2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Absolutely no worries!
The Trail – Simple trail winding through the woods and historic stops of the quarry to check out along the way.
Trail Conditions – Mostly snow covered.
Bathrooms – Located at the trailhead and another found near the swimming area.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 1.7 miles
Moving Time – 0:52:17
Elevation Gain – 1.7 miles
Difficulty – EASY

Highlights: We enjoyed looking at the structures dispersed throughout the park. Nothing spectacular but a pleasant walk.

We had plans to go to Val’s in St. Cloud, MN to get burgers and all the goodness that they have to offer. Their food is AMAZING! We chose this park because it was not far to travel and would be a fun side stop on our way home.

When we arrived to the park we found that there was an entrance fee so we had to turn around and get cash to pay the fee. We made a quick stop at Kwik Trip (no pun intended) and picked up some goodies and cash to get into the park.

The couple in front of us at the park really struggled to figure out the self-pay option and Blaze gave them some quick tips and we were on our way. Stopping for a quick bathroom break before heading out was a necessity as both kids were feeling the effects of the greasy goodness we had all consumed:)

The weather was amazing and we all looked forward to a stroll in front of us. We began by taking a short walk into the woods.

Our short walk soon brought us to the “Bouldering Area”. This portion was pretty awesome with HUGE boulders seeming to protrude out of the ground like a little mini mountain. It was SO hard to stop the kids from climbing on a wonderwall of boulder mountains!

We continued on for a short period of time before we found the trail closure. The trail is closed due to a boardwalk being repaired. We made the decision to follow proper trail etiquette and turn around versus walking next to the boardwalk that was currently under construction. Luckily our return trip brought us to a large rock that the kids reveled in climbing and showing their expertise.

Soon we found ourselves walking away from the crowds and we were delighted! We were finally away from the crowds of people, walking through the woods and enjoying the beauty of our surroundings.

As we continued along our stroll we found many things that the kids could climb on and explore…PERFECT!!

Our trek soon took us to the swimming area and thankfully a bathroom! Both Ripper and Biff took a moment to use the facilities while Blaze and Combo explored the area. That’s the one thing I liked about this park – we were never far from facilities when we needed them (and boy oh boy did we need them).

Next we strolled on to the next fishing hole and the kids took the lead. Mom and Dad played a trick on them when they decided not to listen… We directed them to take a right but they were so caught up in their shenanigans that they did not heed our advice. Needless to say they continued straight ahead and we took the right. OK maybe we picked up the pace when we took the right. Blaze took the opportunity to take some pretty cool photos and I hid to scare the kiddos once they finally figured out they had headed in the wrong direction. It was EPIC! Even parents have to have fun right?

This next part was my FAVORITE! We were able to check out the big quarry and rock climbing area and boy oh boy was it WINDY!

Before we left we stopped to take a closer look at the Quarry and really enjoyed finding out how all of the equipment was used.

And that was it! The park was just OK in our opinion but we still enjoyed the time we were able to spend outside with our family. Take care folks and thank you for joining us on our adventure! As always, if you have any suggestions for the blog please let us know!

Flandrau State Park – New Ulm, MN 02/29/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – There was one area where the trail ran next to the river with a dropoff of maybe 20 feet, this was the only area of concern. The slipping and sliding did not worry us, as we figured the kids would figure it out on their own.
The Trail – We started by moving towards the river where stairs led us up and along a ridge-way, then descending back towards the river again for some pleasant hiking in the sun. Then back into the woods on a meandering trail that wound it’s way back to the river.
Trail Conditions – Areas of wet grass, mud, ice, snow, and slushy snow.
Bathrooms – There was an outhouse located near the parking lot. Funny story, the door was stuck open because of the accumulated ice so we needed someone to stand guard and block our view. The inside of the outhouse had melted, appearing to be a large puddle BUT there was ice underneath the water and I nearly fell on my butt walking in!
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 3.06 miles
Moving Time – 01:40:09
Elevation Gain – 94 ft.
Difficulty – Moderate with the slick spots but otherwise would consider than easy trail.

Highlights:

Combo – Stamping the passport and Butt Sliding!
Biff – Butt Sliding!
Blaze – The snowball fight!
Ripper – I was pleased that the park had much more to offer than I had originally thought. There were no dramatic views or exciting climbs, but pleasant big woods surrounding us when we were not walking next to the water.

As were stamping our passport the park ranger came outside to inform us that most of the park was groomed for skiing and we would need to stay on the snowshoe trails. He offered us a map but we had already downloaded a map and politely declined his offer. We had hoped to get another password but unfortunately the hiking club trail was designated for skiing only.

After my near death experience in the bathroom we headed out for a short walk before coming to the snow covered stairs. There were a couple of moans from the kids after our experience last weekend a John A. Latsch SP but they were pleased to find that the stairs were short lived, less steep, and far easier to manage. Oh and they made plans for Butt Sliding on the return trip. You have to have goals right?

Luckily they did not have to wait until the return trip to get to sliding! After we walked for a moment or two with the river below us and off in the distance slightly, we found ourselves going back down to the river and commence butt sliding!

