Plethora of day hiking trails await in Rutledge, Minn., region

D.A.R. Memorial State Forest.
Photo  courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

A scenic river and woodland walks await day hikers to the Rutledge, Minn., area.

Rutledge is easy to reach from Minnesota’s two largest metropolitan areas; it is about half-way between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth-Superior off of Interstate 35.

Day hiking trails in the Rutledge area include:
g Cartway Trail segment – Banning State Park touches the southern edge of the city limits, but the developed trails are located at the main park area. The northernmost of them is the Cartway Trail. On the entry road, leave your vehicle at the park office-military kiosk and walk the side of park road north. Go left onto Cartway Trail, which heads through woods and skirts an open area. Turn around at the paved road for a roughly 1.33-mile round trip.
g D.A.R. Memorial State Forest center trail – An unnamed jeep trail heads into the state forest’s center for a 1-mile round trip. Park at the trailhead off of Partridge Road east of Minn. Hwy. 23, northeast of Askov.
g McCormick Lake Day Use Area Trail – At the McCormick Lake Day Use Area in General C.C. Andrews State Forest north of town, hikers can walk through tree plantations via the day area’s access road and a trail, open to ATVs, north of Walters Road. Add the spur trail for a 1.5-mile round trip. A parking lot and picnic tables are at the day use area.
g Northern Pine Trail south jeep trail – An unnamed ATV/OHM trail runs 2-miles round trip through woodland in the Nemadji State Forest east of town; extend the hike by a mile total via the spur trails at the end of the main trail. The trailhead is on the south side of Northern Pine Trail, east of the Lower Tamarack Road intersection.
g Solana Forest Road Trail – Day hikers are likely to spot a variety of northern Minnesota wildlife on the 1.5-mile round Solana Forest Road Trail. The trailhead is west of Rutledge on 220th Street past the County Road 41 intersection in the Solana State Forest.
g Willard Munger State Trail, Rutledge segment – Park at the City Hall and Community Center off Minn. Hwy. 23 N., taking a stem trail behind/north of city hall to the Willard Munger. Heading north brings hikers over and along the Kettle River. Be aware that the four miles south to Finlayson are the entire trail’s most difficult section, as there are several small but steep hills.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Multitude of trails run across Hinckley area

Confluence of Kettle and St. Croix rivers from Two
Rivers Trail. Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

A fire tower, the confluence of two major rivers, and a popular multi-county path await day hikers in the Hinckley, Minn., area.

Located between the Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth-Superior metro areas, Hinckley easily can be reached via Interstate 35. St. Croix State Park is located southeast of town.

Five great trails to hike in the Hinckley area include:
g Kettle River Highbanks to Observation Tower Route – Day hikers can climb to the top of a 100-foot fire tower at St. Croix State Park. An amazing 127-plus miles of hiking trails cross the state park’s 34,000 acres; a combination of three of them (here dubbed the Kettle River Highbanks to Observation Tower Route) marks a great 3.6-mile (7-miles round trip) route for physically fit families with a lot of energy.
g Matthew Lourey State Trail – This trail runs for several miles roughly north to south through St. Croix State Park. A pleasant 2.3-mile segment heads from a trail center to Hay Creek.
g Park Headquarters to Lake Clayton Route – From the St. Croix State Park headquarters, head west for 2.5 miles for Lake Clayton Beach. Have one of the adults in the group pick you up after a day of swimming.
g Two Rivers Trail – The 2.5-mile loop at St. Croix State Park follows the Kettle River, overlooks the confluence of the Kettle with the St. Croix River, then runs north along the latter. Each autumn, the St. Croix’s mixed floodplain forest is regal with fall colors.
g Willard Munger State Trail – The southern terminus of the trail begins at a gravel parking lot along Second Street NW (County Road 18) between Old Hwy. 61 North and Root Avenue North. The trail passes the Grindstone Reservoir and dam with a bridge over the Grindstone River.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Day hikes through forests, alongside rivers, abound near Barnum, Minn.

The Willard Munger State Trail
is one of many near Barnum, Minn.

A variety of great day hiking trails run near the small community of Barnum, Minn.

Conveniently located off of Interstate 35 between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Duluth, several excellent state parks and forests are within an hour’s drive of Barnum. Most notable are Moose Lake and Jay Cooke state parks.

