2020

COVID-19 Perspective: So this is two different trails within Kinnickinnic State Park, so each category below will be split into two different reviews.

Hidden Falls: We did not see a single person until we were leaving the trail. That being said the trail is narrow and things really started to pick up when we were leaving around 11:45 am so I would recommend going early.
Second Loop (random choose your own adventure type hike): More people but the trails were wider, allowing for social distancing.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild –
- Hidden Falls: We were fine with letting them run wild and free!
- Second Loop: Also, no concerns beyond remaining socially distant.
The Trail –
- Hidden Falls: This had several distinct areas of prairie and wooded forest. The prairie was covered with wildflowers and the wooded forest felt like we were in a fairytale (we may have discussed what the fairytale would look/feel like along the way). The ascents and descents were gentle and rolling. The prairie portion had wider trails, while the forest portion had narrow trails.
- Second Loop: Some packed dirt and then grassy prairie (so hot). All of the trails on this portion were wide and for the most part flat (less exciting but good on a hot day (I think it was in the 90’s).
Trail Conditions – Great, no issues.
Bugs and Pests – Nothing noteworthy.
Plants – Good to go, nothing to look out for.
Bathrooms –
- Hidden Falls: None
- Second Loop: Located off of the parking lot.
Cell Service – Perfect.

Trail Information:

Length –
- Hidden Falls: 2.8 miles
- Second Loop:
Moving Time –
- Hidden Falls: 01:08:30
- Second Loop:
Elevation Gain –
- Hidden Falls: 203 ft.
- Second Loop:
Difficulty –
- Hidden Falls: Easy
- Second Loop: Easy

Highlights:

Combo –
- Hidden Falls: The wildflowers!
- Second Loop: The toads!
Biff –
- Hidden Falls: The snake!
- Second Loop: The toads!
Blaze –
- Hidden Falls: The shade!
- Second Loop: The toads and talking about future vacations with just Biff and I.
Ripper –
- Hidden Falls: No bugs and feeling like we entered a different world.
- Second Loop: Just getting a few extra miles in and having some quality time talking with Combo.

Being that the 4^th of July was on the horizon, we decided to make a trip out to Wisconsin for the necessary provisions. Since we were there we decided to find a place to hike and kill two birds with one stone so to speak. We decided on Hoffman Hills and were excited to see only one other car when we reached the parking lot. We were greeted by a decent hill up, stopping halfway to apply copious amounts of bug repellent. Soon we learned why there was only one car in the parking lot…the mosquitoes were horrific! We lasted as long as we could and the park was gorgeous but we just could not do it, so we turned around.

While Dad was acquiring our provisions, I was hard at work trying to find a trail. Kinnickinnic State Park had been on my list for some time and it was on our way home, so we decided to give it a shot. Hidden Falls here we come!

This trail was not within the “normal” park entrance but on the outskirts, just off the road adjacent to a neighborhood. We did not see a single car in the parking and were pleased to see that the trail through the prairie was wide, perfect for social distancing! It’s odd because I love the small dirt trails that run through the forest but lately, I have grown fond of those wide grass paths through the prairie because when we inevitably find someone on the trail, I know we will be able to distance ourselves safely. How I yearn for the time when we do not have this additional criterion for finding fun hikes. Oh, to just hit the trail without a care in the world again…

The wildflowers were everywhere as we neared the forest. Little did we know that this was just the start of the flowers in the prairie sections of this hike!

Upon leaving the prairie the scenery drastically changed. We went from lush green and flowers to a pine covered tunnel, littered with dried pine needles. What a fire hazard this could turn out to be!

The one thing that I loved about this trail was how drastically it changed from section to section. The dry pine tunnel soon gave way to a lush forest landscape. We instantly felt transported into a fairytale and enjoyed coming up with “our story”.

The trail markers on this trail were pretty awesome. Not only did they consistently point us in the right direction, but they also gave us our mileage. The mileage did not always match what my GPS had but it was still pretty cool.

Before long we were back into the prairie for a short period of time. It was starting to get pretty warm at this time and the sun beating down, adding additional heat was apparent here.

Prairie soon changed to forest and we were quite thankful for the shade provided. Guess what? We saw another snake! This time the big guy was right in the middle of the trail, slithering off as soon as we approached. Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me but this guy was BIG! Biff enjoyed building cars for us and racing each of us individually down the trail. After Biff had “beaten” Combo and I (we might have let him win to keep his spirits up), he happily exclaimed that he only has to beat Dad now and he will be the trail race king!

The Kinnickinnic Gorge Overlook view was mostly obscured by tree coverage but it was a fun place to stop, nonetheless.

Shortly after the overlook, the bugs became thick. Thankfully they were not the biting type, just the annoying bugs that want to dive bomb your head. As I said previously, it was getting quite warm and I was starting to get pretty sweaty. The kids were convinced that it was going to start raining because they could feel little drops of moisture every now and again. This made me laugh ridiculously hard!

Luckily the trail continued to change scenery and we were soon back into the prairie, devoid of the swarming bugs. Thank you! The flowers, oh the flowers! Biff and Combo LOVE to pick flowers from my gardens at home and it was oh so hard for them not to pick a bouquet to “remember the hike” as they said.

The last portion of the trail was back the way we came on the loop. It is interesting to see the trail from the other side, it can feel completely different if you open your mind and let yourself go.

Chatting on the way back to the car, the kids deemed that this was “the best hike ever”. Dad and I seized the moment and asked if they were up for another quick hike (yes we capitalize on those moments). Great news, they were all in! Haha (lifting my fist in triumph), I had just the trail to check out.

Earlier we discussed that the prairie trails were good for social distancing. On the short prairie trip to our car we met three different groups of people, none of which were practicing social distancing and we were quite happy that we could take several steps off the trail to allow them to pass in peace and safety.

Back in the car we ate Jimmy John’s (favorite lunch to bring with for car rides) and fruit while driving to the main park entrance. We drove around for a bit within the park and made our way to the beach parking lot. We would have loved to take the kids to the beach but there were SO MANY people that it just did not seem like a good idea. Our chosen hike started here but that was the end of our plans. We had decided to do a “choose your own adventure hike”, choosing which way to go at each intersection. Side note – Dad found a truck in the parking lot that he really loved!

