- Estimated Cost: $22
- Deposit: $10
- Max Trip Size: 6 people
Stand on top of scenic glacial hills and experience the vast, open prairie which once dominated Minnesota. Wildflowers and prairie grasses blanket the landscape from spring through fall. This region, a 10- to 19-mile-wide band of glacial hills unlike any other in the state, extends from Detroit Lakes to Willmar. As glacial ice advanced southward, hills and bluffs were sheared off down to the bedrock. When the ice retreated, it deposited the rocks, gravel and dirt once suspended within it.
This will be an easy trip, especially suitable for those who like me are a little late getting in shape for the backpacking season. Although not for beginners, minimally-experienced backpackers are welcome to join and learn from more-experienced trekkers. Saturday and Monday hikes will be optional slackpacking (hiking with only the ten essentials while leaving the overnight gear in the vehicle or at the campsite.) On Sunday you’ll need to carry all your gear.
We’ll hike about 22 miles over 3 days on easy-to-moderate trails at Crow-Hassan Regional Park, Glacial Lakes State Park and Sibley State Park. Camping will be at backpacking campsites at Glacial Lakes. This will be my first time to any of these parks however, between park maps and All Trails we will have a good idea of what to expect terrain-wise.
Itinerary:
- Saturday 7:30 AM depart from Perkins Restaurant in Maple Grove, stop at Crow Hassan Park Reserve for an easy 7.5-mile hike, then drive 2 hours to Glacial Lakes State Park for a very short hike to the HILL backpacking campsite.
- Sunday hike about 8 miles covering most of the Glacial Lakes trails, overnight at the OAK backpacking campsite. Anyone who wishes to bring a kite or outdoor games, please do, as we’ll have ample time.
- Monday drive to Sibley State Park, hike about 7 miles on the Mt. Tom and Parker loop trails, then drive back to the Twin Cities by evening.
We can share backpacking cook stoves, fuel and water filtration. Meals will be on your own.
Let me know if you need a pack, tent, bag, mat, stove or filter; we can arrange for you to pick it up at the gear locker 1-2 weeks prior.
If there is interest, we can have a pre-trip get together. Trip is on rain or shine.
Estimated cost of $8-$22 is to cover the cost of campsites, depending on the number of people who go; transportation and food costs are not included.