the trail so it wasn’t squished by the many bikers that passed by.

The Wahpekute Trail allowed us to hike alongside Sakatah Lake.

We could tell we were the first people of the day to hike the trail. Hundreds (ok maybe not that many but it felt like it) of thin single strand spider webs crossed the trail which made for an itchy hike.

Looping back onto the Oak Tree Trail we found several beautiful mushrooms.

Our hiking adventure was 3.3 miles.

Maplewood State Park-Pelican Rapids-Minnesota

August 20, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Maplewood State Park, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Pelican Rapids3 Comments

We hiked Maplewood State Park on Aug 13th, 2022.

Minnesota is home to over 10,000 lakes. The trail we hiked took us past four different lakes however, the 9,250-acre park has 8 major lakes, 7 small lakes, and many ponds. A pelican statue greeted us as we began the trail.

The winding trail led us through the forest.

At times the forest was so quiet. The air was still, the birds were silent, and the small critters were absent. With heavy dark clouds covering the sky, the forest became a bewildering and mysterious place. The lake views echoed this energy.

Scattered throughout the forest were the most amazing mushrooms.

Fall colors were beginning to pop on some of the leaves.

The final stretch of the trail led to an open prairie. Several horses shared the trail with us.

Our hiking adventure was 7.4 miles.

Rice Lake State Park-Owatonna-Minnesota

August 17, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Rice Lake, Rice Lake State Park7 Comments

We hiked Rice Lake State Park on June 26th, 2022.

Our adventure began on the trail by the shoreline of Rice Lake.

The trail led us through the lush forest.

We found an open burl on a tree that became more fascinating the closer we looked. Unique spirals on the bark of the tree burl intrigued us. It almost looked like the sky from The Starry Night painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

The trees on the trail continued to display their individuality.

The forest landscape dissipated and a large vibrant green prairie appeared before us.

The final stretch of the trail led us back through the forest and by a boat launch for Rice Lake.

Our hiking adventure was 2.8 miles.

Lake Louise State Park-Le Roy-Minnesota

August 10, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Lake Louise, Lake Louise State Park, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Summer5 Comments

We hiked Lake Louise State Park June 26th, 2022.

Our hiking adventure began and ended on the Wildwood Loop Trail.

We hiked alongside the Little Iowa River and Lake Louise.

The forest was so lush and green.

Our hiking adventure was 1.2 miles. As we were heading back to our car a beautiful bright blue butterfly landed at our feet.

Never underestimate a short hiking adventure. Sometimes, it leads to the best eye candy.

Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park-Preston-Minnesota

August 1, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Caves, exploring, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Preston Minnesota5 Comments

We hiked Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park on June 25th, 2022.

After a morning of rain, the sun began to shine as we started our hike. We hiked the Maple Ridge Trail Loop and part of the Big Spring Trail.

Forestville Creek and South Bend Root River ran parallel with the trail at times.

The Hackberry Emperor butterflies were in season and they were everywhere! They are very social butterflies. Several hitched a ride on us for over a mile.

Hundreds of the Hackberry Emperor butterflies covered the ground near the creek.

A beautiful Tiger Swallowtail joined in the fun as well.

And let’s not forget our mushroom friends. Pretty sure they were enjoying the humid weather.

Our hiking adventure was 3.7 miles.

Our next stop…the Mystery Cave.

We opted for the hour-long scenic tour of the cave. The Minnesota DNR Officer who led the tour did an excellent job explaining the caves ecosystem. We enjoyed learning about the Minnesota DNR’s thoughts on the Mystery Cave which is conservation over exploration.

This is a brief explanation of the following photos. Stalactites form from water dripping from the ceiling. Stalagmites form from the ground upwards. When the stalactites and stalagmites meet, it is called a pillar or column. Flowstone is when water drips down the walls of the cave.

A fossil on the wall of the cave.

The tour ends at a breathtaking turquoise lake.

Check out the Mystery Cave if you are ever in Preston Minnesota.

Beaver Creek Valley State Park-Caledonia-Minnesota

July 31, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, Beaver Creek Valley State Park, Caledonia, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Houston County, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Summer4 Comments

We hiked Beaver Creek Valley State Park on June 25th, 2022.

Our hiking adventure began on the Beaver Creek Valley Trail. The trail followed the winding Beaver Creek. This allowed us to cross over the creek several times on our hike. The creek is well known amongst people who fish for its brown and native brook trout.

The air was as thick as the fog that clung closely to the top of the creek. A mysterious, almost eerie scene was cast before our eyes.

The wide, well maintained trail led us to a large open prairie that was surrounded by a dense forest.

Our hiking adventure was 3.7 miles.

Great River Bluffs-Winona-Minnesota

July 28, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, Great River Bluffs State Park, hiking, Hiking Adventures, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Summer, Winona1 Comment

We hiked Great River Bluffs State Park on June 25, 2022.

The rain poured as we began our hiking adventure. We followed the King’s Bluff Trailhead to the King’s Bluff Overlook.

The light fog and rain created a mystical environment. We felt like we were walking into an enchanted forest.

The ground was a bit muddy at times. Thankfully, Mother Earth provided natural traction as we hiked up the hills.

The plants and flowers were soaking up the rain.

Fog gently danced around the top of the trees.

The overlook was breathtaking! The Mississippi River can be seen in the distance.

Our hiking adventure was 2.6 miles.

John A. Latsch State Park-Winona County-Minnesota

July 25, 2022July 25, 2022Posted in Adventure, hiking, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, Nature, Outdoors, Photography, UncategorizedTagged Adventure, exploring, hiking, Hiking Adventures, John A. Latsch State Park, Minnesota, Minnesota State Parks, Mississippi River, nature photography, Outdoors, Parks, Winona County1 Comment

We hiked John A. Latsch on June 24th, 2022.

The Riverview Trail has a rating of difficult due to the 592 steps one needs to take straight up the bluff to Mount Charity Overlook.

On a hot, sunny and humid summer day we took our time climbing up those stairs. We saw glimpses of what the top of the bluff might offer the higher we climbed.