Good luck! We started off at the Southern parking area, near the closed visitors center. Hi! But if you go to Grand Portage, hike past the hiking club trail. Officially black bears stay in the Northern Coniferous Forests of northern MN. In the far southwestern corner of the state, Blue Mounds State Park offers one of the longer hiking club trails. Lovely hike! I was wondering if you could let me know which one it is? Did you find this article helpful? You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. Thanks, Karen! The hiking club trail at Blue Mounds State Park takes visitors to the top of the cliff line. This trail is pretty flat so it is suitable for most abilities. Warm & gorgeous for. Save it for later or share it on social media! Trails were groomed for skate ski but not classic ski. I never promote things I dont stand behind. Club registration form This form is for registering your Hiking Club or Passport Club membership. If you buy the annual pass, it must be displayed in the lower passenger side window in your vehicle. This is a lovely part of the trail, offering views of scenic rocky quarry walls and interesting historical buildings. Its a short trail from the parking lot and campground, making it easy for anyone to do. WhitewaterState Park73. All the best! Can you help us out for our Hiking Club book? You can earn patches, free camping, and even a plaque (if you hike all of the Hiking Club trails) for participating in the club. That was until we found that Natural Play Area. Warm & gorgeous for. Home | About Me | Contact Me | Blog | Disclaimer. We would greatly appreciate it. A Hiking Club password is found on all of these hikes. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure. Hiking Club Password Sign - Banning State Park, Minnesota, https://flickr.com/photos/87296837@N00/34340927883, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 6.8 (Macintosh), https://www.flickr.com/people/87296837@N00, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic, https://www.flickr.com/photos/diversey/34340927883/, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hiking_Club_Password_Sign_-_Banning_State_Park,_Minnesota_(34340927883).jpg&oldid=492361545, United States photographs taken on 2017-06-04, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Flash did not fire, compulsory flash suppression. Trail is well packed down - at least the top half. Beautiful hike, Great hike! All rights reserved. But if you plan on doing only the hiking trail, you are missing out on a few stunning areas. The warming house is marvelous with a nice stove (buy and bring local wood) with windows to enjoy the outdoors with plus games, a sink and a microwave (and nice bathrooms). Would I go Hiking at Blue Mounds State Park Again? This spreadsheet is now the only thing I use to figure out what MN State Park I want to visit this weekend. Lac qui ParleState Park41. A sign with the Hiking Club password (digitally removed) at Banning State Park in Minnesota. St. Croix River at Wild River MN State Park. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Stairs are iced over, but still have some spots for you to get your footing. I love finding others who are a part of it. Any other time and you are risking heatstroke. Grab your Minnesota State Park Passport and discover new trails. The hiker will soon enter a prairie habitat. Pro Tip: Track your progress with a Push Pin Map of Minnesota! Its about building relationships with the outdoors and each other. I believe that theres a sense of adventure inside of everyone, waiting to be discovered. Minnesota State Parks Hiking Club Trails There are 68 Hiking Club Trails in parks around Minnesota. Dog are allowed on the trail when on a leash. Franz JevneState Park21. Thanks for the great writeups, Elly. When you see the weather is going to be 70s degrees in November, you can't sit at home. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. And, honestly, who doesnt love a free night of camping? After 12-16 inches of snow this week, snowshoes were needed. Every few years, a new bull (male) bison is brought in for herd diversity. Its a great deal if you plan to go to a park more than once a year. Trail was packed enough that snowshoes were not necessary until about a mile in. My name is Jenn. If you love camping and hiking, you've probably considered a trip to Alaska. Gorgeous views. The MN State Parks Passport Program also has a Hiking Club. A popular state park located on the St. Croix River at the eastern edge of the Twin Cities metro area, Afton State Park offers several miles of hiking trails. Minnesota State Parks Hiking and Passport Club, Find Your Adventure Series | Sidewalk Safari. After seeing the first group, we noticed that it was a lot more prevalent up there. Hey, thanks! We only spend the day there, but we have an amazing time. I took full advantage of that considering how long the trail is. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. There are so many incredible ways to enjoy the outdoors in Minnesota State Parks! We had some ce cleats on and had no problems. Do you have any favorite spots? The next part of the hiking club trail follows the Quarry Loop Trail which takes you down into the site of the old Banning Quarry. With 66 state parks, 9 recreation areas, and more than 10,000 lakes (one of which is the massive Lake Superior), there are literally thousands of miles to hike all year round. Hill Annex Mine State Park32. Big Bog State Recreation Area is located in northern Minnesota. Follow the trail 10.8 miles ending at MN-48, or continue on the full 25 miles of the trail. If you want to skip the paved section, follow the red route, which is 4.25 miles. Thank you so much! While there are 75 Minnesota state parks and recreation areas, only 68 of them have a designated hiking club trail. Call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 Email us: info.dnr@state.mn.us Sign up for email updates Loading. FlandrauState Park17. They are completely snowed over and itll be a lot of effort to climb back up. How much does it cost to camp at Blue Mounds State Park? Traction devices recommended! Like most of Minnesota's State Parks, these parks are all between 1-2 hours apart and short hiking distances, making it easy to visit multiple destinations hiking, Hey, I am keeping virtually the same blog as you (documenting my Minnesota Hiking Club Travels and Travails). Blue Mounds State Park is one of a few that have Tipis for guests. There is also a short pathway to the base of the dam for those there a little more adventurous. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. Quick tip: there are currently two very difficult obstacles to navigate within the first couple of minutes. Seriously, Josy! Begin your Hiking Club trek with a trip to the Nature Store to purchase your Hiking Club book. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. We also live in Minnesota and are huge fans of outdoor adventures. Beautiful trail! To get a better look at the cliffs, make sure to do the Quarry Loop Trail. Bear Head LakeState Park4. The trails cover a wide range of difficulty and length. Rice LakeState Park60. Very well groomed though, and lots of people out enjoying the area. Pro Tip: Forgot your passport? Required fields are marked *. It is absolutely gorgeous. We had some ce cleats on and had no problems. Thanks for making such an awesome blog! Once you get your passport, dont forget to bring it with you when you hit the trails! The trail can be flooded or muddy especially in the springtime. If it hasn't changed since 2015 it's "Blanding's Turtle". Lake BemidjiState Park42. I spoke about them on Fox9 Morning Show recently. Look for waterfowl in the pond. Grand Portage State Park28. Cant wait to join (thanks for sharing)! BUT absolutely worth the effort, such a beautiful hike, I would do it again in the same conditions again. My life week is pretty average but on the weekends, my family and I hop in our car exploring Minnesota. Some trails are 1 mile and some are 6 miles, but they all are beautiful and well worth the exercise. BUT absolutely worth the effort, such a beautiful hike, I would do it again in the same conditions again. If we havent convinced you to join yet, maybe you just need a little more information about the amazing hiking opportunities in Minnesota. Ill need to hit this one again soon. After stamping 25 parks, you will get a certificate for a free night of camping and a pin. Nothing is worse than getting to the MN State Park only to find the office is closed. However, every dog is unique and while the author of this blog is a veterinarian, she is not your dog's veterinarian. The Hiking Club is run by the Minnesota DNR, the organization that manages the state parks and recreation areas. Want adventure in your inbox every month? Stamp any piece of paper you can find and paste it into your book. Very icy on stairs. The passport costs $14.95 and can be purchased at most of the parks or at the DNR License Center at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul. This is just the beginning of the summer. We LOVE your blogusing this as a reference on our own trek with our daughters to hike all the hiking club trails. I'm pretty excited. trail in good condition. Slightly slushy but still perfect. Bottom half of the trail was a little less interesting and less packed down - snowshoes might have been helpful. Beautiful hike! The programs work great together and give you a good reason to get out and explore. This park is a little different from Minneopa in that the Bison have a full enclosure to explore. Explore Minnesota State Park Hiking Club Trails - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Photos (107) Directions. From epic hikes around the world to adventures closer to my home in Minnesota, Im here to help you discover what adventure means to you! Great winter hiking. Mountain biking through St Croix State Park provides a great opportunity to see the park's wildlife and wooded forests. We were the first ones on the trail, but we passed a number of other people, so the trail is getting nicely packed. Its a free guide I put together spilling all the dirt on hiking. MaplewoodState Park49. Youll be blazing a trail all the way out and back but it was GORGEOUS. Shortly before the one-mile mark the trail leaves the pond area begins its loop; stay to the left at the fork. Thankfully just to the side of the trail and not on it. Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment? You can also call Gooseberry Falls State Park at 218-595-7101 or stop by the DNR License Center in St. Paul. If the surface is rocky, rough or likely to inure paw pads, the trail will score a zero here. If not, they will post a sign telling you where to go. There are several ups and downs- after a fall I carried my skis so as not to fall again (and reinjure my wrists). A Hiking Club kit can be purchased . A couple of river crossings. I thought maybe it was in the visitor building, but it was closed. That is why I was so excited when I got gifted a MN State Park Passport this past holiday season. There are 75 in total. Lots of deer on the move and visible. Bike. Get your rewards. This trail is great for birding and hiking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. The falls in the town of Sandstone is also lovely and typically there are very few other hikers at that location. Print/PDF Map. If you want to read more about this park, follow one of the links below: The hiking club trail at Banning starts at the main parking lot and first heads away from the Kettle River. function ml_webform_success_2601308(){var r=ml_jQuery||jQuery;r(".ml-subscribe-form-2601308 .row-success").show(),r(".ml-subscribe-form-2601308 .row-form").hide()} Trail is packed down . You're very welcome! Like someone else said lots of hills! This is such a cool idea! Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly that love and read more on this topic. Wear YakTrax or some type of cleat and enjoy! Well, did you know that you can step across the tiny creek that marks the beginning of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park (which I chose as the best state park in Minnesota)? There are plenty of GPS programs like All Trails and The Hiking Project that help you plot out your adventure. Updates, photos, alerts, or continue on the weekends, my family and I in... 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