As we came out of the woods and neared the river the sun beat down on us and I could feel the positive energy soaking into my system! I love Minnesota but man can the winters get long and dreary. You HAVE to enjoy days like this!

Small specks of snow soon found themselves running down the back of my neck into my shirt as a gigantic snowball whizzed just over my head, headed straight for Biff! With a whack, the snowball hit it’s target and the game was on and continued intermittently for the remainder of the hike. The best part was being used as a human shield…the kids sure thought that was fun!

Here is where we encountered the bluff above the river, as pictured it was not much to worry about. Biff raced on ahead to see what other treasures he might and also to avoid the dreaded snowballs.

Our snowball fight took us deeper into the woods, with towering trees and gorgeous landscape.

We were soon greeted by a slippery hill with promises of butt sliding on the way back. I do not think that I have used the word “butt” more when writing than I am today! This slippery hill ended on what looked like a snow covered bridge – something that I imagine The Bridge to Terabithia looking like.

The snowball fight raged on as we neared the end point of the trail. It was pretty neat because this portion of the trail backed up to residential roads (we could not see them but could tell by the map that they were not far off) and houses perched above on the surrounding hills.

On the way back Combo taught Biff how to play Tic-Tac-Toe with their hands and I never really caught on to how it worked exactly. That being said, it was pretty hilarious watching the slip, trip and fall because they were paying attention to their game and not the trail.

Combo and Biff were so excited to butt slide on the hill that we did not catch them on camera but Blaze did manage to catch me as I skied down the hill in my hiking boots. I’m still surprised that I never ended up flat on my bottom!

This portion of the return trip had me contemplating just how beautiful it was outside and how peaceful everything felt. Reflective moments on the trail are rare because there is usually quite a bit of chatter and shenanigans happening but when they hit, they hit hard and I was left feeling refueled and energized.

Back at the river Bluff, Biff was convinced that he saw a fish in the water. I am pretty sure it was a piece of wood or something flowing under the ice. Poor Biff just could not grasp that a fish would not float like if they were alive and was insistent that the fish was just floating on.

Even the mud was slippery! I nearly did the splits heading up this short hill as the mud gave way and sent one leg flying in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. BUT we made it!

All in all it was a perfect, sunny day to be outside and I am forever grateful for all of people that work tirelessly to maintain the parks and trails that we love so dearly.

The park had plenty of signs throughout and twice (once on the way out and once on the way back) Combo stopped to try to fix this one, but she never had luck unfortunately.

Combo had hair issues (oh no is she becoming a teenager already?!) so stopped for some adjustments as the boys continued on.

And the best part of the day was an EPIC but slide down the final hill! Combo careened down that thing like someone had slicked her bottom with oil and she even made it around the bend with a “uh, uh, uh” as she went over the various bumps. It was awesome!

Rounding off our adventure was the discovery of a Black Walnut – quite the treasure. Biff reminded us that this was State Park and you CANNOT take anything home with you. He’s a good boy.

Thank you for joining us on yet another adventure! Please feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you think. Here’s a map of our route in case you were curious. Take care!

Sakatah Lake State Park – Waterville, MN 02/29/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – We let the little people run to their hearts were content!
The Trail – We wound in a circle near the highway, into the woods, through the campground, passed what we assume were ponds and then back near the highway.
Trail Conditions – Great! Hiking boots were perfect this time!
Bathrooms – Located within the campground, about 0.8 miles into the Hiking Club Trail.
Cell Service – Great!

Trail Information:

Length – 2.2 miles
Moving Time – 01:16:53
Elevation Gain – 102 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – Finding the Woodpecker feather!
Biff – The snowball fight!
Blaze – Being outside on a beautiful Leap Day!
Ripper – Hip-checking Biff into the snow!

We wanted to stay closer to home this time around with a drive time of about 1 1/2 hours. Lucky for us we found two hikes near one another that we had not gotten the passwords nor the passport stamps for. Boom!

After getting our passport stamp we parked at the lot for the hiking club trail and immediately noticed a strong manure scent…hmmm. Combo was not so happy with us and refused to stop for a picture but the day must go on!

When we got out of the car it felt pretty warm but soon the wind picked up and I figured out that I would DEFINITELY need a hat. The hiking club trail branched off right from the get go and we decided to take the “easy” portion first and end up on the “moderate” portion of the trail for our return trip.

Combo continued to be mad about being scolded for not being nice to her brother but we were determined to help her turn her day around. Trust me folks, it took some doing! I think we may have a teenager in the making! AHHHH!

The first portion of the trail was somewhat disappointing as we were quite near the highway and could see and hear the cars buzzing along. Don’t get me wrong, it was still beautiful but not ideal for us – we like seclusion. That being said, I think during the summer months when the leaves are in full bloom, the noise and car sightings would be drastically less. But this is just a guess.

Shortly into our adventure Biff found animal prints in the snow that we HAD to stop to examine for several moments. I LOVE that our kids want to stop to check out and enjoy these things!