Among the major Barnum-area trails are:
g Blackhoof River Trail – The Blackhoof Wildlife Management Area offers many trails, including a 1.3-mile round trip through aspen-spruce/fir and riparian forests to the Blackhoof River. Park at the trailhead on County Road 6’s south side just west of the County Road 3 intersection.
g Mahtowa Road Trails – A web of branching ATV trails that can be day hiked run through the southern section of the Fond du Lac State Forest northwest of town. On Minn. Hwy. 14 west of the County Road 172 intersection, take the first road heading north; drive well past the buildings and hike to the first trail junction for a mile round-trip.
g Willard Munger State Trail, Barnum segment – A parking lot is on the south side of County Road 6/Main Street west of downtown Barnum. Going north, the trail crosses the Moose Horn River.
g Willard Munger State Trail, Mahtowa segment – Though there’s no designated parking lot in nearby Mahtowa, a number of access paths run from parallel streets, particularly County Road 61 and County Road 141. The trail heading north of town is more wooded that the southern route.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Willard Munger accessible in several cities

Willard Munger State Trail passes a rock cut between
Duluth and Carlton, Minn. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

The Willard Munger State Trail ranks as among Northeast Minnesota’s premier recreational routes.

The paved bike path stretches across three counties, running 63 miles from Duluth south to Hinckley. It’s the fifth longest paved trail in the United States. Day hikers are welcome on the trail.

The Willard Munger can be accessed in a number of other communities. Among them are:
g Barnum – A parking lot is on the south side of County Road 6/Main Street west of downtown. Going north, the trail crosses the Moose Horn River.
g Carlton – A large parking lot with picnic shelter is along County Road 1 (Third Street) between North and South avenues. This route heads east/north toward Duluth with a connecting trail to Jay Cooke State Park.
g Duluth – The northern tip of the trail can be accessed at a number of spots. Among the most popular with parking lots are (from south to north): off 123rd Avenue West via the Superior Hiking Trail; off Riverside Drive at Grand Avenue (Minn. Hwy. 23); and marking the trail’s northern terminus, off Pulaski Street east of Grand Avenue (Minn. Hwy. 23).
g Finlayson – Park on Finland Avenue (County Road 60) immediately west of Front Street. Going south on the trail heads past green farmland in summer.
g Hinckley – The southern terminus of the trail begins at a gravel parking lot along 2nd Street NW (County Road 18) between Old Hwy. 61 N and Root Avenue N. The trail passes the Grindstone Reservoir and dam with a bridge over the Grindstone River.
g Mahtowa – Though there’s no designated parking lot, a number of access paths run from parallel streets, most notably Minn. Hwy. 61 and County Road 141. The trail heading north of town is more wooded that the southern route.
g Moose Lake – Park along Industrial Road between Third and Hickory avenues. Going south on the trail takes hikers across and then along the Moose Horn River.
g Rutledge – Park at the City Hall and Community Center off Minn. Hwy. 23 N., taking a stem trail behind (north of) city hall to the Willard Munger. Heading north brings hikers over and along the Kettle River.
g Sandstone – West of town, park in a dirt pull-off along County Road 27 at the County Road 61 intersection. Either direction takes you through wooded areas and past bucolic farm fields.
g Sturgeon Lake – A dirt parking area sits off of County Road 61 north of 2nd Street. Going south takes hikers into General C.C. Andrews State Forest.
g Thomson – Parking is available off the west side of County Road 210 south of Dalles Avenue and north of the trail. Heading west on the trial brings you past some rock formations and to a bridge over the rapids-laden St. Louis River.
g Willow River – A parking lot is located at the end of Church Street, west of County Road 61. The north-bound trail heads into the General C.C. Andrews State Forest.

A branch of the Willard Munger, known as the Alex Laveau Memorial Trail Segment, runs from Carlton through Wrenshall east to Minn. Hwy. 23. Major access points for this segment include:
g Carlton – Use the lot along County Road 1 (Third Street) between North and South avenues; walk south along the side of County Road 1, accessing the trail after crossing Otter Creek. Head southeast through wooded areas and rock outcroppings.
g Wrenshall – On non-school days, park in the Wrenshall Elementary lot northeast of the building; walk southeast on Pioneer Drive for an access road to the trail. The southeastern route runs through a nice mix of forest and farmland.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Willard Munger heads to pretty river bridge

Bike path/hiking trail runs 63 miles
from Duluth to Hinckley, Minn.

