Take a Hike Day
Minnesota’s first snowfall of the year does not mean that hiking season is over. Hitting the trail on November 17th for National Hiking Day is a great opportunity to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of Voyageurs’ shift from autumn to winter.
Voyageurs offers 184 miles of hiking trails ideal for birdwatchers, botanists, backcountry backpacking, and those looking for an ADA accessible trail. Before you venture out, stop by any visitor center to get a detailed hiking map, and make sure to bring water, snacks, a first aid kit, and appropriate weather and environment protection for your hike.
Rainy Lake Visitor Center offers easy access to the mellow 1.7-mile Oberholtzer and the 1.75-mile, ADA accessible Rainy Lake Recreation trails. Black Bay Trail is a one-mile boat trip across Rainy Lake, and weaves through the conifer forest and past an active beaver habitat.
Just off Gamma Road, north of Kabetogama Lake Visitor Center is Echo Bay Trail, a 2.5-mile loop ideal for birders and rock hounds. Boating north from the visitor center will take hikers to Locator Lake Trail, which is 2 miles each way and offers the opportunity to explore the hilltops and wetlands of the Kabetogama Peninsula.
On the road to the Ash River Visitor Center is Sullivan Bay Trailhead, which offers bay views at the end of an old roadway. Those looking for a hike after a scenic trip across Namakan Lake can stretch their legs along Mica Bay Trail, climbing ridges along Beast Lake.
Autumnal aspens. Photo credit: Tom Gable
As the seasonal shift continues and you make preseason adjustments to your snowshoes, skis, snowmobile, or sled, be on the lookout for subtle changes in your surroundings that tell the story of the changing season. What birds are you hearing? Is there any sign left of the plants that burst forth in the abundance of spring? Does the sunlight take a different path through the forest? Does the crisp wind carry any memories?
For more self-guided trail activities, visit voyageurs.org/mukoodatrail
