Saturday AM Hike at Elm Creek Park Reserve – Maple Grove + Portillo’s
Details
Let’s meet up for a ~7 mile hike at Eastman Nature Center/Elm Creek Park Reserve! Following the hike(optional), join us for food/refreshments at nearby Portillo’s Chicago Street Food, 12251 Elm Creek Blvd N, Maple Grove MN 55369
Restaurant | Portillo's
At 4,900 acres, Elm Creek Park Reserve is the largest park in Three Rivers. The park includes mainly hardwood forest, prairie, wetlands, several lakes and two creeks. Elm Creek Park Reserve is also home to a variety of wildlife throughout the year such as eagles, owls, sandhill cranes, deer, bluebirds, black bears, beavers, loons, trumpeter swans and hawks.
THE HIKE: We will hike approximately 7 miles at a medium pace (18-20 minute miles) over 2-2.5 hours, through a variety of landscapes including wetlands, hardwood forest, oak savannah and rolling prairie. We will stop a few times to enjoy the scenery. The trails will be mostly non-paved trails with uneven terrain that varies with turf, ruts, rocks, roots, gravel, sand, mud, dirt, ice and snow. There are some rolling hills on this trail with a few steep hills.
Bathrooms and drinking water are available in Eastman Nature Center at the trailhead with none along the trail.
This is a Three Rivers Park, so FREE Parking!
Sorry, no dogs, +1s or children allowed. Only Twin Cities Hiking Meetup members who agree to these expectations will be welcome on the hike.
IMPORTANT: Please honor your RSVP and if your plans change, update your status to Not Going as soon as you are aware, even if you are on the Waitlist.
HIKE AT YOUR OWN RISK: By signing up for this event, you agree to assume personal responsibility for all risks associated with this event, and release the organizers, event hosts, and other members of the venue, from any liability.
Furthermore, all participants are expected to adhere to the guidelines agreed to when signing up for Meetup which can be reviewed at: Meetup.com > Policies and Community Guidelines > Community Guidelines (https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002897532-Usage-and-content-policies-Rules-for-using-Meetup)
FINDING US: We will meet in front of Eastman Nature Center