Biff struggles with tantrums and has recently been having some difficulties at school with being disruptive. We are working with his teacher to figure out the best way to support him with these things but on the trail today he rocked it! It’s funny how you get kids out in nature and they thrive, I mean they really thrive!

Biff was enjoying himself so much that he could not even wait to enjoy our first bridge crossing with us. You go buddy!

And his motivation just kept going! When I say that we have been struggling with the tantrums, I am not joking. Sometimes it feels like too much. How can such a wonderful little guy be so unhappy? This is the joy I find in hiking. Everything seems to right itself. Our family comes together as one and we can continue on with joy in our hearts.

The reason that I know the bathrooms are located 0.8 miles from the trailhead is because Combo REALLY had to go when we got out of the car. At this point the race to the potty was on! AND Biff lost some steam but was able to pull through!

At long last we found the campground and Combo was elated! Bonus, we were able to check out the campground for the park. But downfall was that Biff did not zip up his boots and walked through the deep snowbanks and misplaced his boot – BUT he found it! Silver linings folks!

As we left the campground Combo was super excited to find a Woodpecker feather!

The trail took us further into the woods and I could feel a change. We were becoming more connected to the trail and loving every moment of it.

Because we are getting good at guessing where the hiking club password will be we knew it was coming up. As we told the kids this fun fact they took off!

Luckily that was not the end of it. The race continued and the kids were eating up the trail!

Soon we encountered a road crossing and Biff graciously offered to help his “girls” cross the road and make their way over the embankment. What a little Blaze in the making!

And because Dad could not be outdone, a Stone Cold Stunner (not the real thing) was in order for Biff.

Combo watched Biff’s Stone Cold Stunner and was motivated to take the lead. FINALLY Combo was back!!

This change led to snowball fights…with the kids hiding behind me for protection and snow dropping down my shirt as Blaze launched the snowballs at us! BUT my favorite part was soon to come. I found the PERFECT moment to hip-check William into a snowbank. Mom WIN!!

As we threw snowballs and hiked on, we noticed a smell…a smell that brought us back to the parking lot and realized we must be close to our destination!

Soon after that the first portion of our day was completed. Go to Flandrau State Park post for the remainder of our day. Thank you for joining us! As always, please leave a comment and let us know your thoughts. Here’s a map of the trail we took today. Happy hiking!

John A. Latsch State Park – Altura, MN 02/22/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Be CAREFUL with the kids in the winter! So many chances to slip and fall, especially towards the top!
The Trail – And we go up, up, up!
Trail Conditions – Stairs covered with snow!
Bathrooms – Located near the trailhead.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 0.46 miles
Moving Time – 00:47:00
Elevation Gain – 445 feet
Difficulty: HARD with the snow!

Highlights:

Combo – The views!
Biff – The views!
Blaze – Not falling on the way down!
Ripper – Getting another passport stamp for our book!

John Latsch State Park has been on my radar for a bit now but has always taken a backburner due to the length of trail and opportunities to hike in the park. We thought that this would be a good add on to our plans this trip. When we pulled in there was a ton of slush and it took me a few tries (backing up and pulling in) to get parked in the small parking area. But I did it!

The Riverview Trail is basically stairs all the way up. Today, we could not see the stairs but we gave it a shot anyway!

And as we continued we understood why the trail was marked as “hard”. So much slipping and sliding!! This is a trail that I would suggest taking in the summer folks!

But as we continued our journey up through the snow we were treated to our first views of the surrounding area!

But those views were not it, we had some stairs and incline to go! Things were getting a little sketchy with the kids and we took extra precautions to make sure they did not slide of the steep inclines into the abyss.

But then we made it to our destination! The trail continued further but it had not been traveled for some time and Blaze’s back was not holding up so we thought it would be best to turn around. That did not stop us from enjoying everything the area had to offer!

As we headed back down we realized that this was where the real work would begin! Holding kids up and making sure they did not do an epic biff that resulted in ouches was a huge undertaking…but we did it!

Mom and Dad certainly had sore muscles in the morning after holding the kids up and trekking down the slippery slope that was John Latsch!

BUT we made it and we were all in great moods! BOOM!

As always, thank you for joining us on our adventure! Take care and HAPPY HIKING!!

Great River Bluffs, King’s Bluff Trail – Winona, MN 02/22/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Let the little balls of energy loose!
The Trail – We took a walk through the woods, followed by a good trudge through the slippery snow which led us to the ridge-line to our final destination.
Trail Conditions – Most areas had packed snow but there was one portion that had thick snow to walk through which was very slippery!
Bathrooms – Located right at the entrance to the park, single stall.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 3 miles, per the park website (my recorder switched off at one point).
Moving Time – 01:40:27
Elevation Gain – 136 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – Making snowballs and handing them to Dad to throw at Biff!
Biff – The wrecking ball!
Blaze – Not having to worry about Rattle Snakes this time around and the snow was PERFECT for making snowballs!
Ripper – Strolling through the woods without a jacket!