The first portion of trail was COVERED with baby toads! When I say covered, I mean that I eventually had to stop looking at the trail because there was no way I could keep walking without squishing one of the little guys. They literally covered the trail completely and this continued for quite some time. The kids really loved it but I was feeling guilty about placing my foot on the trail, potentially endangering the life of a toad…

By this time, we were well into 90 degree weather and were sweating our behinds off! We discussed how awesome it was to feel the misery of the heat but still love the nature around us. The kids were thrilled with the toads but had just found that there were also slugs! Winner winner, chicken dinner! Biff, in true boy fashion had to pick as many of them up as he could, despite the slime that covered his hands. No dude, you cannot stick your hands in our snack bag – we will drop the snacks into your slime covered hands instead (my stomach still turns thinking about it but I know I did this stuff as a kid and survived). Here we also learned that there were several different species of snakes within the park and had a fun time trying to figure out what the snake that we saw at Hidden Falls was.

We soon came to the Prairie Loop and the heat was starting to get to us all, so we encouraged the kids to drink as much water as possible. It was at this point that we decided that Dad needed to start carrying his pack so we could have more water available.

Biff was starting to get too hot and Dad hung back to help keep him moving and motivated. The result was one awesome vacation plan! Dad and Biff plan to take a trip (once all of this is over) complete with race cars, pools, pizza and nail painting! This also gave Combo and I some valuable alone time. Usually the roles are reversed, Mom with Biff and Dad with Combo so changing it up was nice.

As we turned the corner on the loop the wind shifted and we had a breeze coming straight at us. Time to air out the armpits! As we aired our pits out, we noticed that Combo’s arm was actually getting straight!! Last November Combo broke her arm which resulted in surgery to repair the break and then physical therapy to regain range of motion. There were home exercises that were absolute torture and eventually we decided (with the go ahead of her physical therapist) that the benefits did not outweigh what Combo was going through at home during the exercises (she was absolutely petrified of them and would instantly cry when she knew it was time) so we stopped and hoped for the best. And it was working! As soon as we stopped paying attention to her arm, she stopped paying attention too! Her arm was getting straighter each day and we never noticed until we were airing out the pits!

Towards the end of the hike we started to see more people and I picked up the pace to get back to the car, out of the heat and away from the people. The kids joked that I was hiking like Dad drives, fast and reckless. It was pretty funny! Despite the many obstacles we encountered, we had an amazing day. It was the perfect example of making lemonade out of lemons!

That’s it for this one folks. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you enjoyed the retelling of our journey as much as we enjoyed the journey itself! As always, please wear your mask, stay safe and HAPPY HIKING!

Lower Hixon Forest – La Crosse, WI 06/13/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: We only saw a few people on the trail and everyone was helping to be socially distant. I would say that this park can be a safe bet, as long as you pick the right trails. We try to look for trails that are farther out and away from the big ticket attractions.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – No concerns, let them loose. I think it goes without saying at this point that we keep them closer right now so we can keep a close on eye on people that are coming along the trail and are able to pull them in and off the trail.
The Trail – Aspen Huff, SW Log Loop, Bicentennial, Savanna, Vista, Birch, Bicentennial again, NE Log Loop and return on the Aspen Huff Trail. The majority of the trails were packed dirt, with some rocks and roots dispersed throughout. The Log Loop had short grass mixed with dirt. Overall, pleasant and enjoyable. There was a decent amount of elevation gain and loss, which kept things interesting.
Trail Conditions – Great right now! No discernable washouts or mud to speak of.
Bugs and Pests – No worries.
Plants – Nothing worrisome.
Bathrooms – We did not see any but were not really looking for them.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 3.82 miles
Moving Time – 01:44:34
Elevation Gain – 429 ft.
Difficulty – Moderate

Aspen Huff Trail – we’re going down for real. This portion of trail shares the trail with bikers and we did see a couple bikers cruise past us, so keep your eye out.

The SW portion of the Log Loop ran alongside a golf course, which was pretty cool.

The Bicentennial Trail had a decent ascent up with a fairly narrow trail, so be careful and make sure you actually (gently) step off the trail to allow others to pass.

The Vista trail had little to offer by way of air movement but was a fun winding path through the woods. Here we designed our perfect dream homes. Most of us chose to live close to the mountains on a ranch – wish us luck!

The Birch trail offered two different scenic overlooks which were a pleasant surprise! There was also a cement structure or what appeared to be the base to an old structure – fun to wonder what it used to be!

Back on the Bicentennial Trail we sang songs of the “Old Man” and discussed the different things that we wanted to do when we go to Montana later this summer. The possibilities are endless!

The NE portion of the Log Loop offered large trees all around us – they were truly impressive! We also found a little stream of water which crossed the trail.

The return on the Aspen Huff trail definitely lived up to it’s name – this was a steep climb and we loved every minute of it.

Sorry this one was so brief – we were quite caught up in the chitter chatter of the trail and I completely forgot to take notes afterwards. We were relaxing and enjoying being away from it all! As always, please wear your mask, stay safe and Happy Hiking!!

Beaver Creek Valley State Park – Caledonia, MN 06/13/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: The park was pretty busy and we stayed off of the trails that we knew would be more crowded, so in that regard it was a pretty safe bet. The Hole in the Rock trail had the most people, followed by the West Rim Trail – I would plan to get to these early to avoid the crowds.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – No real concerns for us. I would think that smaller children should be kept a bit closer on some portions, due to the cliffs but the trail does not often take you to the edge of the cliffs.
The Trail – West Rim Trail, Steep Rock Trail, Switchback Trail, Beaver Creek Trail and Hole in the Rock Trail to campsite.
Trail Conditions – Some areas were overgrown on the Switchback Trail but other than that things were great.
Bugs and Pests – N/A
Plants – Wild Parsnip can be found everywhere throughout the park. What’s the big deal you may be asking yourself? Well, Wild Parsnip can be huge (some were taller than me) and they are a quick spreading, invasive plant. What’s more if you get the sap on you, mixed with the right amount of sunlight you may experience anything from a rash to burns and/or blisters. Luckily we were able to distance ourselves from the buggers, but we did keep a close eye.
Bathrooms – Vault toilets and bathroom facilities, spread throughout the park and mainly open.
Cell Service – Along the ridge we picked up a good signal but down in the valley it was touch and go.

