Top Spring State Parks

Here are 3 picks for top Minnesota State Parks in the Spring from About.com. These are solid picks, but a little Twin Cities biased if you ask me. I would also recommend any of the North Shore parks, because the rivers and falls are near their peak flow. In addition some of the parks in the western part of the state offer good birding this time of year.

I hope to visit Carley this spring to view the wildflowers. If you haven't seen the blue bells in bloom, they are spectacular.

http://usparks.about.com/od/stateparksus/a/MNspringparks.htm

Charity Fundraiser for Quarry Hill Nature Center

After hiking at Nerstrand yesterday we returned to Rochester to attend am Earth Day fundraiser for Quarry Hill Nature Center. We competed in a silent and live auction and got some cool stuff for a good cause. We also got to meet some terrific people including our mayor, Ardell Brede who is doing a wonderful job and his wife Judy. There was also wine and Lisa had just enough to embolden her get a picture or two take with one of "Gods creations." One that I might add she does not particularly care for (as the picture indicates)...

As it turns out we won a beautiful and great smelling 10 year old Rosemary tree, bread for a year, an additional bread basket and a care package for Jaida. In addition, all the proceeds went to a great cause. Quarry Hill Nature Preserve is situated right in Rochester and provides education opportunities, hiking trails, and research right in my back yard. To be fair I also got my picture taken with the snake (a Fox snake, very harmless and very common in Minnesota). However, as you can see, I rather enjoy snakes. If I am real lucky I will be able to come across a Timber Rattle Snake this summer. All told we had a great time supporting a great cause.

Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Well today was a wonderful day to visit a state park. And as a bonus I actually remembered a camera for once, so I will be able to provide a couple of images. We started our day with a picnic at the shelter which was needed to to some afternoon showers and a vicious wind.

Nerstrand Big Woods state park protects a portion of the once 5000 acre big woods section of Minnesota near the town of Nerstrand. The park is host to large hardwood trees including oak and maple. As a result this can be a nice fall color park to visit. Also 50 types of wild flowers, additional ferns and mushrooms can be found. The Prairie Creek passes through the park and is picture on the left at hidden falls.

The park features a nice visitors center, a fairly quiet campground, and 11 miles of hiking trails. in the winter this becomes 1 mile of snowshoeing, 6 miles of cross country and 4 miles of snowmobile trails. The areas around hidden falls tend to get many visitors because of the ease of access, however as with most parks as you venture further from parking, the trails get more secluded.

This is one park that I can honestly say that I think I hiked every mile of and as such have some recommendations. If I were designing an ideal day hike I would choose to take on either the North half or the South half of the park. The park is divided by highway 29. On this particular day we hiked a large loop through the North half of the park consisting of most of the Hidden Falls, Fawn, Hope, and Beaver Trails. These trails are very well maintained and offered easy passage over rolling hills through varied hardwood terrain. The wild flowers were just starting to come out and peak wild flower viewing will be in the next couple of weeks. The picture below of my wife and dog was taken on a portion of the Hope Trail.

We did some additional hiking into the Southern half of the park by taking the White Oak Trail to the Maple Trail and then to the Basswood Trail back to the Hidden Falls area. Some warnings here: The trails on the south end of the park are nowhere near as well maintained as the the Northern trails. The Maple trail was unbelievably muddy and you just sank into it. Even my dog looked a little disgusted. Also one of my irritations is when signs are posted in the wrong location. At the intersection of the Maple and Blue Beech Trails there was a sign indicating a junction with the Fox Trail. this was absolutely wrong. The Fox Trail was half a mile to the East. Fortunately I knew by my map that this was a mistake.

Loops of varying length can be made in the Southern half of the park by linking together portions of the Maple, Blue Beech, Basswood, Ironwood, and Fox Trails. All of these trails pass through wonderful hardwood forest and you can go wrong with any of them. However if there has been some recent precipitation, I would recommend staying to the North as those trails hold up better.

Summer Haircut

Not for me, but for my dog.

Summer officially arrives only after we give our dog, Jaida, her summer haircut. Here is a before shot of our beloved mutt. We got Jaida in 2003 from Paws and Claws Humane Society. She was one of five lab crosses that were dumped in a box on the side of a busy highway. As much as I enjoy hiking, I can't compete with Jaida. There is nothing she like more than hiking, chasing rodents (she particularly hates Gophers), trying to steal camp food, and sleeping with us in a tent.

