Kettle River Highbanks Trail

Getting There:The entrance to St. Croix State Park is located 15 miles east of Hinckley, Minnesota on Highway 48. It is another 5 miles to the Park Office.The Paved Bicycle Path:The path is 5.5 miles long one-way and runs from the campground to Lake Clayton Beach Picnic Area. Be sure to stop at the park office for directions. The path is mostly flat which makes it ideal for a family outing. ...

The Crex Meadows Wildlife Area is part of Wisconsin’s scenic Indianhead Country - located just north of Grantsburg. It’s 30,000 acres make it one of the largest wildlife areas in the state. Over 270 species of birds, 86 butterflies, and 720 different plant species call Crex Meadows home. Various reptiles, amphibians, and mammals can also be found here.This makes Crex a destination for bird watc...

Just off of Highway 35 near Sandstone, Minnesota, Banning State Park provides several areas to explore including the Kettle River, Historic Sandstone Quarry, and my favorite - Wolf Creek Falls.While the Kettle River is a popular attraction for hikers as well as kayakers, the scenic hike to Wolf Creek Falls is well worth the trip. Added time to explore other areas of Wolf Creek is highly recomme...

The Quarry Loop is an easy hike in Banning State Park, which draws its name from the abandoned sandstone quarry you pass along the way. The trail's rival attraction is the whitewater of the Kettle River, visible as you hike, including the Blueberry Slide, Mother's Delight, and Dragon's Tooth rapids. Accordingly, this also makes the park a popular place with canoeists and kayakers.

While visiting the charming Northwoods town of Siren, I detoured for a hike on the Gandy Dancer Trail segment.   This trail was constructed to connect townships using old railroad beds.   Even the name honors the rhythmic, synchronized efforts of the workers in their rail nailing dance.   In total the trail stretches from St. Croix Falls northward 98 miles, nearly to Superior, crossing into Min...

Wild River State Park, located about 55 miles northeast of Minneapolis, is a fantastic getaway and caters to a wide-variety of visitors. If you have an afternoon and are looking for an easy hike through a variety of natural environments, take The River Trail north, then follow the Old Lodging Trail south. The loop is about 4 miles of well-established trail and is very popular on the weekends. G...