Minn. loop heads through wooded ravines

Ravine Trail. Photo courtesy of Washington County Parks.

Hardwood forest
makes for great
autumn walk

Day hikers can explore wooded gorges that run near the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park.

The 2-mile packed turf Ravine Trail loops through Washington County Park in Cottage Grove, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Because of the varied hardwood trees, the trail makes for a pretty autumn walk.

To reach the trail, from U.S. Hwy. 61 in Cottage Grove go northeast on County Road 19 then right/southeast onto E. Point Douglas Road. The park service road is a left/northeast turn. Head to the second parking lot located where the entry road loops back on itself. A playground, picnic tables, and restrooms can be found in this area.

From the parking lot, head northeast on the far-right trail. It climbs up the ravine through stands of ash, birch and maple.

Ravines are deep, narrow steep-sided gorges formed by running water. They are much narrower than a canyon yet much wider than a gully.

At trail junction 2 (numbered markers appear on the path), go right/northeast. Aspens are more prevalent there.

The trail next follows a grassy area for about 0.2 miles. At both trail junctions 5 and 6, continue straight/northwest.

Varied wildlife
The route leaves the grassy area at trail junction 7 as it reaches the top of the ravine and enters a stands of upland oaks, cedars and aspens with an understory of snowberry and sumac. Junction 7 is the park’s highest point.

The ravine slopes receive different sun exposures, resulting in varied habitats supporting a variety of wildlife. Among them are cottontail rabbits, deer, ermine, grouse, and several bird species. Listen for the tap, tap, tap of the pileated woodpecker in spring and early summer.

Next, the trail curves north through a meadow with tree islands. At the four-way trail junction 8, go left/west.

From there, the trail descends steeply back into a ravine. As it does, notice how which trees are dominant changes again. The understory also differs with more prickly ash and sumac appearing.

At trail junction 15, go left/southwest. The trail curves southwest and descends steadily.

Miniature bluffs
Water running through these ravines ultimately flows into the Mississippi River about a mile to the southwest. In many ways, the ravines are miniature models of bluffs on the St. Croix River, which also flows into the Mississippi a few miles to the west.

As closing on the loops’ southern end, a spur trail leads to a pond about 40 yards on the left. Ducks and a few other shorebirds usually spend summers there.

South of the pond, the main trail begins to curve more sharply east. At trail junction 16, go straight/southeast.

The trail then comes to the lake shoreline, which it follows for about 0.2 miles. Upon reaching the picnic area near trailhead, you’ll have completed the loop and should easily be able to spot the parking lot.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Kid-friendly trails start at Ice Age Center

The Ice Age Interpretive Center is a great place to begin
(or end!) a day hike at Wisconsin Interstate State Park.

Two day hiking trails can be taken from Wisconsin Interstate State Park’s Ice Age Interpretive Center, offering impressive sites.

After heading through the entrance gates, park at the interpretive center, which is on the left. One trail heads away from the center while the other begins at the building.

The westernmost steps of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail end with the park’s 0.5-mile Horizon Rock Trail, which runs from the Ice Age Visitor Center to Pothole Trail. From the center, you’ll pass a historic stone shelter, known as Historic Rock, offering a panoramic view of the river gorge below. From there, the trail descends the forested bluff to a creek bed that instantly will cool you on humid days.

Horizon Rock Trail can be extended by taking a couple of different trails:
g Talus Slope Trail-Meadow Valley Trail – A steep switchback, the Talus Slope Trail links the Horizon Rock Trail to the 0.3-mile Meadow Valley Trail. Meadow Valley crosses through ferns, mosses and various wildflowers on what is now an extinct riverbed carved by glacial meltwaters during the last ice age. The trail ends at the beach party parking lot.
g Pothole Trail – When floodwaters from melting glaciers swept through at the end of the last ice age, swirling water literally drilled holes into the basalt rock underlying this region. The 0.4-mile loop takes you past a number of these interesting geological features.

The Skyline Trail runs for 1.6 miles (3.2 miles round trip) southwest from the center to the Pines Group Camp. It first passes the Skyline Nature Trail and then the Ravine Trail. From there, the trail ascends rock-covered ravines to the valley’s forested rim. Wooden benches are along the way.

The Skyline Trail can be extended by taking a couple of spur trails:
g Skyline Nature Trail –The 0.75-mile trail loops though several plant communities. Interpretive signs describe how the plant communities differ as the landscape changes. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs east from the loop behind the visitor center toward the park entrance.
g Ravine Trail – The 0.5 mile trail climbs 260 feet from the valley rim to a shelter, the amphitheater, and a picnic area at the beach parking lot.

The Skyline Trail also can be extended at its southern terminus by taking two connecting trails:
g Eagle Peak Trail – The trail takes you to the park’s highest point, Eagle Peak. Though short at 0.8 miles, it climbs 120 feet in elevation, including up stone stairs. The trailhead begins at the Pines Group Camp. A short side trail passes a traprock quarry built by the CCC during the 1930s on its way to South Campground.
g Silverbrook Trail – To get away from the park crowds, take this 1.2-mile (2.4 miles round trip) trail to the remote, forested southern end. The trail in part follows the original road that connected the village of Osceola to the south with St. Croix Falls to the north. It passes an abandoned copper mine, the Silverbrook Mansion grounds, then reaches the trail’s highlight: 18-foot Silverbrook Falls. There’s an observation point and bench at the falls.

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Wisconsin and Minnesota Interstate State Parks guidebook.

Family-friendly day hiking trails explore remote section of Wisconsin Interstate Park

You can explore Wisconsin Interstate State Park’s southern section via three day hiking trails. After entering Interstate via Park Road, follow it to the Pines Group Camp parking lots. The trailheads are at the road’s end and the southernmost of the two parking lots.

Eagle Peak Trail takes you to the park’s highest point, Eagle Peak. Though short at 0.8 miles, it climbs 120 feet in elevation, including up stone stairs. The trailhead begins at the Pines Group Camp. A short side trail passes a traprock quarry built by the CCC during the 1930s on its way to South Campground.

To get away from the park crowds, hike the 1.2-mile trail (2.4 miles round trip) Silverbook Trail. It runs to the park’s remote, forested southern end. The trail in part follows the original road that connected the village of Osceola to the south with St. Croix Falls to the north. It passes an abandoned copper mine, the Silverbrook Mansion grounds, then reaches the trail’s highlight: 18-foot Silverbrook Falls. There’s an observation point and bench at the falls.

The Skyline Trail runs for 1.6 miles (3.2 miles round trip) northeast to the Ice Age Visitor Center. From the valley’s forested rim, the trail descends through rock-covered ravines. It first passes the Ravine Trail and then the Skyline Nature Trail junctions. Wooden benches are along the way.

The Skyline Trail can be extended by taking a couple of spur trails:
• Skyline Nature Trail –The 0.75-mile trail loops though several plant communities. Interpretive signs describe how the plant communities differ as the landscape changes. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs east from the loop behind the visitor center toward the park entrance.
• Ravine Trail – The extremely short trail runs to a shelter, the amphitheater, and a picnic area at the beach parking lot.

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Wisconsin and Minnesota Interstate State Parks guidebook.