Trail Information:

Length – roughly 6 miles, Avenza recorded 4.2 miles but the portions where we were off the map did not figure into the total distance.
Moving Time – 03:02:58
Elevation Gain – 436 feet.
Difficulty – Moderate

Highlights:

Combo – Falling into the creek!
Biff – Watching Combo and Mom fall into the creek!
Blaze – The view from up top and camping.
Ripper – It was fun to check out the Switchback trail and Cacaw at folks in the valley far below.

Beaver Creek Valley is one of our favorite places to camp. There is a walk-in campsite that is right along the creek and the kids love spending time in the water when we are not out exploring. As the state started to open up, we quickly made a reservation. Our first night, we setup camp, ate, went on solo hikes with the kids, and relaxed. It was wonderful!

The next day we started our journey on the West Rim Trail, which was located just beyond our campsite. Biff was a bit cranky initially but eventually he cheered up. Right off the bat there was a steep incline up, to reach the rim. After that, it leveled off for the most part with gentle rises and falls to the trail. Just beyond the incline was a spur trail to a cool rock that the kids really enjoy climbing. The views from atop the rock were obscured by the towering trees but you can tell it is pretty cool. We encountered three different groups of people on this trail.

The West Rim Trail (also a part of the Hiking Club Trail) brings you down to the road, walking through the campground area. If you continue on the Hiking Club Trail you will walk to a scenic bridge and through the picnic area. We have done that portion of trail previously and knew that it would likely be crowded so we opted to hit the Steep Rock Trail. One of the most exciting things here was the raccoon climbing a tree in the distance. There were also frequent overlooks and nobody on the trail with us. So fun!! This portion of trail also goes through private property so please be respectful so others can continue to enjoy.

The Steep Rock Trail ends near the restroom and picnic area, continuing for a short distance along the Hiking Club Trail you will find the Switchback Trail off to the left. We diverged from the crowds here. Right away we encountered a bridge across the crystal clear creek and of course we had to stop to get a little wet. After crossing the bridge you can choose to go left or right, we chose the left side for the way out and right for the way back. The first portion of trail was seriously overgrown to the point where it was somewhat difficult to see the trail itself. Just what we were looking for. Stopping at each overlook to Cacaw at the hikers below soon became a fun game and not only for us. Eventually the hikers below began to Cacaw back at us! A sign notified us of the end of the trail and we stopped for a quick lunch break before heading back. It was so nice to be on a trail where we actually felt comfortable stopping to eat.

We left the Switchback Trail the way we came and rejoined the Hiking Club Trail through the picnic area, across the scenic bridge, and through the parking lot to the Hole in the Rock Trail.

The Hole in the Rock Trail is really picturesque but also where we started to see more people. We probably saw 5 large groups of people, without masks and oblivious to social distancing. There is a cave like hole in the rock, which the kids enjoy climbing. This area has lush green, sloping inclines and declines, and panoramic views of the valley below.

Back at our campsite we enjoyed another snack with an inch-worm. Here we have included a picture of the Wild Parsnip discussed earlier.

That’s it for this park but we did not stop here. Go to the next post, Hixon Forest.

But to wrap up Beaver Creek Valley…after hiking at Hixon Forest the kids and I went down to the creek to enjoy the water and were sitting peacefully on a log, taking it all in. Dad decided that he would come down to join us and then it happened…THWACK!! The log broke and Combo and fell into the water! Dad escaped unscathed but Combo and I were drenched. These are the moments that I cherish and hold close. Thank you for joining us, I hope that you enjoyed the park as much as we did. Wear your mask, stay safe and Happy Hiking!

Pipestone National Monument – Pipestone, MN 06/06/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: Way too many people, little to no social distancing from others, dogs off leash, etc. Needless to say I would NOT recommend this walk right now. It is really cool and fun to learn about the history of the area but it will be here in a few years – save it until then.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Nope, do not let them loose. Far too many people that do not practice social distancing.
The Trail – Paved, not what we usually enjoy but we wanted to check it out one more time.
Trail Conditions – Fine and dandy, it is paved!
Bugs and Pests – No issues.
Plants – No issues.
Bathrooms – Temporary porta-potties were setup along the parking lot.
Cell Service – Good.

Trail Information:

Length – 1 mile
Moving Time – 00:28:04
Elevation Gain – 39 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights: Not including the big highlights this time. We enjoyed the falls and the rock formations along the way. The staircase leading to the inscription was cool and the Old Stone Face is impressive. I cannot give highlights because we did not really have the opportunity to enjoy the park this time. Just too many people. But it is an awesome park to check out when times are different. Keep it in your back pocket folks! The time will soon come!

Our third and final stop of the day! As we pulled into the parking we knew what to suspect and we were not surprised. Lots of people. We masked up and headed out fast. Our goal was to get through the park as fast as we could. The first portion of trail featured quarries.

Each time we have been here, this tree has been adorned with ribbons.

Walking along a paved path through a prairie is pretty surreal.

This is where it got bad. The rock formations were awesome but the throngs of people were not. We had groups in front of us and behind us with no place to step off the trail to provide social distancing. We did our best, walking as slow if not slower than those in front of us while picking up the pace to stay in front of those behind us.

When we finally made it to the Winnewassa Falls, the kids were elated! They love waterfalls! Unfortunately there was a dog on a retractable leash that almost bit Blaze because his owner was not paying attention. Folks, please keep your dogs close and pay attention to what they are doing.

Just passed the falls you will find a staircase which leads you above the falls and to explore noteworthy historic landmarks. The stairs are narrow and we were not sure if we would be able to head up there but Blaze checked it out and gave us the ok. Rock on!

Along the way you will find Nicollet Rock and an inscription which describes the history of the landmark.

Here we have the Glacial Ripples and Old Stone Face – I am going to leave this one to you to look up, it’s very interesting!

Walking along the river back to car it was easier to socially distance ourselves from people, which was a pleasant reprieve.

And the kids finally had their chance to touch the water!! Mission accomplished!!

The Pipestone Creek at the end is really gorgeous and is definitely worth checking out.

As we waited for Blaze to brave the parking lot and bring the car to us, we took the time to read the signs posted and learn a little bit more about the history of the area. We even saw a few deer (not pictured) in the distance!

That’s it for this one guys! Let me know if there is too much talk of social distancing. Seeking to raise awareness and to provide people with safe hiking recommendations. As always, Happy Hiking and take care!! Please wear your mask and help to keep others safe, we can do this if we all stick together!!

Split Rock Creek State Park – Jasper, MN 06/06/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: Campground was full, beach was full but we only saw two people on the trail itself. I would think this one would be an ok bet right now. Not many miles within the park to offer but if you just want to get out and stretch your legs quickly, I’d say give it a try.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Yep, no worries here.
The Trail – We only missed two spur trails and one connector trail. Mostly grass and packed dirt, yet again.
Trail Conditions – Perfect, no issues.
Bugs and Pests – No issues
Plants – No issues
Bathrooms – Located at the beach and within the campground. Bathroom at the beach was open, we sanitized everything and brought our own toilet paper – Biff really had to go.
Cell Service – Good.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.68 miles
Moving Time – 01:08:21
Elevation Gain – 52 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – The treats!
Biff – Going potty!
Blaze – The dam!
Ripper – The dam was a very pleasant surprise!

Second stop – the reason for making the trip to Southwest Minnesota! We snagged the stamp and headed to the beach to start the Hiking Club Trail (really the only trail the park has to offer). Biff was a bit cranky here and refused to stop for a picture – such is life with little people that are not always as thrilled as the big people to hike. But he still did it.

This first portion of trail was a walk along the lake. It was very windy! So windy that we were being sprayed by water as we walked. This seemed to cheer Biff up and he predicted that it would rain soon – sorry buddy, it’s just the lake water and waves blowing back at us.

This portion takes us to the campground, which was packed full of people mostly in RV’s with a few tents.

I must admit the campground did look pretty cool. There were some sites that had docks for fishing nearby, one of which was right off of a campsite. Not sure how I would feel about others fishing next to where I was sleeping but it would be pretty awesome to wake up and enjoy the lake first thing, while everyone still slept.

The trail led us along Split Rock Creek and we chatted happily about what we would have for dinner when we got home. It was our Take-Out day (we order from a local restaurant once a week to support local businesses during the pandemic) and we were excited! Somehow hiking always brings us to talk of food. Amidst the talk of food, with our stomachs rumbling we noticed a house across the creek and thought it would be amazing to live there!

Here heading back south to the campground and historic water tower.

We were hesitant to let the kids explore the historic site because well I am pretty paranoid about germs and this pandemic has not done much for my anxiety. But we decided to give it a go and let the kids in with a stern warning to NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. They enjoyed it but what I think Biff enjoyed more was cuddling up to me while stealing the treats out of my pack at the same time. This kid will be trouble when he gets older!

While Dad threw Combo’s into our mouths we trekked along, passed the park headquarters and remnants of a bird that met it’s demise.

The Split Rock Creek Dam was my favorite portion of this trail. A HUGE surprise for everyone – I love keeping little secrets to wow them later.

Just beyond the dam, you will find the password – but I won’t tell you what it is! We also found some pretty flowers as we walked along the park’s border and private property.

The kids had been dying to touch the water and we made a promise on our way back to find a good spot for them to get their little hands wet. While searching for just the right place, we also noticed a beaver dam!

As we drew nearer to the beach the kids became hopeful that they would get to go swimming. Unfortunately the beach was packed and we just could not let them do it. But on the bright side, we found a little spur just before the beach that we could let the kids get at the water – mission complete! Sometimes it is hard to explain to the kids why they cannot do the things they are accustomed to enjoying because of “the virus” as it is known in our house. They are coming around to the idea but that does not mean they like it.

And that’s a wrap for part two! Happy Hiking everyone and please, please wear your mask!

Blue Mounds State Park – Luverne, MN 06/06/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: We only saw a few people and the trails are great for social distancing. I would recommend this one during the pandemic.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Absolutely let them loose and run wild. The trail is clear enough that you can see people coming from a ways off, so we did not worry too much. At the quarry we held hands because a wrong step could be awful but we were never in fear that the kids would get hurt, as long as we were careful.
The Trail – Mound Trail and Cliffline Trail loop.
Trail Conditions – Mostly grass with some packed dirt. Great, no issues right now.
Bugs and Pests – Nothing of concern noted.
Plants – Nothing of concern noted.
Bathrooms – There was a vault toilet in the parking lot but again, we did not stop to see if it was open. If you check the DNR’s website before heading out they will tell you which bathrooms are open, if any.
Cell Service – Decent, not perfect but no real issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 3.97 miles
Moving Time – 01:39:27
Elevation Gain – 213 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – The Bison!
Biff – The Bison!
Blaze – The Bison and the Quarry!
Ripper – The Bison and the Quarry were pretty awesome. I also loved the open vistas.

We chose Blue Mounds State Park because we really wanted to go to Split Rock Creek to add another stamp to our passport and password to our Hiking Club book, but it was too short of a hike to justify the drive. So we decided to roll three hikes into one day, two of which we have done previously and knew we would enjoy. First stop, Blue Mounds State Park in hopes of seeing the Bison up close this time.

The tail first brings you through the prairie along the fenced off Bison portion, where we kept our eyes dialed in for a sighting of magnificent animals. Along the way Biff was completely distraught with something in his shoe so we improvised and attempted to remove it quickly – we got a good laugh in. Right off the bat, we noticed webbing in the shrubbery along the trail and once we noticed it we saw it everywhere! It looked like a cocoon of sorts but really we have no idea what it was – comment below if you know please. We were delighted when we saw the herd, not too far off! We did need to lift the kids up a bit to be able to see them and it was so cool!

The loop continued to the rock alignment and the vistas! Here we saw a few different groups but everyone stayed socially distant and was very respectful. It was really great and we did not feel uncomfortable at all. Granted, this could have just been the people that we came in contact with that day and that might not be the experience for everyone, but nonetheless it was nice.