Life is tumultuous to say the least! Man have we had a lot going on lately. Blaze has a new job (way to go babe!), kids have been sick, etc. We decided that we finally had a day that we could devote to getting out and doing what we do best…hiking and enjoying life! It was a 3 hour drive to our destination but it was well worth it! I am lucky to have a partner that humors my whims and will let us travel all over the state to see the beauty that MN has to offer us!

We parked at the trailhead that we know well and prepared to hit the trail! There was another couple getting ready to get started so we told the kids it was a race to see who could get started first:) Anyone that knows me, knows that I am an introvert that is super uncomfortable making small talk with people, so thanks kids for getting a move on!

The first portion of the trail takes you through a wooded pine forest and the trees were amazing! We made a game of avoiding the skiing paths and the kids embraced the idea.

After we left the trees we were trudging through some serious snow. The snow was not deep by any means on the trail but it was VERY slippery and full of oopses! Blaze fell at work the other day and has had some serious trouble with his back, so this portion of the trail was extra difficult for him. BUT he pushed through like a champion because he knows just how much these moments mean to me. We made it our goal to find a bench to allow Blaze to have a reprieve from the back pain and take a break.

After we left the bench we found ourselves hiking on the ridgeline to our final destination. The thing that stuck out the most to me was that you could see so much more of the surrounding scenery in the winter without the gorgeous trees standing in the way! Both seasons have their place but I think the best time to visit this park is the winter, for sure.

And of course when you are hiking in the winter you HAVE to stop to taste the snow!

Of course our family is not perfect. The kids fight. Like they really fight. There was a moment that is not pictured here where they fought like cats and dogs, even coming to blows with the snowballs. BUT we were able to talk to them and get them focused on being family, loving one another and having a good time. It was the peace after the storm!

As we neared the end I found myself sad. I did not want the moment to end. I love spending time with my family and enjoying the great outdoors with them. Bright side, the views were AMAZING!!

And as we approached the end of the out and back trail, Biff yelled out “Look MOM, we have mountains in Minnesota!” Sorry buddy, these are bluffs, not mountains but still just as gorgeous.

The best part of the day was stopping to enjoy the beauty of everything around us at the end of the trail. It continues to be amazing!

As we headed back to the car we had an EPIC snowball fight! Combo scooped up snow and handed it to Blaze who made it into snowballs and rocketed them at Biff. Lots of fun to be had!

At one point Biff discovered that snow had collected around the strap of his mitten to make a snowball. Next thing you know we had a wrecking ball which he continued to add snow to until the strap could no longer hold the snow. I do not have a picture of it but the last wrecking ball was MASSIVE!

And by chance we found a tree which was intertwined and made us think of family. We are intertwined and there for one another…always and forever!

All great hikes call for a cookie break (and a Blaze break). We laughed as Biff dropped his cookie in the snow but decided the continue eating the frozen treat anyway. Perseverance folks!

Our break was short lived and we headed back into the dark forest (a bit colder without our jackets but still awesome). We saw a shelter for backpackers/campers and found a fun game in making a race to the end!

Poor Blaze was having a really hard time with his back…leaning to the side as he walked. But when Combo grabbed his hand, he straightened up and let it loose. A true trooper!

Thanks for joining us guys! If you have a moment, can you please leave a comment on how we can make this more useful to others? Take care and HAPPY HIKING!!

Lake Maria State Park – Monticello, MN 02/09/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Nothing to worry about…let ’em loose!
The Trail – The trail followed the closed road before heading into the woods. We walked passed 4 lakes and enjoyed the gentle inclines and declines found sporadically throughout our route.
Trail Conditions – Fresh snow coupled with the slippery ice from our earlier thaw, made the trail delightful!
Bathrooms – Located near the picnic area about 1/3 of the way through the hike.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.72 miles
Moving Time – 01:49:18
Elevation Gain – 95 ft from the lowest elevation to highest but with all the ups and downs it was definitely more (see below).
Difficulty – Easy to Moderate with the snow cover

Highlights:

Combo – The Otter!
Biff – The Otter!
Blaze –
Ripper – The fresh snow and finding a new trail in the park that we really liked.

Initially we had planned on going to Jay Cooke State Park but when we awoke we knew that was not going to happen – it was snowing. We did a quick search of nearby trails and watched the weather, culminating in a decision to stick close with Lake Maria State Park. Let me tell you when we hit the road I was glad that we decided to stay close to home, it was crazy difficult to see!

Choosing a new route we followed the main road within the park to a parking lot located near the closed road which led to the picnic area, backpack and cart in sites, and camper cabin 2. Biff was determined to carry his pack (it only had his cap-gun LOL!) and proudly tossed it on his back before we hit the trail.

Our adventure began with following the closed road. The kids slipped, tripped, and dunked themselves in the snow while squealing with glee! We even met two campers carting our their belongings from their weekend getaway. Right on!

Before long we came to a “Rare Turtle Crossing” sign which reaffirmed that we would need to check out this trail in the summer. I wonder just how many turtles are spotted in this area?

We continued to follow the road for about a half mile. This park has never really stood out to me but for some reason today with the new snow and towering trees it was a sight to behold.

