The "Land of 10,000 Lakes" could also be known as the "Land of 100,000 Great Hikes." From the gentle paths of the Superior National Forest to the rugged hills of the Iron Range, Minnesota boasts a varied and diverse network of trails for hiking clubs across the state. Although hiking is generally only a three-season sport in Minnesota because of its harsh winters, the state has a handful of hiking clubs that sponsor regular events.
Clubs
There are at least five excellent hiking clubs in Minnesota. They include the Border Route Trail Association, which hikes along the Boundary Waters Canoe Area; the Kekekabic Trail Club, which hikes along the BWCA and Superior National Forest; the Minnesota Rovers Outdoor Club, which meets in the Twin Cities; the Superior Hiking Trail Association, which also hikes in the Superior National Forest; and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Hiking Club.
Hiking Regions
Some of the best hiking in Minnesota is done in the north. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Superior National Forest boast rolling, heavily forested trails with a diversity of wildlife ranging from imposing moose and bears to loons and bald eagles. The Iron Range in the state's northeast corner contains dense forests and thousands of acres of swamps. To the south, hiking clubs enjoy prairies, forests and wetlands around the Mississippi River.
Top Trails
The 277-mile Superior Hiking Trail, which runs along the northern part of Lake Superior, has been named as one of the top 10 hiking routes in the world by Backpacker magazine. The seven-mile Mississippi Gorge Trail in Minneapolis is an excellent urban trail. Minnesota hiking clubs also sponsor regular events at their namesake routes, including the Border Route, Superior and Kekekabic trails. Hiking clubs also take regular trips to state parks, including Minneopa State Park, home to southern Minnesota's largest waterfall.
Membership and Events
Minnesota hiking clubs sponsor regular trips to state and national parks, as well as other popular hiking destinations. Most trips are scheduled over weekends, but members take occasional day hikes in mid-week, as well. Membership costs are nominal, ranging from $15 (as pf 2010) for a Department of Natural Resources Hiking Club kit, to $35 for family memberships in other hiking clubs. Besides being eligible to attend club events, members also receive discounts on club merchandise and hiking gear.
Maintenance and Clearing
Minnesota hiking clubs aren't just social organizations. They sponsor regular events to do valuable maintenance, trail-clearing and rebuilding on area trails. The Border Route Trail, for example, is a 65-mile-long route through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area that's maintained entirely by the Border Route Trail Association. The Minneapolis-based Kekekabic Trail Club does regular work in the Superior National Forest; it has a 72-page volunteer manual. The Minnesota Rovers Outdoor Club also sponsors regular trail work, as well as an adopt-a-highway cleanup program.
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