- Max Trip Size: 6 people
Let’s do a hike of 4.5 or 5.5 miles around much of the Voyageur Trek Trail at Lebanon Hills Saturday starting at 1:00 PM Sharp. We’ll leave from the front of the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center at Schulze Lake (the parking lot is a short drive off a turn south off Cliff Road ). We’ll start from a bench where I’ll be putting on my shoe traction devices (absolutely recommended if not absolutely necessary) and crunch our way out to the Northern part, then circle around while passing Schulze Lake, Cattail Pond, O’Brian Lake, Dakota Lake, Sedge Pond, Beaver Pond, Bridge Pond, Lily Pond, and Portage Lake, before returning by Schulze Lake to the Visitor Center. This hike should be around 4.5 miles, or closer to 5.5 miles if we opt to go by the tip of Jensen Lake.
Expect the trail—none of it ski trail–to be at times solid, wavy ice, occasionally up or down, and mostly ranging from hard packed snow (possibly over that ice) down to bare ground and dirt. (Shoe grippers/traction devices on your hiking shoes should be mandatory; those with just coiled springs on the bottom will probably not be adequate; snowshoes will not work well at all on these well-trod trails.) Properly equipped, expect a pleasant 2.5 – 3 mph pace which includes stopping now and then to enjoy the look of the woods in our “Wilderness in the City”, and possibly to look and listen for birds (bringing binoculars is a thought).
Dress warm—four days away it looks to be about 15 degrees. Please get there on time and allow for the fact that the Visitor Center is a bit of a slow drive off of Cliff Road. Bathrooms are available at the Visitor Center.
All dogs on leashes are welcome (the ones I’ve seen at Lebanon Hills recently seem to do fine). Please text or email me at least one hour before our start if you’re planning to come, whether you’re a member or not. IN ADDITION, if you’re not a Rover, please sign the release below.