Of course Biff entertained us by making us race cars, motorcycles and “fasty” trucks, which of course had the “ultimate, ultimate, ultimate, ultimate” engines. Obviously we then needed to test our new vehicles and head out on a race! Let the games begin!

Before long we came to a fork – to the left the road leading to the picnic area and to the right the Big Woods Loop. Both options connected and we decided to go to the left first to check out the wildlife viewing area.

And then the most glorious thing happened – the sun started to poke through the snow and cloud filled sky! YES!!

On our way to the wildlife viewing area we were treated to an up-close view of an Eagle soaring over our heads. It was truly spectacular! At the viewing area itself we did not see any wildlife but wondered about what you might find in the warmer months. We also saw a strange blue line in one of the trees – anyone have any idea what it is?

Trail continued to the picnic area with Combo racing on ahead and Biff needing quite a bit of encouragement to continue on.

And then we saw the sight that Biff and I had been hoping for! BATHROOMS! Now let me tell you it was COLD and WINDY in all the places you wish it would not be but it was a bathroom.

The picnic area was spread out along the lake and looked very promising for summer fun!

And then the best thing happened – our route took us into the woods! The trail was barely discernible due to the new snow, which only added to the fun. Our spirits soared and our feet trudged through the snow, while smiles lit up our faces.

You may want to skip this part if you are not into the sappy stuff. I need to take a moment to recognize our rock, my husband, and the loving father to our kids. He has overcome many obstacles in life and never ceases to amaze me with all that he accomplishes. Recently appointed to a new position at work, he has faced this new challenge with gusto but still takes the time to remember the important things in life. He’s our everything and does not get nearly enough credit for all of the things that he does and the amazing person that he is.

And lucky for you, the sap is followed by the goofy – Biff decided this was the opportune time to lick a tree. Seriously dude? A tree?!

We continued along a ridgeline through the trees, soaking up all that the great outdoors had to offer us.

And if our spirits were not soaring enough, the sun decided to greet us with it’s sweet warmth.

As we turned our backs to the sun we came across several branches over shallow ice and moving water. The branches appeared to be somewhat weak so Blaze found an alternate route before helping us all across the branches.

As we climbed yet another hill we saw a pine tree that reminded Dad and I of the MASSIVE tree we had cut down to showcase in Grandpa’s house nearly 10 years ago. Seriously the thing took up the entire dining room (after we cut several feet off of the bottom of the tree – it barely fit through the door!)

The ensuing race down the hill was EPIC!

And as we climbed up the next hill we stumbled upon Camper Cabin 2. We really want to stay in a Camper Cabin sometime, especially during the winter. It looks really quaint and fun!

As we started down the hill I saw what I thought was a beaver dive into the water! We raced ahead to the open water to see if we could see the little guy again. We did not find a beaver but what we did find was an otter! It was one of the coolest wildlife spottings that we had seen in quite sometime!

As we kept our eyes peeled for another water spotting, we came to the cut-across that we shared with skiers back to the road.

And the cut-across took us on the road all the way back to the car. Spirits were high as we discussed a trip to go see the Swans next!

Laurentian Divide Recreation Area (Lookout Mountain) – Near Virginia, MN 02/01/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – I definitely felt comfortable letting the kids take the lead. They ran, tripped, jumped in the snow and had a wonderful time!
The Trail – Full of ascents and descents, twists and turns, and peaceful walks through the trees.
Trail Conditions – Packed snow but beware, if you take a step off the packed trail you will be knee to thigh deep in the snow (current conditions). Just made for more fun!
Bathrooms – There are bathrooms located at the trailhead but unfortunately they were closed due to vandalism. So sad..come on folks let’s take care of our natural spaces!
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 3.3 miles
Moving Time – 1:44:07
Elevation Gain – 377 ft. total (213 of which were in the first mile – really fun). If you count all of small ups and downs as we made our way to the top and then back down it was quite a bit more.
Difficulty – At this time of year I would say moderate due to the snow.

Highlights:

Combo – Getting pie and ice cream at the end (that’s my girl!)
Biff – Best hike yet! I liked playing in the snow:)
Ripper – I loved the maps and choosing our own path through the park (it was pretty cool that the kids thought I was an excellent navigator lol). Hiking on your own with the kids presents its own set of challenges but it also presents rewards that are AWESOME!

We spent the weekend at my in-laws home. Grandma had to work and Grandpa and Dad had a snowmobile ride on the books so what did I do? Of course pack up the kids and hit the open road. It was really fun planning this one and exploring a new area!

We enjoyed driving through Chisholm and the Quad Cities; quaint towns with a lot of fun things to see and experiences to log into the memory bank for later opportunities. Upon arriving to the park the first thing that we noticed was that there was a TON of snow! I was initially a little worried that we would need snowshoes (which we did not bring with) but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the trail was packed and the hiking was good to go, albeit some slipping and sliding along the way.

