Theodore Wirth Park hike
Mon, Feb 2, 2026, 9:30am
1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway
Minneapolis, MN 55422
Join fellow UMRA members for a morning hike in Theodore Wirth Park to celebrate Groundhog Day on Monday, February 2.
We will meet at the Trailhead building in the park, which is located west of downtown Minneapolis (and partially in Golden Valley), at 9:20 a.m. to start hiking at 9:30 a.m. The building is heated and has bathrooms. And the new Trailhead Café, debuting December 1, 2025, will be open.
We will hike about five miles in about two hours. There are many trails for us to choose from including the Wirth Lake Trail, North Loop Trail, the Quaking Bog Trail, and others. We will decide on the route as we get closer to February 2.
Although some of the trails are multi-use, including bikes, on a Monday morning we should have the trails mostly to ourselves.
Please consider wearing YakTrax or micro spikes if conditions warrant. Wear layers, and consider using poles. Most of the trails are considered easy, but some have hills.
Please register for this hike by February 1. Your registration information will be used to be sure everyone has arrived before we start the hike.
—Michael Luxenberg, UMRA Hiking Club co-leader
Upcoming Events
Bev Moe leads a hike around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis with a social gathering afterwards at Isles Bun & Coffee.
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
Older adults often have difficulty with sleep. Our goal for this informal discussion is to share with each other helpful routines and strategies. Our resource person will be sleep specialist Marcel Hungs, MD, PhD.
UMRA Book Club I will discuss The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry when it meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 18. The day’s discussion leader will be Judy Helgen.
Critical issues facing detained immigrants and their families will be discussed.
UMRA’s September Living Well Workshop will feature Carol Bradford, MD, MS, FACS, interim dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School and interim executive vice president for Health Affairs. She is an internationally recognized cancer surgeon-scientist who also brings considerable leadership and administrative experience.
We'll visit with Marla Spivak, MacArthur Fellow and Emeritus Professor of Entomology and Dr. Katie Lee
A 1978 short story collection by American author John Cheever.
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.
The architecture in Iceland is as spare as the culture -- honest and simple.
Michelle Trudeau-Spanjers leads the hike at William O'Brien State Park.
Topics include longevity, distributions, long term care, Social Security, and comprehensive planning.
The theme for October is "Hands."
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.
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.
Jon C leads the hike at Nerstrand Big Woods with lunch afterwards.
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.
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
.
Discuss long term care options with Fred Andersen.
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.
Bob & Jean Hall and Andy Whitman, participants.
The theme for November is "Pathways and roadways"
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.
Gift planning strategies and ideas for impactful tax-efficient gifts to accomplish your goals.
Gather with UMRA members in the Campus Club West Wing to share lunch and conversation. No agenda.
The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney.
Consult with a tax professional to come up with a financial plan well before year end.