Sat AM Hike at Flandrau State Park + Historic Schell’s Brewery - New Ulm

4/10 - LUNCH UPDATE:. the food truck canceled, so options at the brewery will be the usual bar snack items: pizza, nachos, Von Hansen’s seasoned pretzels, Deer brand beef sticks. Otherwise, you may pack a lunch - they allow outside food.

Let’s venture out to New Ulm for a 7-mile hike at Flandreau State Park, including a mid-hike stop at the Historic Schell’s Brewery!
We will take a break for lunch at the brewery about 5 miles into the hike. You may bring your own lunch/snacks/water in your pack or purchase at the brewery. At the Schell’s Bierhalle, They sell a variety of beverages brewed on site. This includes many varieties of beer and delicious 1919 Classic American Craft Root Beer. [ https://www.schellsbrewery.com/brewery/bierhalle/](https://www.schellsbrewery.com/brewery/bierhalle/)

Flandrau State Park, originally named Cottonwood River State Park, lies in a small valley carved by the east-flowing Cottonwood River. Marshy oxbow lakes mark the river's former courses along the valley floor. The Cottonwood joins the Minnesota River just 1.5 miles east of the park.

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and Works Progress Administration (WPA) built several structures in the park that were designed to reflect the ethnic German heritage of New Ulm. The park buildings, built with local purple quartzite evoke the architecture of Germany with steeply pitched roofs, dormers, chimneys, casement windows with small panes, and fine nonlinear stonework. The WPA worker barracks were reused during World War II as “Camp New Ulm,” housing German prisoners of war. All of these structures are listed as a district on the National Register of Historic Places.

Schell’s is the second-oldest family-owned brewery in the United States and the oldest in Minnesota. In 2002, Schell’s became the largest brewery in Minnesota with the acquisition of the Grain Belt label.

THE HIKE: We will hike about 7 miles at a medium pace(18-20 minute mile). We will pause a few times to hydrate and check out the scenery. I expect the hike itself to take about 2-2.5 hours. The lunch break will depend on the group and food wait times (~45-60 minutes?). All of the trails will be non-paved trails with uneven terrain that varies with gravel, mud, rocks, roots and dirt. There are hills on this trail with some steep hills and long staircases. Due to spring conditions, there may be some shallow water we need to cross.
Please do also consider taking precautions for ticks (tucking pants into socks, DEET spray, etc.) as they are present on MN trails now.

FACILITIES: There are pit toilets at the trailhead, with a couple of pit toilets just off our route along the trail and modern bathrooms and water at Schell’s Brewery. There is no drinking water available at the trailhead, so please bring from home.

Sorry, no dogs, +1s or children allowed on this hike. Only Twin Cities Hiking Meetup members who agree to these expectations and the Meetup Community Guidelines will be welcome on the hike.

Each car will need a MN state park pass. The prices are: $35 for an annual pass and $7 for a daily pass.

IMPORTANT: Please honor your RSVP and if your plans change update your status to Not Going as soon as you know, 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: After you pass the park entrance/ranger station, go straight to the swimming pool parking lot. The lot to the south(left) will be closest to our meeting spot by the beautiful purple quartzite beach house.

I’m looking forward to seeing you there!