Prior to leaving the house we made preparations for Minnie to remain behind (she has bad hips and a decent level of anxiety in the car) but when I heard her lonesome howl as we were leaving the house I knew we had to take her this time. Usually she plops herself down on a favorite dog bed to wait patiently for our return but this time she let her feelings be known…she wanted to join us. You got it buddy, let’s roll!

The very first portion of the trail was a part of the “fitness trail” and we were surprised to find chin-up bars fairly close to the trailhead. After the chin-up bars our trail diverged from the fitness trail and we entered the woods. YES! We were immediately surrounded by trees and a narrow path to start our journey…just what I was hoping for! And just what the kids were hoping for – time to let loose, throw snowballs, “fall” in the snow and just plain old good fashioned fun!

And as we continued the initial gentle incline up, Biff was proud to announce that this was “the best trail yet Mom! I didn’t think I would like hiking today but I love it!” Biff has always been just “eh” about hiking. He does it because he knows I love it and he gives it his all because he is the kind of kid that just wants to make us happy but otherwise he likely wouldn’t give it a shot. Hearing that this was the best trail yet made my day!

During one of our numerous stops in the snow (ok one of the many times the kids decided to throw themselves into the snowbank because obviously that is awesome) we sat for a moment in awe of the designs painted in the snow. We could actually see the snowflakes and the kids both agreed that it was “shaved snow”. Not sure where they come up with this stuff.

This was one of the most well marked parks that we have been to. There were maps and markers frequently along the trail, not just at trail junctions. It was easy to navigate and choose our own adventure so to speak. Love this!

Minnie was on her game for sure during this hike! She always wants to take the lead hiking and pushes and pulls until she can get in front and today was no different. But today it actually came in handy – it was a race to stay ahead of Minnie as we made our ascent to the top! The only time she took the backseat was when the kids decided to sled down a hill on their bellies. You only live once right?

And as if our day could not get any better the sun decided to poke it’s beautiful rays out of the clouds! YES!! At this point it was time to actually shed the jacket and enjoy the warming embrace of the sun as we made the steady incline up.

And as the sun continued to push through the clouds to surround us with warmth and happiness I realized that this was just what I needed. Time out on the trail with my buddies, sun shining and laughter abounding! In one word – perfect.

Did I say playfulness and laughter was a top priority for our adventure? We took advantage of having a snowball fight with Minnie. She LOVED it and jumped with joy, shook her coat and playfully ran at the kids which only delighted them more!

On our drive out Biff had told us that he really wants to get a piece of Pumpkin Pie from WalMart because a kid at school told him it was super yummy. I told him that if he really wanted Pumpkin Pie I would take him to Perkins or something similar provided that he did a good job on the trail. The conversation soon turned to what type of pie we all wanted and we devised a points system to see if they would be able to get their pie (ugh yes a reinforcement/incentive program…work does bleed into home life lol). The kids earned points for everything that they did that took the other into consideration (posing for pictures, picking up cool branches and sharing with the other, giving a hand up after falling, etc.). They were quite motivated and I enjoyed every moment of it!

And just in case there are any bikers out there this park has some awesome biking trails to check out! We ended up on several of these trails as they have been converted to hiking, skiing, and biking trails. The many options for choosing your own adventure were a major plus.

In search of the promised overlook from AllTrails I somehow convinced the kids to keep going for just a bit longer for probably two miles. But they were troopers and handled it like champs! Here we were traversing the top of the MN Mountain (come on we all know it’s more of a big hill) and enjoying the scenery.

Full disclosure, my kids fight…like cats and dogs sometimes. And today it happened yet again, Combo whacked Biff in the face with a stick. Biff cried and Combo became indignant at the scolding that soon followed. It took a great amount of effort to pull her out of her funk after the “talk” that had to happen following the “incident”. No hike is perfect.

Our mantra for the rest of the hike was “just a little farther”. We were nearing the end but had some creative route planning to do. It was really satisfying having the kids look at me with wide eyes while I determined the best way back. True trust is something to be cherished.

And as we made it back to the trailhead, Combo decided she was out of her funk and the day turned around. We stopped at Perkins for Pumpkin and Reese’s Pie (to be eaten after dinner), McDonald’s for fries and Ice Cream, and then a local grocery store to find desert for the rest of us and Minnesota made Maple Syrup and Honey for a couple of podcast guys that our family loves! The best part was that the McDonald’s was right next to a massive Iron Man statue (that we had seen and wanted to check out) on our way to the park.

Needless to say Minnie was exhausted and relished in sleeping with Combo overnight! We had a great time and hope that you enjoyed following us on our adventure. Take care and always HAPPY HIKING!

Banning State Park – Sandstone, MN 01/26/20

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Let ’em loose! The Quarry Trail is definitely family friendly (Hell’s Gate is another story).
The Trail – Loop trail along the river.
Trail Conditions – Packed snow that shares the trail with Cross Country Skiers. Be careful to not harm the trail for the skiers this time of year!
Bathrooms – Located just off the parking lot…super convenient. Definitely take advantage even if the kiddos do not think they need to.
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 1.82 miles
Moving Time – 01:00:50
Elevation Gain – 117 ft.
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – Eating icicles!
Biff – Eating ice!
Blaze – It will always be the history of the park!
Ripper – Seeing the park from a new perspective…the winter perspective!