But we need to remember that some dogs such as Jaida have heavy coats, can't sweat, and would rather die than disappoint their owner. As such we have a responsibility to make sure that they are safe. One of the biggest concerns a good owner will have is that their dogs can overheat. Remember if you walk 5 miles your dog may walk 10. If you are thirsty, so is your dog, if you are hot, you dog is hotter. If your dog lays down unexpectedly, that means take a break. If you pass water let you dog swim. Make sure the experience is good for both of you.

Also keep in mind that some breeds are not accustomed to our warm summers and if necessary, get them trimmed down. Chances are they won't look nearly as goofy as our dog. Be good to your dog and the puppy kisses will keep coming. Have fun hiking with your best friend this summer.

Forestville State Park

On our way back from Missouri, where we cheered on our beloved University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the 2007 Hobey Baker award winner (college hockey's best player) Ryan Duncan we decide to stop for a stroll at Forestville State Park. The park is located near Wycoff and is a very popular park for horse owners.

I am not a horse owner and as such I find a certain disadvantage to visiting an area frequented by horses. Namely, if I clean up after my dog, why can't horse owners clean up after there animals. Because of this annoyance of mine I seldom visit Forestville State park. BUT fortunately there is an off season where horses are not permitted on the trails and this was it.

As a point of order, I would like to point out how to properly pass a horse on the trail, because while you may not like it, it can be scary for the horse and dangerous for the rider. When passing a horse on foot stop moving forward, step off the trail on the downhill side of the trail and talk in a calm voice to the passing rider so as to not startle the horse. After the horse has passes, you may resume your hiking.

Forestville is somewhat unique in that it is both a state park and the village of Forestville is preserved as a state historical site. History buffs take note. This may be a place to visit this summer. In addition it seems that Forestville has traditionally put on a large number of demonstrations, so you just might learn something too (if your into that sort of thing).

Another claim to fame for the park is that it offers outstanding trout fishing and in just a week or two was to be visited by a large number of fisherman for the trout opener. The root river passes through the park and is designated as a trout stream.

Mystery cave is also a part of the park and is located nearby. Tours are available and offer a neat experience. Caves are cool unless you are claustrophobic, there they are not so cool. If you have never done it, try it, it's a neat experience.

We only attempted to camp at the park once and did so without reservations in the summer. As luck would have it the campground was full so we couldn't stay in the park. However there is a private campground just outside the park and we stayed there. I don't think this campground ever fills up, which make this a great last minute weekend park.

As is usually the case we visited the park to do some camping, and we found some interesting trails. We started out the day doing a loop consisting of the the Rock Slumps, Fern Loop, and Ravine Trails. Note that these go by the horse camp so in the summer be prepared. Later we did another loop over the Sandbank and Oakridge trails. There is a nice viewpoint off the Sandbank Trail.

Another trail we here is interesting is to take the Sugar Camp Hollow Trail out to the old Zumbro Hill Cemetery or take the Big Spring Trail out and back a total of 4 miles to, surprise, a big spring.

One last story I will share. SE Minnesota and NE Iowa are home to many Mennonites. Many years ago we visited the park and had a picnic. We shared the shelter with a large group on Mennonites. While we were barbecuing some brats they were preparing the type of gourmet foods that would make you drool. I almost felt embarrassed with what we were meeting. Good thing they are about the nicest people you will ever meet. If you run into a Mennonite take the time to talk with them, you won't regret it. and I'm not just saying that to be nice, since after all, they aren't going to read it here...

Invasive Species Suck

The State Parks page is currently offering a reminder not to transport firewood from one area of the state to another. The reason is simple, it only takes idiot to devastate an ecosystem for everyone. In particular there are some pretty nasty bugs and diseases out there that can ravage entire species of trees. There is no need to transport firewood as it is available in and around every state park.

Just don't do it... ever...

Further, clean your boots, boats, gear, and clothing after leaving a park (they carry seeds) and never transplant flowers, animals, or any other living thing. Just take a look at buck thorn, zebra mussels, and earthworm. Did you know that there are no earthworms native to North America and as they enter our forests they can do great harm? Don't transport these things lets try to preserve our native habitats.

Just don't do it... ever...

I am skeptical because there is always that one idiot out there that will ignore this advice and decide that what the BWCA needs is more buck thorn. Maybe this is not the case, but just don't let that idiot be you. Just don't transport any species or firewood.

Just don't do it... ever...

End Lecture...