Outdoor & Snow Lovers

Elm Creek is the largest park of the Three Rivers Park distract with lots of trails to hike, ski or snowshoe. Join us for a hike for approximately 5-6 miles through the park. The pace will be about 16 minute mile which may be fast for some, but just fine (or even slow) for others. If you don't know your pace, there are several free apps that are GPS based that can help you identify your pace. The leader will try to accommodate speeds, but may not be able to. All Trails is a great (free) app that can get you back in case you fall behind or want to bail early.

Dogs are welcome on the hike, but must be on a leash per park rules. We'll meet in front of Eastman Nature Center and start the hike from there.

After the hike, we will go to Omni Brewing for some socializing. The social part is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow hiker and make new friends!!

Tips for fall hiking:
1. Dress for about 10+ degrees warmer than the outside temperature. Even if it is chilly to start, you will get warm while hiking.
2. Layers work well to help regulate your temperature. If you get too warm, you can take off a layer.
3. Bring a separate, dry, shirt for socializing afterwards. It will help prevent chills.
4. Decent hiking shoes. Terrain is uneven.
5. Bring water as desired.
6. A headlamp is needed for the hike as the days are shorter with Daylight Savings Time.

Please keep your RSVP updated. If you are running late due to traffic, please comment on the event so we know to wait. We do not want to wait if we do not know if the person is coming. Also, it is respectful to the leaders who are taking time to organize the event.

By signing up you agree to release the organizers, event hosts and other members of the event from any liability. The trails may have some mud, tall grass on the side of the trails, uneven and have rocks and tree roots that sneak up out of the ground and could trip you :) Be prepared for whatever the weather or trail may throw at us!

Hope to see you on the trail!

Want to get a good workout and have fun doing it? If yes, then join us for a fun hike on the various trails of Lebanon Hills. The trails include pine tree lined trails to view of lakes & wildlife and some hills for good measure.

This hike has 3 lengths to choose from:
1. There will be a prehike that starts at 8:45. It is 2-2.5 miles. We will be back in time for the main hike. If you can only do the pre-hike, just be there on time. No sign up needed.
2. Main Hike - hike approximately 6-6.5 miles at approximately 15:30 - 16:30 minute mile. Pace and distance varies by participants, trail & weather conditions. With the terrain and mud, this pace is considered fast.
3. Both the pre-hike & the main hike :)

Not sure how fast 15:30 - 16:00 minute miles are? There are several apps that track steps & speed. The hike leader uses Map My Run. It is a free app from Under Armor. Also, 15:00 minute miles = 4 MPH on a treadmill or paved trails. Snow, mud, & terrain can make it more challenging. It is considered a fast pace. If anyone wants to lead a slower pace, I have maps with different routes to get you to a desired distance. Please let me know.

We will meet on the sidewalk in front of the visitor center, right off the parking lot.

Things to know for hiking this time of year:

1. Dress for about 10 - 15 degrees warmer than the temp. You will get warm hiking, even though it may still be cool at the start. Layers work well as they allow you to regulate your temperature.
2. Decent Shoes. There are several good brands of hiking boots such as Merrell, Keen, Vasque, Oboz, Solomon, Colombia, etc. REI has a very generous return policy for members (one year). This allows you to try them on the trail and if they hurt your feet, you can return them. Tennis shoes are fine, but they should be supportive as the trail may be uneven and there are roots & rocks on the trail. In the winter tennis shoes may get wet with snow quicker & be colder. Boots - fashion or snow, are not good for hiking.
3. Water as needed.
4. Bring a dry shirt for afterwards if you are socializing. As you cool down from the hike, it is easy to get chilled and a dry shirt will help that.

Other items to note:

• Dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a leash per park rules. Please bring enough bags to pick up after your pet.
• Don't leave valuables in your car. Not worth the risk.
• Please be on time. If you are running late, please post a comment so the leaders know. The leader will attempt to wait if they know someone is coming, or point them in the right direction of the group's route. If the temp is cool it is hard to wait for people if we do not know if they are coming. Plus people do not want to stand around in the cold waiting for people.
• With spring weather comes rain. Please watch for comments if the hike will be cancelled. Don't assume that just because there is rain where you live, there will be rain at the park, or that the hike will be cancelled. If you are a fair weather hiker, please update your RSVP so the leaders are aware you will not be attending.
• By signing up for this hike, you agree that you can keep the pace posted. You can check out your time with a free app that uses GPS for your smart phone or watch. Map My Run is a good option and what is used to monitor the pace on the hike.

Please note: If you fall behind and don’t keep up with the group, the hike leader cannot wait for you, or go back looking for you as everyone else is relying on the leader to keep the hike moving. There are maps all around the park to use to guide you back to the Visitor Center.

After the hike, if people are interested, there will be a social gathering at Trail Stop (Hwy 3 & Diffley). Trail Stop has breakfast or lunch. The social gathering is a GREAT time to get to know your fellow hikers.

PLEASE update your RSVP if you cannot attend after you sign up! Drops after 9:15 AM Saturday morning OR individuals that are signed up and do not attend the hike (without explanation prior to the event) will be considered no-shows. Future attendance for no-shows may be limited. It is very difficult to know if the leader should wait for someone if the RSVP is not updated.

By signing up you agree to release the organizers, event hosts and other members of the event from any liability. The trails may be muddy, uneven and have rocks and tree roots that sneak up out of the ground and could trip you :) Be prepared for whatever the weather or trail may throw at us!

Hope to see you on the trail!

Let's meet for a fun hike on the various trails at the beautiful Fort Snelling State Park and hopefully see some of the wildlife there. (There are lots of deer.) The pace will be about a 15:30 - 16:00 minute mile. This pace can be considered moderate to fast. The terrain is pretty flat for most of the trails. See NOTE below on the pace.

This is a MN State Park and requires a vehicle permit. Daily permits are available as you enter the park (ranger station is on the right hand side). Yearly passes are a better option for the money. The yearly passes are valid for one year from the month of your purchase. It is a rolling year so if you buy the pass (for example) April 1st, 2025, the pass is valid until April 30, 2026. See the MN DNR website for information on how to purchase yearly permits. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/permit.html

Tips for hiking:
1. Dress in layers. Layers work well to help you adjust your temperature as you get warm while hiking.
2. Dress for about 10+ degrees warmer than the outside temperature. You will get warm while hiking.
3. Bring a separate, dry, shirt for socializing afterwards. It will help prevent chills.
4. Decent hiking shoes. Terrain is uneven. Sandals are not a good option.
5. Bring bug spray, sunscreen & water as desired.

After the hike we can go to Venn Brewing for socializing. The social time is a good way to get to know other attendees better.

Please keep your RSVP updated. If you are running late due to traffic, please comment on the event so we know to wait. We do not want to wait if we do not know if the person is coming. Also, it is respectful to the leaders who are taking time to organize the event.

NOTE: There are several free apps that are GPS based that can help you identify your pace. Another option to know your pace - 4 miles per hour on a treadmill, or mark 4 miles with your car and see if you can do that in an hour. If you fall too far behind, the leader needs to keep moving forward on the route as others have planned for the pace and do not want to wait. An option to get back is to use All Trails (a free app) and click on the map for your location and it displays the trails which can help you get back to your vehicle.

By signing up you agree to release the organizers, event hosts and other members of the event from any liability. The trails may be muddy, uneven and have rocks and tree roots that sneak up out of the ground and could trip you :) Be prepared for whatever the weather or trail may throw at us!
Hope to see you on the trail!