As Dad and I stopped to look at the clouds and check the radar to figure out if we were in store for some rain, Biff and Combo were busy stopping to check something else out. Caterpillars! Once they found one, we saw many!! They were everywhere, I mean everywhere to the point that I was worried that I would crush one if I took one wrong step.

This brings us to the historic rock quarry – definitely a highlight of the park! I think the pictures say enough – this is the South side of the quarry.

And the North side of the quarry.

I have a coworker that absolutely loves birds and I really wish that she could have been here for this portion of the trail. Birds of prey (BIG ones) soared above and around us for at least five minutes as we hiked on. They were searching for their next meal and circled very close to us on more than one occasion!

The walk back through the prairie revealed more webbing in the shrubbery and incredible views of the sky and clouds!

Our last stop on the trail was the “Nature Play Area”. We would have planned on spending more time here if we did not have two other locations to hit on journey. Definitely a fun place for the kids to explore, super close to the parking lot if you are looking for quick and easy.

Thank you for joining us! If you have a moment, I would really love to know what you thought about the park or our telling of the trail in general. We hope to inspire others to get outside and hike responsibly. As always, take care and Happy Hiking! Please wear your mask, we are in this together!

Perrot State Park – Trempealeau, WI 05/30/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: Not the best for social distancing. I think that if we had gotten there earlier we might have had better luck but there were a TON of people! One portion of the trail (skiing trail) was devoid of people, so if going back this might be a portion to check out.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Along the bluffs you definitely want to make sure keep the little one’s close as there are steep dropoffs. If we were not in the middle of pandemic, we would have been ok with letting them run wild but being that this is our reality, we kept them closer this time around.
The Trail – Brady’s Bluff Trail, Reed’s Peak Trail, ski trail loop by Bald Knob and Chicken Breast Bluff, back to Reed’s Peak Trail and the River Trail. The trails were a lot of fun, with twists, turns, elevation gain and losses which kept everything interesting! Mostly hard packed dirt, some stairs, and rocks and roots.
Trail Conditions – No issues. The ski trail was overgrown with tall grass and some packed dirt.
Bugs and Pests – No issues.
Plants – There was a plant that caused itchiness on Biff’s legs but I did not see what the plant was. There was no rash and the itchiness did not last long.
Bathrooms – Located near the boat ramp and park head quarters but we did not venture to see if they were open.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 6.71 miles
Moving Time – 04:00:49
Elevation Gain – total 545 ft. from lowest elevation to highest but overall it was much more than this. I might have to start using two different trackers to catch the overall elevation gain.
Difficulty – Moderate

Highlights:

Combo – I don’t really know.
Biff – Inchy!
Blaze – The views of the river.
Ripper – The views and getting away from the reality of what was happening around us.

We really enjoyed the scenic drive along WI-35 S/Great River Rd.! It was a fun drive thankfully, as we were on the road for over 3 hours. Driving through the small towns along the river, we kept our eyes peeled for cabins and property and had fun looking into everything we found, imagining ourselves vacationing there.

The days prior to this hike were horrific to say the least. Yes, we live in Minnesota and had just experienced the brutality of the George Floyd murder and were shaken to our core. I cannot really put into words the emotions coursing through our veins.

We started on Brady’s Bluff Trail and were not disappointed. Surrounded by the lush forest, climbing up and around massive boulders and cliffs I could feel the stress slowly dissipating away.

The kids were thrilled to find Honey Suckle along the trail and kept their eyes peeled from here on out.

Soon we found the gentle pull up to the first overlook.

And then the stairs began and just kept going. This is the portion of trail that made me give the hike a Moderate rating. The kids were definitely out of breath by the time we made it to the top and i would by lying if I said my heart rate did not pick up. Along the way we stopped to enjoy the hole in the bluff and the gorgeous scenery surrounding us. Once we made it to the shelter we started to see people. We did not linger long because we wanted to distance ourselves from people as quickly as we could but if things were different, I would definitely recommend spending some time here, maybe having a quick snack.

Heading down the bluffs towards the park headquarters, the switchbacks reminded us of the one’s we find in Montana. Man do I wish we were there right now!! Biff was sad because we would not let him run on ahead, there were just too many people and we did not want to risk his outgoing and gregarious personality placing himself at risk of getting too close.

Drawing nearer to the park head quarters, we noticed that the park was packed! Starting to regret our decision to come here we picked up the pace and hurried towards the ski trail, which we hoped would be less busy.

Despite hurrying along, we heard a distinct t-t-t-t-t sound coming from a nearby tree. It took us a few moments to find where the noise was coming from and the kids were pleased as punch when they saw the chipmunk, feverishly eating an acorn! Continuing on we wondered if this chipmunk was a relative of Chip and Dale (the chipmunks we feed in our yard).

Before we knew it we made it to the Perrot Ridge Trail and things were starting to heat up!

The climb to the ridge is always fun but this time we had to wait for others to complete the climb. Once to the top, we again waited for others to move on before heading the up the last leg. Soon we figured that people were not going to move along to allow us through so we hastened our step and cruised through the group that was congregated on the trail, with quick head nods to acknowledge our passing. We would have loved to take in the views for a bit (in the past we have found areas to stop and have lunch here) but not today. Soaking in as much as we could we hurried along. Not the ideal way to spend the day on the trail but it was still gorgeous.

The ridge is heavily wooded and we were hiking smack dab in between two large groups. Eventually we stopped, pulled off the trail and allowed the group behind us to pass. Then we waited several minutes to allow them to get some distance ahead of us before heading on.

Finally we had made our way to the ski trails and were pulling away from the crowds. We had made the right decision and did not see a single person on this section (loop on the right side of the map above). This portion was really overgrown and the grass was consistently brushing our calves. The kids worried about ticks but we did not find a single one on us.

We really got a kick out of some of the names of the ski trails here “not so bad run” and “ski jump hill”. This is where the trail really started to get pretty.

By chance, we found an inch worm on Combo’s boot. The kids named him/her “Inchy” and had a new hiking partner. Inchy fell and was lost several times before we finally said that Inchy just needed to stay lost. Biff was absolutely devastated – you would have thought he had lost his best friend. This sparked a conversation about potentially getting him his own pet, perhaps a Guinea Pig. We discussed what Biff would need to accomplish to show that he is ready for the responsibility of a pet to call his own. Boy oh boy did his tune change.