We’ve taken the Quarry Loop on more than one occasion and decided that we needed something familiar after Pattison State Park. Tried and true this trail system never disappoints!

Half of the trail takes you along the river and in the winter it seems even more impressive and peaceful!

This may have been my favorite portion of the trail this time around. Biff told us that the best way to navigate the stairs down was to slide on one’s butt. After carefully considering my options I decided he was most certainly right! And I was SUPER happy that I did. It was truly exhilarating taking the plunge and sliding in feet first!

Strolling through the woods I was reminded once again how much I love to be away from all of the usual distractions of daily life. We talked, joked, and made fun of one another and it was the BEST! There is something about being in the woods, walking and enjoying life that brings you closer as a family.

We soon came to the portion of the trail (the rest of the trail) that shared the “road” with the skiers. After some time talking to the kids about the importance of maintaining the skiing portion of the trail, we were off and trudging!

The next portion of the trail was FULL of the history of the trail. We did not take a ton of pictures here because it has been featured previously but let me tell you it is super cool to see what this park was previously used for! Blaze thought the Power House was super funny…LOL!

Soon we found ourselves up close to the river – a real treat for sure!

In warmer months we have wondered at where the water comes flows from on the massive rocks. Today we were astounded by the ice formations that were made! What’s more, we could still hear the water flowing!! The ice formations were MASSIVE and the kids and I could have spent hours checking it out!

The rock formations have always been impressive and fun to look at but somehow in the winter they are even better.

At this point Biff was ready to be done and we made a game of counting backwards (self guided tour signs) to get back to the car. He yelled out with glee each time he found one!

Nest we came to the bridge but we did not spend as much time here as we usually do because there was no open water to throw sticks in. BUT we did find fun animal prints to wonder about!

On our way back to the car I may or may not have pushed our kiddos into the snow:) Yes I know this might not be the best parenting option but I LOVE messing with my kids and seeing the craziness that follows! Both kids took a digger but both got up and were ready to hit the trail again. WIN!

That’s it for now folks! This is definitely a park that you should check out. We LOVE it in Winter, Spring, Fall, and Summer! We have never been disappointed! HAPPY HIKING!

Pattison State Park – Superior, WI 01/26/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – No worries on this trip. Our only concerns were the kids slipping and tripping on the icy portions of the trail.
The Trail – The trail was out and back on both sides of the water with minimal elevation gain.
Trail Conditions – Decent. A large portion of this park’s trail system has been closed for a couple of years now due to storm damage. We are hoping to check it out when the closed trails reopen.
Bathrooms – Located near the bathroom and boy oh boy were they COLD! Side note – I almost dropped my mitten in the toilet…like I literally had to reach into the toilet as my mitten fell from it’s hiding place…close call folks!
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 2 miles
Moving Time – 0:36:19
Elevation Gain – 125 ft
Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

Combo – The waterfall!
Biff – The Waterfall!
Blaze – The view from the overlook not facing the waterfall.
Ripper – Finally checking out a park that has been on my list for quite some time.

Part way into our 2 hour 28 minute drive I realized that I had forgotten my winter coat – EPIC fail! Luckily Dad had his coat and extra layers, so I suited up in the black beast and we were ready to hit the trail!

The first thing that we noticed was that there was TONS of snow here! Seriously the snow banks were taller than me in some areas. The other thing we really appreciated were the remnants of the Candle Light Walk from the previous night. This got us to talking about our future plans to hit up a Candle Light Walk in the near future…stay tuned:)

One negative for this park was that it was not well marked. It took us several moments to figure out how to get to the falls but once we did we were off and running.

Now the tunnel that ran under the road was seriously cool. It was nowhere near as icy as the one at Interstate Park , MN but it was completely frozen on the inside which was really cool. Who doesn’t love a good tunnel to stroll through?

We crossed two bridges (a few times) and the thing that stood out most to me was the copious amount of snow on the bridges. How did it not collapse?! There was some serious snow built up and we slipped our way across.

At the second bridge Blaze was certain that we had found the waterfall and questioned whether or not we should continue. There was a small part of me that worried that we were not on the right trail but there was a lingering feeling that we had to continue.

So we decided that we should continue on. Our hearts warmed when the kids hugged on the trail and then we saw an overlook through the trees…how do we get to THAT?

Our endeavors took us on a short walk on the road and we were left wondering if we had made the right decision to continue on this course.

But soon we found that we had made the right decision because the waterfall greeted us shortly after leaving the restroom area! The weather looks cold but the walking, laughing and playful laughter soon had me shedding the coat. YES! Unfortunately Blaze dropped his phone along the way and had to deal with trying to dry it out for the rest of our adventures.

We decided that we should turn back and see what else the park had to offer from here since we had ideas of checking out a park on our way home.

Our decision to keep exploring the area did not disappoint us!

