This week, we're wondering where you like to hike in Northern Minnesota?
It's a great time of year. Bugs are down (although do be sure to keep checking for ticks), and the snow hasn't fallen yet.
Here's what we heard
A few of our staff members mentioned the Bass Brook Wildlife Management Area near Cohasset. You can access the trails by parking at the Pokegama Dam on Highway 2, between Grand Rapids and Cohasset. Walk across the river and explore! Our engineer Steve Neu said, "We hike around, then we sit on the riverbank and the kids build 'fairy houses' out of whatever they find."
Music producer Malachy Koons enjoys anywhere on the Superior Hiking Trail, but he said his new favorite is Banning State Park, located near Sandstone. "They have a nice mix of easy trails and more rugged scrambling along the Kettle River. Rapids, waterfalls and old ruins of the sandstone quarrying and processing."
He added, "You don't have to stop hiking once winter arrives. Just northeast of Duluth, you can hike the Big Sucker River after it freezes. You go right up frozen waterfalls and can hear the rushing water the whole time. Lots of rock walls and big cedars all around."
Phenology coordinator Charlie Mitchell hopes people will check out the Sax-Zim Bog, explaining, "They've recently installed a boardwalk, and folks at the welcome center can direct you to the best places to observe awesome species like Great Grey Owls, Northern Hawk Owls, and even a pine marten (if you're lucky). Don't forget to check out their website and brush up on birding the bog etiquette before you go."
Our listeners chimed in as well. We got texts about the Neilson Spearhead Center, located south of Bemidji, and Fritz Loven Park in Nisswa.
Karen likes the Sugar Hills cross-country ski trails by Cohasset, and Kelly said Maplelag Resort near Callaway in northwestern Minnesota.
A few people mentioned the Lost 40, and Justine said, "The shoreline of Side Lake in McCarthy Beach State Park is my go-to."
Monica enjoys the Hobson Forest, north of Bemidji. She said, "It has a beautiful mix of large ponds, bog and mixed forest. There is no hunting allowed, so It should be safe to walk. This land was donated to Bemidji State University."
However, John reminds us it's a good idea to wear blaze orange during hunting season, just in case.
Other places mentioned include the Heartland Trail near Park Rapids, Laurentian Divide, Voyageurs National Park, Movil Maze near Bemidji, and the MiGiZi bike trail that travels through Norway Beach campground in the Chippewa National Forest. There's also the North Country Trail.
Where do you like to hike? Let us know!