When we finished the loop, we decided to give Perrot Ridge a second shot, in hope of fewer people to be able to stop and enjoy the scenery. We were in luck! The few people we saw kept to themselves and worked with us to maintain a safe hiking distance from one another.

The path to the River Trail was short and included a quick jaunt on the road and through the parking lot.

As you can imagine, the River View trail runs along the river. What you might not guess is that between the river and trail runs a train track. We really hoped to see a train fly by when we were on this portion of trail, but no luck. The surrounding trees were quite dense and it was difficult to catch views of the river but we kept our eyes peeled anyway. Biff hid behind a tree in an attempt to scare Dad and ended up getting into a plant that caused some unpleasant itchiness on his legs (sensitive skin just like Mom). He complained for a bit but after rubbing hand sanitizer on his legs he seemed to feel better and perked up.

At the end of the River View Trail we stopped to check out the murky water, throw a couple sticks in and admire the tall flowers growing along the trail.

The last leg of the trail, ran just between the river and the road with a guardrail as as single file path. We were already half way through the portion with a guardrail when another group started the portion from the other end, heading in our direction. There was no way to be socially distant and it was clear that the group was not stopping, so we hauled ourselves over the guardrail and finished the hike on the road.

The last thing that we saw was a dead snake in the middle of the road. Very sad.

That is it for this one folks. Thank you for joining us on our journey at Perrot State Park, we hope that this might have been helpful in planning a future trip. Take care and as always Happy Hiking! And please, wear your mask when you are around other people. It does not take much to toss it in your pack and throw it on quick when you see others coming on the trail. We need to work together to keep one another safe.

Jay Cooke State Park – Carlton, MN 05/26/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: If you plan it right, this park gets a decent grade but if you are looking to check out the more popular areas you will be greeted with throngs of people. Tip: Choose trails away from the swinging bridge, that farther out you go the better. Get there early and avoid weekends. We saw several people on the Willard Munger State Trail and no one on the back end of the Carlton Trail.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – No concerns.
The Trail – We started on the Willard Munger State Trail (paved) and then did the end portion of the Carlton Trail (packed dirt, rocks, roots, etc.). The Carlton Trail closer to the swinging bridge gets super busy, hence hitting up the back end of the trail which few people make it to.
Trail Conditions – Some mud here and there but nothing impassable.
Bugs and Pests – We were not bugged by any little critters this time.
Plants – Just starting to bloom, no areas of concern.
Bathrooms – None.
Cell Service – Great.

Trail Information:

Length – 3.23 miles
Moving Time – 01:38:55
Elevation Gain – 141 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – Getting our feet wet!
Biff – Same as Combo
Blaze – Climbing out onto the rocks.
Ripper – The river views and rocks are truly amazing. It does not matter how many times I see the same ones, they are still awe inspiring!

While heading back to our cabin we drove by Jay Cooke and figured, why not stop? We decided that if was too busy we would just skip it. Looking at the map, we decided to take the back portion of the Carlton Trail to avoid as many people as we could.

Just a short walk from the parking area you come to a wonderful bridge which crosses the river. You definitely need to plan on spending a little bit of time exploring around the bridge and taking in the views from the middle of the river. I do not think I can emphasize just how much we love it here.

Continue on the Willard Munger State Trail until you come to a bridge just off the paved trail which takes you into the woods. We were thankful to get off of the paved trail (so warm) and get back into the woods. The kids wanted to check out the water and were quite bummed when we told them that we would not be getting in the water here. After moans and groans we collectively decided that Mom and Dad would find a good place further along the trail where they could get their toes wet, we just did not want to stop here where we might find more people. BUT they had to be good without any complaints to get those toes wet.

And into the woods we went with the kids having a sense of purpose. I tell you, give them a carrot to work for and you are in luck.

During one of our mud crossings, Combo spotted a frog! They really wanted to try to catch it but we explained that it is best to leave the little guy where he was.

Biff regalled us with tales of the “Old Man” (think – it’s raining it’s pouring, the old man is snoring – then insert whatever creative way Biff wants to pick on the old man, he gets pretty creative and absolutely loves it) and at one point got so caught up in his storytelling that he biffed it a good one. After some TLC from Mom and Combo, he cheered up and was ready to hit the trail again. Here we are hiking along a ridge with a rock wall to our left. Climbing onto the rocks you are treated so pretty awesome views. Also here, it gets pretty warm because there is not much by way of wind/breeze.

Now mind you, the kids had their eyes peeled for anywhere they could get their feet wet and had been shot down a few times (wanting to jump into swiftly flowing water) so when Blaze found a good spot, they were elated! It was really peaceful sitting on the water’s edge, taking in everything around us. You can definitely feel the stress and worry fade away.

Combo and Biff were satisfied and we were starting to get hungry for dinner, so we decided to turn around and head back after a short stretch of the legs. We discussed what kind of take-out we all wanted to get for the night and our stomachs began to growl even more. Since COVID-19 started and everything shut down, we have made a point of ordering take-out from a local restaurant once per week and even after everything returns to normal, this might be an enduring tradition.

Combo has been on point with the snake spottings lately and shrieked with glee when she found yet another!

As we neared the Willard Munger State Trail it was getting very warm and we were happy that we had decided to call it a day. Hey, we did get our 8 miles in with the two parks combined so we were not disappointed. Truth be told, we have been trying to hit the 8 mile mark each hike to get the kids ready for yet another trip out to Montana for hiking. More to come on this later.

Biff was again starting to get a little testy, just wanting to be done already so I did what any good Mom does. I pantsed the little goober (I definitely checked to make sure no one was around first)! Try as he may, he was unable to keep the pout up while laughing at his Spider Man drawers.

A small spur trail, marked as “State Trail” caught out eye and we decided to do just a little more exploring. While climbing on the rocks and trying to figure out just where the trail would lead to, Biff found some “rocks” that he was excited to toss into the river. Initially we did not pay much attention to this, as he is always picking up rocks in hopes of tossing them in the water. But when he told us that he found another “group” of rocks, we decided we should check it out. Come to find, he had been carrying animal droppings around. Drop the rocks, whip out the hand sanitizer and for the love of goodness, do not put your hands in your mouth! Crisis had been averted and we made our way back to the paved trail and our return to the car.

