Monthly Archives: October 2022

Circle Trail (Pipestone National Monument, MN)

Posted on October 30, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

Pipestone National Monument in southwest Minnesota preserves the site of an active pipestone quarry used by the Sioux and other American Indian tribes to craft famed “peace pipes” popularized by groups in the northern plains of the United States. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Easy Hikes, Minnesota, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, MN

Posted on October 26, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota are known—perhaps more so to locals than non-natives—for having one of the most extensive park systems in the country, centering largely around the mighty Mississippi River. The National Park Service’s Mississippi … Continue reading →

Posted in Minnesota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cascade Falls & Falls Bluff Trail Loop (City of Osceola, WI)

Posted on October 25, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

Osceola, Wisconsin, situated on the St. Croix River and border with Minnesota, is a charming small town that is a popular day trip for Twin Cities residents. It owes its destination status in part to the natural landscapes immediately surrounding … Continue reading →

Posted in Moderate Hikes, Wisconsin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Summit Rock, Echo Canyon, & River Bluff Trail Loop (Interstate Park, WI)

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

Centuries upon centuries of freezing, thawing, and riverine erosion have carved the Dalles of the St. Croix, a basalt gorge that is one of the main natural attractions on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border and a popular destination for visitors from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Moderate Hikes, Wisconsin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pothole Trail (Interstate Park, WI)

Posted on October 23, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

Evidence of ancient lava flows, prehistoric seas, and glacial erosion abounds at the Dalles of the St. Croix, a narrow gorge situated on the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin, about an hour’s drive from the Twin Cities. In addition to … Continue reading →

Posted in Easy Hikes, Wisconsin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

King’s Bluff Trail (Great River Bluffs State Park, MN)

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

The mighty Mississippi River—2,300 miles long and the centerpiece of the United States’ largest drainage basin—begins in Minnesota, passing through the Twin Cities before settling into a broad valley on the border with Wisconsin. Here—around the town of Winona, Minnesota—the … Continue reading →

Posted in Minnesota | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fire Point Loop (Effigy Mounds National Monument, IA)

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

Perched on the bluffs high above the Mississippi River Valley in northeast Iowa lies a hidden treasure of burial mounds, estimated to have been created by American Indians between 850 and 1,400 years ago. And these are no usual resting … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Natural Bridge Loop (Natural Bridge State Park, WI)

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

Nestled in the unassuming woods northeast of Leland, Wisconsin, a sandstone bridge some 35 feet long and 25 feet high constitutes the largest natural arch in the state. Just below the aperture is the impressive Raddatz rock shelter, named for … Continue reading →

Posted in Easy Hikes, Wisconsin | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Parfrey’s Glen (Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, WI)

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

Given the significant focus on Utah and the American West, narrow canyons and slots feature heavily on Live and Let Hike. But these beautiful features can be found in surprising places, such as the limestone gorges of Starved Rock State … Continue reading →

Posted in Easy Hikes, Wisconsin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Devil’s Lake Loop (Devil’s Lake State Park, WI)

Posted on October 2, 2022 by Andrew Wojtanik

It’s not too often that visitors are able to walk in a mountain range with rocky bluffs dating to 1.6 billion years ago, in addition to a rare freshwater endorheic lake—a body of water situated in a natural depression with … Continue reading →

Posted in Strenuous Hikes, Wisconsin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments