Nerstrand Big Woods hike
Mon, Oct 19, 2026, 9:30am
The location of our October 19, 2026 hike will be Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, located 15 minutes southeast of Northfield, Minnesota, and about one hour from the Twin Cities northern suburbs. Hike will be led by Jon Christianson. The fall colors will be reaching their peak beauty to provide us with a spectacular day!
We will hike approximately 4 to 5 miles. The trail is mostly flat but a few sections have lots of roots. Hiking poles are not necessary but may be helpful. We will walk the following trails: Hidden Falls-Beaver-White Oak-Maple-back to the Visitor Center. The total of these is a bit less than 4 miles. The good news is that there are several loop trails that could be used in addition to Maple (or instead of Maple) so that the last leg of the hike can be adjusted to yield a total length and time desired by the group! This is a moderate hike; all hiking paces and abilities are welcomed for this hike.
We will meet at the picnic tables near the Pavilion (across the street from the Visitor Center) at 9:20. It's about an hour drive from the Twin Cities; try to arrive by 9:20. You must have or purchase a Minnesota State Park parking sticker to enter the park. Day stickers are $7. We will arrange carpools from the Twin Cities so please indicate in the comments section of your registration if you wish to drive or ride in a carpool.
For those who wish, lunch together after the hike will be at The Ole Store Restaurant in Northfield, a Nordic-inspired restaurant established in 1889. Charm galore!
Upcoming Events
UMRA Book Club I will discuss The Silent Patient, a psychological thriller and debut novel by Alex Michaelides, when it meets via Zoom on Friday, July 17.
Two major conferences, one organized by the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE) and the other by the Big Ten Retirees Association (BTRA), will take place this year. The AROHE conference will be held in Florida and the BTRA conference will be hosted by UMRA on the UMN campus.
The AROHE conference invites all interested retirees and university faculty and staff to reimagine retirement. You are invited to register if interested at https://www.arohe.org/2026-Conference.
The BTRA is being hosted by UMRA this year. Leadership of retiree organizations around the US will convene to share competencies. Attendance is restricted.
Bev leads the Nokomis walk to Minnehaha Falls.
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10:30 a.m. check in; 10:45 boarding; cruise from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Join UMRA friends and colleagues for a summer cruise and lunch aboard the Paradise Destiny II on beautiful Lake Minnetonka. Paul Maravelas, sailor, historian, and author of The History of Big Island, Lake Minnetonka will join us to share stories from 200+ years of lake-dwellers. Come early or stay after the cruise to explore Excelsior, a charming small town on the big lake.
Ticket price includes lunch: chef's sandwich, garden salad, fruit, chips, and cookies. Coffee, iced tea, and lemonade are complimentary and there will be a cash bar for other beverages. A vegetarian sandwich can be selected during registration.
UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss the debut novel Buckeye by Patrick Ryan when it meets via Zoom at 2 pm. on Friday, August 21.
The theme for September is "Monuments."
Bev leads a Lake of the Isles hike with Bun Coffee afterwards.
Critical issues facing detained immigrants and their families will be discussed.
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Topics include longevity, distributions, long term care, Social Security, and comprehensive planning.