When we made it back to the bridge the kids were all “Wow that was a great hike” and “Man we barely hiked at all.” I joked that we could always add a few more miles and was met with a resounding “NO”. All in all they were troopers.

This concludes our trip for Memorial Day but I am quite back logged with hikes, so there is definitely more to come. Thank you for joining us on our journey and as always, stay safe and happy hiking!

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – Two Harbors, MN 05/26/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: We lucked out and only saw one person on the trail and several cars at the parking lot when we returned. Typically though, this park is pretty busy so I would suggest getting there early or going when the weather is not bright and sunny.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Most areas were just fine to let the kids run and we did. When exploring the rocks and crossing the river we were more cautious, especially the river.
The Trail – The trail follows the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) throughout the majority of the hike. The first portion winds along the river, then crosses the river and stays close for a bit before heading into the woods and up to an overlook. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
Trail Conditions – The trail is mostly packed dirt and be prepared for mud – it is the SHT of course! There is a short paved portion at the very end when you are heading to the parking lot.
Bugs and Pests – The bugs did not bother us until we were at the overlook and there they swarmed us like crazy but nothing was biting.
Plants – Trees were just beginning to turn green and flowers were just beginning to bud.
Bathrooms – None, except for a marked latrine for one of the campsites we walked passed.
Cell Service –

Trail Information:

Length – 4.59 miles
Moving Time – 03:04:24
Elevation Gain – 318 ft. total but overall with the up and down, quite a bite more
Difficulty – Moderate because of the river crossing

Highlights:

Combo – Crossing the water!
Biff – Crossing the river!
Blaze – I liked that it was so diverse. Crossing the river and the overlook were awesome!
Ripper – Being on the SHT again, we hope to hit every portion of the trail and when we retire (sooner hopefully) do the whole thing from start to finish!

We had a foggy ride to the trail, with tons of rain. We had taken an extra day off after the kids’ Memorial break from school so we were back at the distance learning again. Let me tell you, staying home and working full time while also working on the distance learning was quite the trip. There were tears, laughter, yelling, etc. a full range of emotions that took quite the toll on us, as I know many others. This day we picked the distance learning back up…in the car! Yikes it was ROUGH. Combo had worked herself up to a tizzy and started off on the wrong foot. Mission cheer Combo up accepted! Anyways, when we reached the trailhead we were delighted to see that we were the only ones at the parking lot! Score! I guess the rain and fog has it’s perks!

Seeing the wooden signs lettered in blue, I almost immediately became happy – we were back on the SHT! There was a sign (it’s been there for a few years now) warning that the bridge was out and hikers would be unable to make the loop, warning of not crossing the river. Little did they know, we had crossed the river previously when the kids were younger so we were pretty confident that we would make it.

If you’ve hiked on the SHT, you know you will encounter mud. It’s always there. I remember one hike with just Blaze and I that we spent so much time trying to avoid deep – sometimes shin deep mud puddles that our 15 mile hike took us significantly longer than we had planned for. Our shoes were caked in mud and the mud had even made it through my liner socks to my feet! Since it had rained and was still drizzling a bit, we found our first mud pretty early on. Let the slipping and sliding begin!

This first portion of the trail was along the river but far enough away that you cannot actually see the river. We trekked along and by this time Combo had cheered up and was laughing as she sloshed through the mud. We encountered a set of stairs down to the water, over a bridge and to a waterfall!

Even after hiking three days in a row the kids were being troopers and were filled with energy, tearing up the trail! We were able to walk closer to the water at this point and the kids had fun looking for spur trails to get closer.

Here the trail started to get fun, lots of ups and downs, roots, rocks and great scenery – it really does not get better than this! The kids said that we were on a real adventure. The sign warned us to be cautious on the trail but the kids just laughed.

We made quite a few stops this trip to check various things out. This definitely helps the kids stay motivated and gives them some power over our adventure, choosing where to stop and smell the roses. Here we made it down to the river and threw a few rocks and twigs. Sometimes Biff will carry a rock or twig for 20 minutes in wait for his next shot at the water.

As Blaze said earlier, this trail is quite diverse and keeps your attention peaked. Have I mentioned just how much I love hiking here?

The blue blazes on the trees showed us the right path to take to stay on the SHT. These can be a lifesaver when you are in more remote areas where the trail might not be so obvious. The kids like to look for them and compete to be the first to spot the blazes.

The rushing rapids are quite impressive and the kids pondered what it might be like to go whitewater rafting down the river. One thing at a time guys.

Here we started to check the map more often because it felt like we were nearing where we would need to start looking for a safe place to cross the river. As you can see you have to carefully choose where to cross as some areas would be impassable.

Another quick break down by the water but this time I whipped out the treats I had made the night before. Cored out apples filled with peanut butter and raisins! They were perfect but a bit messy.

The trees were just beginning to bud and had not filled in all the way, which made for half brown and half green trees. The green really stood out on this cloudy and rainy day.

People often ask if a park has good places for their kids to scramble up and down rocks. This park defintiely offers fun rocks along the river and we stopped to climb a good majority of them.

And guess what we found next? A foam donut in the river! Biff thought this was pretty funny. Another surprise, Combo asked me for a picture with her! She is growing up so fast and does not always appreciate the photos, so of course I dropped everything to snap a photo with her.

Here is “Split Rock”, the namesake of the park and river. It’s an impressive sight but we were saddened to see the graffiti. I really do not understand why people feel the need to destroy nature. Just terrible.

Just beyond Spilt Rock we started to look for a good place to cross the river – our eyes were focussed on the water and we may or may not have tripped a bit more. We also saw a SHT campsite that looked pretty sweet.

Before too long we found just the spot we were looking for. We debated whether or not try to jump across rocks and quickly said nope, too slippery. We then tried to find a path that the kids would be able to navigate – nope not happening. So Blaze took his shoes and socks off and started carting them to the middle with strict instructions to stay put. And to by surprise he sweetly whisked to the middle, as well. This portion was going to be trickier as the water was knee deep and the riverbed slippery! My turn to take the shoes and socks off. After Blaze got the kids across, I made my way through the water. It was so cold but it really felt great! It was slowing going to cross but a ton of fun!

