The Hiking Club Challenge
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 09:08AM 
As the map above shows, the most distant state park in Minnesota from where I live is over six hours away by car. I'm assuming that is when the roads are neither flooded or snow packed. Not always a good assumption to make given weather we've experienced this year.
I have never been to Lake Bronson State Park, nor had I ever intended to go, before learning from a couple of hiking companions about the DNR's Hiking Club. This "challenge" was devised by Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources to promote activity in the state's 70 state parks.
While over my 30 year residence in Minnesota I've managed to get to 23 state parks, this challenge is a great incentive to explore places I'd may not have considered otherwise. And to actually experience them by hiking a recommended trail.
For $15, one purchases a small booklet at a state park office that serves as an official checklist for completing each of the identified hikes in individual parks. The hikes range in length from 1 to 6.2 miles and (so far) they are well marked. Somewhere along each trail is a sign with a "password" hikers record as proof they have completed the hike.
Last weekend I finished two hikes:
Jay Cooke State Park just south of Duluth:
The St Louis River from the Hanging Bridge
and Split Rock State Park just north of Two Harbors:
Iconic view of Split Rock Lighthouse
Moronic viewer of Split Rock Lighthouse
I've been thinking a lot about the root of the word "recreate" - to re-create. As I transition from a world of work to a world of retirement, I expect "re-creation" to play a large role. I have always loved hiking, bicycling, and other forms of travel, but they were always apportioned out as my vacation days allowed.
No more. Watch out park rangers - I'm on the trail!
Any similar challenges in your state or country?
Reader Comments (5)
Our state has that too and I forgot about it. I may give it a try some time. https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/take-the-challenge-and-visit-all-47-south-carolina-state-parks-to-become-an-ultimate-outsider
What about Garden Island State Park? There is no hiking trail on the island as far as I can tell, but getting there would be an adventure of its own! :)
I almost did it a few years ago, but it was tabled due to our family adding a member. Still, its on my bucket list to visit them all (along with the state waysides). I'm sitting on 32.
Hi Brian,
Two parks are not included in the challenge - those accessible only by boat. I think Garden Island is one of them. I'd like to get to them too just to say I've done them.
Hope things are going well at Mackin and for you and your family. Get to the rest of those parks!
Doug
Our state has 2 challenges:
Visit all 47 SC State Parks:
https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/take-the-challenge-and-visit-all-47-south-carolina-state-parks-to-become-an-ultimate-outsider
21 Hike Challenge:
https://palmettoconservation.org/events/palmetto-trail-challenge/
(By the way, I've been enjoying your state of MN this month! We've been to Duluth, Voyageurs National Park, Kettle Falls Hotel, International Falls, Itasca State Park, St. Cloud, Minneapolis, and Rochester. Now I'm at a knitting retreat in Rochester.)
Hi Pat,
I hope you are being made to feel welcome here in MN. You are getting to see some nice parts of the state. Would have enjoyed taking and yours out for supper while you were here. I am off to hike with Boy Scouts in NM tomorrow!
Take care and enjoy MN!
Doug