It doesn’t take a lot of equipment or expertise to go for a hike through a forest of trees dripping with blankets of fluffy snow. In fact, many city and state parks have trails that are reserved for hikers or snowshoers (just don’t wander into a
cross-country ski trail). A pair of Yaktrax strapped onto your hiking boots and walking poles can help ensure that you don’t biff it on icy spots—or you can opt for snowshoes, great for off-piste adventures and trails that aren’t well packed. Winter hiking is quiet and peaceful; you can see birds more clearly, and it’s easy for kids to participate. If you haven’t seen a frozen waterfall, it’s like wandering into Narnia.
At Minneopa State Park in Mankato, you can gape at the frozen two-tiered waterfall before snowshoeing along the ungroomed Minnesota River Bluff Trail; snowshoes are available for rent here and at many Minnesota state parks. Make a weekend of it and rough it (kind of) in one of the park’s heated camper cabins, open Thursdays–Sundays in the winter. Closer to the Cities, you can rent snowshoes at more than a dozen Three Rivers Park District locales. Mankato, dnr.state.mn.us, 507-386-3910; threeriversparks.org
This article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.
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