The frozen water was definitely mesmerizing and the kids joked that it was a Root Beer Float made by nature:)

And after a short stroll we found ourselves at the overlook that looked so mysterious earlier in our adventure. I think this was my favorite part of the trail. The waterfall was impressive but looking out onto the surrounding land was what truly made my heart happy. Could this be a potential cabin location? Definitely maybe! Biff really enjoyed sliding down the slippery stairs on his bottom and we are quite thankful that he did not biff it in true Biff form.

Following the overlook we decided to turn around. The way back was full of jokes and laughter – just what the doctor ordered! My favorite part of the return trip was hip checking Biff into the snowbank followed by his maniacal laughter – that’s my boy! And what about the swings? Anyone want to give those a try this time of year? Our kids certainly wanted to LOL!

Honestly I was let down by this park, as I had been looking at it for a couple of years now. But it made me realize that it is the people that you are with that make the experience what it is and our experience was wonderful! We hope to head out here again in the summer to see if that changes things. Time will tell. Thank you for joining us on another adventure! Banning State Park is up next for January 26th – stay tuned! As always, HAPPY HIKING!!

Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, WI 01/20/2020

Kid Perspective:

Running Wild – Let ’em loose! Maybe it is because we have hiked these trails many times but I feel comfortable letting them get their energy out on this one (throwing some cautionary “slow-downs” closer to the cliffs).
The Trail – Amazing! So many ups, downs, and twists and turns with gorgeous scenery everywhere you look. I have said it before but this park makes me feel like we are a part of a magical story based in a secret forest.
Trail Conditions – COVERED with snow but still great!
Bathrooms – Dispersed throughout the park (thankfully).
Cell Service – No issues.

Trail Information:

Length – 2.4 miles
Moving Time – 1:32:49
Elevation Gain – 262 feet overall but with the many ups and downs it definitely feels like more! (See the recording below)
Difficulty – Easy and a great leg stretcher!

Highlights:

Combo – I really liked when Mom’s foot broke through the ice into the water!
Ripper – The entire park and all of the alone time with my little lady!

Biff was not feeling too hot so Combo and I left the boys at home and headed out on our own. We wanted to go East so we could stop at one of our favorite Chinese restaurants to bring home food for sicky. Head East we did, out to one of my favorite parks – Interstate State Park, Wisconsin side. This is the earliest in the season that we have purchased a Wisconsin State Park annual pass – Boom!

The first trail that we tackled was the Summit Rock trail. We had the trail to ourselves and immediately noticed that there had not been much traffic on the trail since the snowfall last Friday/Saturday. We wondered if a park’s staff walked the trails to show the way to go or if a highly skilled hiker was able to navigate the trails before us. The trail wound it’s way along the cliffs and through the woods (I feel like I should be singing the Little Red Riding Hood song).

This led us to the Echo Canyon trail, which leads you down to the river and passed the cliff which are usually full of rock climbers in the warmer months. The numerous boulders and rocks which cover this portion of the trail were completely blanketed in snow, which made for some slipping and sliding on the way to the river. At one point we lost the footprints (choosing to take a different path), luckily the snow flattened out where the trail was so we could make our way along. It felt like a true adventure!

The Echo Canyon trail eventually took us to the lake where we briefly met up with the Lake of the Dalles trail before connecting with the River Bluff Trail. Of course we had to make a pit stop for Combo to take care of her business. I warned her that the toilet would be cold and boy oh boy did she yelp! I could hardly contain my laughter. On the trail we noticed TONS of animal prints running all over the place and Combo enjoyed making pictures in the snow as we trudged along. At the overlook we were both impressed with the free flowing river that was surrounded by ice. The river looked like a road running the length of the Taylor’s Falls and St. Croix Falls valley.

Our noses were running like mad due to the cold weather and I may or may not have taught Combo how to do a Farmer’s Blow – she thought this was hilarious and was amazed that this was a thing that Mom actually did! Now at this point we have typically made our way back to our car (after going for a swim). Obviously we could not go for a swim but we could keep trekking on. We decided that we would take the Lake of the Dalles trail around the lake.

The trail ran parallel to a park road, merged with the road over a bridge before heading back into the woods. We followed a large pair of human and dog footprints, speculating about the owners of the prints while we were on the road. As we turned into the woods Combo almost immediately noticed and Eagle’s next in a towering tree on an island not too far from shore. She really has an eye for those! The trail followed the lake and we encountered two portions of trail that were completely covered with ice. Combo fell both times and the second patch of ice was where my foot went in. The surrounding ice was solid but somehow I managed to stick my boot into ice cold water up to my shin! Combo laughed as I squealed in surprise. Luckily my snow pants and boots saved me and a drop of water never made it to my skin – BUT my pants literally froze by the time we made it back to the car!

As our journey came to an end Combo wanted to go out onto the lake to explore a bit. She was such a trooper, how could I say no? Watching her gleefully make a now angel on the ice I was reminded yet again why I love to hike as much as I do. I treasure these moments.

That’s it for this time around. I tried to keep it short and sweet – let me know what you think. Until next time, take care!