Feeling refreshed, we were ready to rock and roll on the last leg of our journey! Stopping at another campsite, the kids took a few more minutes to check out the water.

Leaving the last of the water, we soaked it in as much as we could because it might be a bit before we are able to make it to this trail again. We especially got a kick out of the rock buttcrack in the river!!

From here out you hike in the woods, up towards the lookout and away from the water. One thing we noticed each time we’ve hiked here, this is where it starts to get warm and increasingly more buggy. The gentleman that we encountered was very friendly and practiced social distancing. Later Combo pointed out to me that she knew he was a “real” hiker because of his hiking boots. Oh man, we may have created a monster! Anyways, the gentleman asked us if we had crossed the river and made the full loop. When we told him that we had, he congratulated the kids and said he was quite impressed. They never know what to say when people say these things to them.

The view from the overlook is really quite impressive and the kids love looking at the little toy cars. We could even see our vehicle in the distance. The squinty eyes are due to the bugs flying around our heads.

Leaving the SHT to return to the parking lot we made a deal to return here and keep going on the SHT – hopefully backpacking. A gentle hill led us down to cross the highway and then onto the Gitchi-Gami trail (paved) to Lake Superior and the parking lot.

Another blissful day on the trail and still one more park to go! Life does not get better than this I tell you!! That’s it for this one folks. Thank you for joining us and as always stay safe and happy hiking!

Meyers Beach Sea Cave Trail, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore – near Bayfield, WI 05/25/2020

COVID-19 Perspective: We made it to the trailhead early (8:30 am) and there were only two other cars in the parking lot, one of which was packing up to leave. The entire hike out we had the trail to ourselves but the return trip became increasingly more crowded. Luckily, for the most part the trail was easy to step off and provide the distance needed. That being said, there were definitely some places where it would have been more difficult to be socially distant but luckily we did not meet anyone on those portions of the trail.

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Let them fly until you get to the sea caves. The sea caves are gorgeous but offer steep drop off’s and cliffs galore. At one point there was even a caution sign with an attached life buoy just in case someone fell.
The Trail – We walked on wood planks and stairs winding through the forest, for the first portion of the trail. We were continuously going up and down, up an down as the trail followed the lay of the land. The second half flattened out and wound close to the lake and back into the forest, repeating the process again and again. This is an out and back trail without much mileage – you definitely want to make it all the way.
Trail Conditions – Some mud and some loose stairs but overall it was great!
Bugs and Pests – Definitely bring bugspray, we suited up shortly into the hike and then it was not bad at all. Mosquitoes could definitely be an annoyance without bugspray.
Plants – Lush greenery and beautiful flowers surrounded the wooded portions of the trail.
Bathrooms – Located in the parking lot (not an actual facility with sinks and what not).
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 4.3 miles
Moving Time – 02:09:18
Elevation Gain – 243 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – Sea Caves
Biff – Making it to the bathroom in time!
Blaze – Sea Caves and the Lake
Ripper – Sea Caves

The kids love anything having to do with water and the promise of cool sea caves made this one a no brainer. Plus, this trail has been on our bucket list for some time but is just too far to drive for a day hike from home. One thing to note: there is a fee associated with enjoying this park but the plus side is that they did take our debit card (we had cash just in case).

The wood planks made the PERFECT race track for our races, after Biff designed our fasty cars of course. The kids really loved the change from the day before – the weather was cool and the trail was easy. We even found some cool green trail markers!

After the wood planks turned to packed dirt, the ups and downs began. We would climb a hill only to go back down and back up again. Combo was fond of saying, “What goes up, must come down!” And that was our mantra throughout this portion of trail.

The trail changed yet again and this time we were greeted by an enchanted forest to the lake with breathtaking views!

Now is the time to start to be cautious with the little people. We could have spent hours exploring the caves here – beautiful! Next time, we want to try our hand at kayaking on Lake Superior and actually going into the caves. Notice the life buoy?

We continued to meander on our way, taking in the gorgeous shoreline, cliff and dramatic views. The kids attempted to guess how far out the tugboat in the distance was. They were pretty sure that they could swim out there…not likely guys.

Here we came to the end of the out portion of the trail and it was a spectacularily wonderful day on the trail! Hiking always cheers us up and somehow makes us forget about the craziness of the world around us. We even found equipment from the University of WI setup to monitor the area – pretty cool!

Our return trip was not quite as smooth sailing as the way out. Biff had to poop and for the remainder of the hike, his window came and went. It would be touch and go from here on out.

Little side story that Biff would hate to know that I told. When he was just learning to go “potty” we were on a road trip and the bathroom was a ways out and Biff had to go. We finally made it to a gas station BUT it was a small gas station with only one bathroom and it was occupied! Hurry up and wait. Eventually the gas station attendant exited the bathroom and we were finally in for some sweet relief! Not…the toilet was plugged! So I plunged and finally got little dude situated. Now earlier in the week Biff had told me that he takes so long to poop because his poops have to say goodbye to their family (seriously). So after he had finally made it to the toilet, I jokingly asked – “are your poops saying goodbye to their family?” He yelled out “No Mom, there’s NO TIME for that today!”

Needless to say, when little dude says he has to go, he has to go and I was really hoping that we would be able to make it back to the car. Everytime he said his window was back I cringed, fearing the worst.

My worries were confirmed as Biff told me that he could not get his window to shut! Time to get a move on and cruise! We received some seriously funny looks as we raced along the trail in search of that precious bathroom. Guess what? We made it! The look on Biff’s face was priceless as he returned to the car…crisis averted!

We made a quick side trip to Amnicon Falls State Park in Wisconsin but did not stay long because of the number of people and it was starting to rain. This did not seem like the ideal equation for fun but what we did see looked pretty cool! Here are a few pictures until we can get there and explore more fully.

That’s it for this portion of our trip. More to come tomorrow! One of my favorite North Shore hikes is up next. Until then, stay safe and happy hiking!