Day hikers can walk to a bridge over a scenic river on a segment of the Willard Munger State Trail in Barnum, Minn.

The Willard Munger ranks as among Northeast Minnesota’s premier recreational trails. The paved bike path stretches across three counties, running 63 miles from Duluth south to Hinckley. It’s the fifth longest paved trail in the United States.

This segment of the trail, located west of Barnum, goes 0.78-miles round trip. It’s best done in late spring through early autumn when temps are the most clement, though July and August can be hot and humid.

Former rail line
To reach the trailhead, from downtown Barnum, head west on County Road 6/Main Street. A paved lot is on the road’s south side. The trail runs north-south of the lot’s east side. Head north on the trail, and be careful when crossing County Road 6.

The trail heads through an outwash plains. The soil is sandy and loamy with stones.

Tracks for the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad used to sit on what is now the Willard Munger. The line originally was built as the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad and later became part of the Northern Pacific Railway.

The trail is named for a Minnesota state legislator who sponsored bills advancing environmental protection and trail development. Munger's earliest efforts, which date to 1954, make him among the first lawmakers to advocate outdoor recreation and preservation. He passed away in 1999, and his family runs an inn at the trail’s northern end.

Crossing the Moose Horn
About a third of a mile into the hike, the trail reaches the bridge over the Moose Horn River. The 36.4-mile-long tributary of the Kettle River rises as the outlet of Wild River Lake, about seven miles southwest of Cloquet. It meanders south, flowing into the Kettle southwest of Sturgeon Lake.

The bridge marks a good spot to turn around. Of course, the hike can be extended by continuing north, but the trail heads through a more built-up area for a couple of miles beyond the bridge. After that, the trail roughly parallels the Moose Horn River to Mahtowa, a six-mile trek one way from the Barnum parking lot.

As the trail is paved, it’s handicap accessible. However, because it’s wide for bicyclists, you will be exposed to the sun, so don sunscreen, wear a brimmed hat, and bring extra water on hot days.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Quality trails abound near Grantsburg, Wis.

Upper Phantom Cross Country
Skiing & Hiking Trail

Cabin-goers in the Grantsburg, Wis., area can enjoy several great day hiking trails. Among them:
• Cedar Interpretative Trail – Though short at 0.7 miles, this trail in the Governor Knowles State Forest heads through five major lowland plant communities amid a cedar grove. You’ll likely spot the activity and impact of beavers on the landscape.
• Fish Lake State Wildlife Area trail – From County Road O, a jeep trail makes a 3.2-mile loop past marshes. Eagles, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans grace the wildlife area.
• Grantsburg Nordic Ski Trails - Stacked loops totaling 6.5 miles in length can be skiied in winter or hiked the other three seasons. From Hwy. 70 in Grantsburg, take Olson Drive to the parking area, which overlooks the Wood River dam; cross the dam via North Park Street to the trailhead at edge of Cattail Pond. Note: The Lower Loop, which heads through a wooded area, currently is the only open trail.
• Grettum Trail - A stem trail leads to a pair of loops over gently rolling terrain that double as a cross country ski trail in winter. A total of 2.2 miles long, the trailhead is off of Hickerson Road north of Grettum Dike Road.
• Hay Creek Hiking Trail – A 1.5-mile trail meanders through woodland at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area near Hay Creek. An observation platform at the trail’s end allows hikers to spot several waterfowl.
• Trade River Trails – A series of loops, including a large one around a meadow, sit near the Trade River in neighboring Polk County. The wide trails head over easy, rolling terrain.

• Upper Phantom Cross Country Skiing & Hiking Trail – A set of four loops offer a hike of up to 3.7 miles in length at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area. The wildlife area is part of one of the largest remaining pine barrens in the state.

• Willard Munger State Trail – The Boundary Segment of this trail runs in Chengwatana State Forest, across the St. Croix River in Minnesota. Tamarack and burr oak dominate the forest, which boasts wild turkeys, beavers, mink and muskrat.

Read more about day hiking Burnett County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Burnett County, Wisconsin guidebook.