Hiking for Health and Friendship
This special interest group is for members who want to maintain or increase their fitness and enjoy the great outdoors. What is hiking, after all, if not walking with better footwear! Join us as we hike trails around the Twin Cities and in nearby State Parks.
Hikes will be held from April through October on the first and third Mondays of the month, with the following exceptions: No hike the first Monday in July in observance of Independence Day, and the September hikes will be the second and fourth Mondays due to Labor Day holiday. During the winter months (November through March), one hike a month will be held on the first Monday, except no hike in January.
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UMRA events.
Hikes will begin at 9:30 a.m. and last about two hours. The summer schedule may include an urban hike or a longer hike at a county or state park, followed by lunch and maybe even a visit to a winery or brewery. Hikes will be held in light rain or snow but not a thunderstorm or a blizzard. Hike leaders have the discretion to cancel a hike because of extreme cold, heat or windchills. If a hike is canceled, attendees will receive a text or email by 8 am on the day of the hike.
In keeping with UMRA policies, all hikers must be vaccinated (and boosted if eligible) against the Covid-19 virus.
Please contact Hiking Club organizer Bev Moe at [email protected] if you would like to be a member and receive hiking emails. Include your name, cell phone number and zip code in your email to Bev.
You must sign up online for each hike. Your completed form will be sent to the organizer (Bev) and shared with that month's hike leader, and used to be sure everyone has arrived. Registrations will be accepted up to 24 hours before a hike. Within 24 hours, please email Bev or the leader to be added to the list of hikers. If you find you are unable to attend, be sure to let us know as well.
Upcoming Events
The UMRA Hiking Club will explore wildlife along the Mississippi River in Fort Snelling State Park. The 3.9-mile Pike Island Loop is generally considered an easy route and takes just over an hour. Hikers can leave at that point, or stay to add another short loop. The trail is located below the bluff on which the historic fort sits. The last time we were there we saw a lot of deer, and the river always provides fascinating views.
The UMRA Hiking Club will welcome guest leaders Bion Beebe and Linda Bjornberg from Twin Cities Hiking Meetup to introduce our group to a “new-to-us” trail on Monday, April 21. We will hike approximately 4 miles at a moderate 17 to 18 mile pace along the Minnesota River to Bass Ponds, a floodplain marsh and premier birding area.
Peter Moe, retired Minnesota Landscape Arboretum director and UMRA member, will be leading a hiking tour of the Arboretum again this year. The amazing tulip display was at its peak for our hike last year, and we will undoubtedly enjoy seeing many spring-blooming trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and perennials. Plan to stay for lunch together (optional) after the hike at the Rootstock café in the Oswald Visitor Center.
.Wood Lake Nature Center is a peaceful 150-acre cattail marsh, woodland, and restored prairie that is a haven for migrating birds and waterfowl. This UMRA hike is a great opportunity for those who would like a shorter, easier hike. The trails are dirt, grass, and woodchip, with some bridges and a bit of paved trails. Only a couple small hills to navigate, the park is mostly flat.
Past Events
Our February 3 hike will be around Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis, with an option to add Bde Maka Ska, weather permitting. No matter how far we hike, let’s go to Isles Bun & Coffee for treats after the hike. Their buns are delicious!
Join members of the UMRA Hiking Club for a hike on March 3 at the Holland Lake Trailhead in Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. It is the largest park in the Dakota County park system. Our route will take us on an unpaved trail with some roots, rocks, and easy hills. It will be about 5 miles for 2 to 2.5 hours. We will meet for an optional lunch afterwards somewhere nearby (TBD).