Minnesota

A trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area requires some planning ahead. First, you'll need to book a permit/reservation via recreation.gov. Specify how many people are in your group, the number of watercraft you plan to use and how many days you'll be in the BWCA. You'll also need to select a group l...

The hike to the top of Oberg Mountain is short and sweet. The trail starts off with a climb of roughly 230ft in about a half of a mile before getting to the top of Oberg Mountain. At the top of the climb the trail forks, you can go either way since the trail loops around the top. I suggest you go ri...

The town of Grand Marais on the North Shore of Lake Superior is two hours northeast of Duluth and about 4.5 hours from Minneapolis. If you're exploring the Northwoods, stop here for lunch and some exploring on Artists' Point. Located just blocks away from downtown Grand Marais, Artists' Point is pop...

Chester Creek is a prime example of how Duluth, MN values the many green spaces within its borders. The trailhead to Chester Creek is easy to find. Right on the corner of 14th ave east and 4th st, across from Burrito Union. For those of you without another form of transportation, there is a bus stop...

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is located in the northern portion of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. What once used to be covered by glaciers is now home to approximately 1.1 million acres of land with 1,200 miles of canoe routes. Permits are required for access to...

Ely's Peak is located near the neighborhood of Gary-New Duluth. It is located right off of Becks Road. To get there from Grand Avenue you'll turn onto Becks Road. The small parking lot will be located about 2 miles north and will be on your right. If you are coming from Interstate I35, you'll take M...

Located smack dab in the center of farm country, the Jeffers Petroglyphs are something you wouldn't expect to find in southwest Minnesota. If you're in the area or just passing through, this is an interesting place to view petroglyphs that have been dated back to nearly 7,000 years ago. Beginning in...

Crow-Hassan Park Reserve is the largest prairie based park in the Twin Cities metro area. Although there are many ways to experience Crow-Hassan including horseback riding, canoeing on the scenic Crow River, or even staying the night in one of the park's campgrounds, the simplest way to enjoy it by ...

Beth Lake is part of the "Lady Chain" of lakes in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It's secluded, serene and worth the trip, especially if you're up for an afternoon of cliff jumping. You can reach Beth Lake in half of a day, assuming you set out in the morning and are efficient with your time. But f...

The best part of Rifle Lake is how remote it is. There's no quick way to find this small, secluded lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The lake supports just one campsite and is less than a half-mile long, according to rook.org. It is also part of the Rifle/Bridge Loop, which is a good option fo...

One of the trailheads for this hike begins at Temperance River State Park. Parking can be found alongside Highway 61. The Superior Hiking Trail passes through this park and this is the trail you will follow to reach Carlton Peak. The trail follows the Temperance River and is relatively flat until it...

The badlands of South Dakota meet the prairies of Minnesota in Blue Mounds State Park. Located in the extreme southwestern corner of Minnesota, Blue Mounds is one of the largest prairie parks in the state. A majority of the 1,500 acres of grassland sits atop a massive outcrop of Sioux quartzite rock...

At the Headwaters Trailhead there is a visitor center, bathrooms and a large interactive station for kids and adults to learn interesting facts about the Mississippi and the history of the area. The hike itself is just over a mile and completely flat. The trail follows the small Mississippi River to...

This waterfall and observation deck are just a short walk from the west-most parking lot off of Grove Street. Just to the right of the same lot is a suspension bridge, as well. To stretch the legs, afterward, take one of the park's six trails to other scenic sites, like the Redwood Falls Bridge and ...

This moderate hike takes you to the highest point in Minnesota, at all of 2,301 ft in elevation. The first part of the hike, which runs along Whale Lake, is a gentle upwards climb. You gain most of the hike's elevation in the final push to the top, within the last mile of the hike. Enjoy the view, r...

The Kadunce River provides visitors with several waterfalls and rapids in the summer, and when the river freezes over in the winter, snowshoeing up the canyon becomes a possibility. The Kadunce River is located just north and east of Grand Marais on Highway 61. There is a pull-off parking lot on the...