HIKING

Take a hike to welcome spring!

Mon, Mar 2, 2026, 9:30am

Location
Fort Snelling State Park
St. Paul
 

Spring is just around the corner and a great time to get outdoors to witness our natural world waking up from winter. If you’ve been thinking about getting more exercise and want to meet new friends, now is the time to join the UMRA Hiking Club.

Our March 2 hike is an old favorite! Julie Sweitzer has led this hike for the last three years, and will once again lead us on a hike in Fort Snelling State Park. We are likely to see a lot of deer and fascinating river views. The 3.9-mile Pike Island Loop is generally considered an easy route and takes just over an hour. Hikers can leave at the end of that loop, or stay to add another, shorter loop. The trail is located below the bluff on which the historic fort sits. 

Please arrive by 9:20 a.m. so we can get going by 9:30. Enter on Post Road and park in the lot at the Thomas C. Savage Visitor Center on Fort Snelling State Trail at the end of the entrance road. State park vehicle permits are required and can be purchased as you enter the park. There are outdoor porta-potties available.

Julie Sweitzer will lead the hike and will contact everyone who registers a few days before the hike with an update on conditions. Newcomers are welcome!

 

 

 

 



Upcoming Events

Event Date: September 29, 2026, at 11am

Professor Arun Saldanha, the featured speaker for the first luncheon forum of UMRA’s 2026–27 program year, will examine how tourism has evolved in an era shaped by pandemics, climate concerns, and changing global realities; and encourage us to think about what it means to be thoughtful, responsible, and curious travelers. 


Event Date: September 30, 2026, at 10am

 The architecture in Iceland is as spare as the culture -- honest and simple.


Event Date: October 5, 2026, at 9:30am

Michelle Trudeau-Spanjers leads the hike at William O'Brien State Park.


Event Date: October 5, 2026, at 10am

Topics include longevity, distributions, long term care, Social Security, and comprehensive planning.


Event Date: October 13, 2026, at 12:30pm

The theme for October is "Monuments."


Event Date: October 15, 2026, at 8:30am

Join us for the UMRA Breakfast on Thursday, October 15, for a frank discussion about addiction and how it can affect families and friends of the addicted person. 


Event Date: October 15, 2026, at 3pm

UMRA’s second “Campus Conversation” with a University leader will offer UMRA members an exclusive opportunity to meet with John Morris, president and CEO of the University of Minnesota Foundation. The focus of the conversation will be the role of the foundation and its relationship to retirees.


Event Date: October 16, 2026, at 2pm

UMRA’s Book Club I will discuss the historical fiction novel The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 16. 


Event Date: October 19, 2026, at 9:30am

Jon C leads the hike at Nerstrand Big Woods with lunch afterwards.


Event Date: October 20, 2026, at 11am

The Vaccine Integrity Project at the UMN Centers for Infectious Disease Research and Prevention is working to ensure that vaccine use in the U.S. remains grounded in the best available evidence, and focused on protecting public health. Kevin Griffis, director of CIDRAP Media Relations and Public Affairs, will tell us about this work as the featured speaker for UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on Tuesday, October 20. 


Event Date: October 21, 2026, at 11:30am

Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda. 


Event Date: October 23, 2026, at 2pm

UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club (aka UMRA Book Club II) will discuss the Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel by Jhumpa Lahiri when it meets at 2 p.m. on Friday, October 23, via Zoom. The nine short stories in the collection speak to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.


Event Date: October 26, 2026, at 10am

Discuss long term care options with Fred Andersen.


Event Date: October 27, 2026, at 11am

Chris Coleman, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity president and CEO and a two time alumnus of the University of Minnesota, will provide a deep dive for UMRA’s October 27 luncheon forum into how Habitat creates, preserves, and promotes affordable homeownership for low-income households.


Event Date: November 2, 2026, at 10am

Bob & Jean Hall and Andy Whitman, participants. 


Event Date: November 10, 2026, at 11am

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Event Date: November 10, 2026, at 12:30pm

The theme for November is "Hands"


Event Date: November 12, 2026, at 10am

UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity tour will offer an insider's look into the important work happening at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center. We will enjoy a walking tour through patient exam rooms, student learning areas, and clinical/surgery suites, highlighting how faculty experts and student veterinarians collaborate to deliver life-saving care.


Event Date: November 16, 2026, at 10am

Gift planning strategies and ideas for impactful tax-efficient gifts to accomplish your goals.


Event Date: November 17, 2026, at 11am

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Event Date: November 18, 2026, at 11:30am

Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda. 


Event Date: November 20, 2026, at 2pm

The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney.


Event Date: November 30, 2026, at 10am

Consult with a tax professional to come up with a financial plan well before year end.


Event Date: December 4, 2026, at 2pm

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Event Date: December 8, 2026, at 12:30pm

The theme for December is "Pathways and roadways."