April Fools From Nature!
On March 30, here in the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota, Mother Nature decided to play the cruelest of April Fool's pranks on us and send us a blizzard that dumped almost a foot of incredibly wet, heavy snow in some parts of the state!
Here in Saint Paul, we were blessed with 9 inches.
Having just returned from a vacation where the temperatures weren't tropical per se, but they were warmer than it had been here all Winter, it was hard to laugh at the joke.
Here we are, though, a few days later, the snow is mostly gone, but icy banks are digging in and refusing to melt.
We have had some CRAZY weather this Winter here in Minnesota, just like the rest of the country and world has experienced.
The Spring melts in Northeastern Minnesota and will be MASSIVE this Spring once the thaw really starts. The rivers will be WILD and FIERCE!
Where rivers run into lakes, the water will be brown with runoff and moving VERY fast.
Take caution when hiking near rivers this Spring, especially with dogs or children.
This is the end of the shoulder season and the start of the Spring hiking, and for the hearty among us, camping season!
You might have to wear your mud boots, but here are some great spots for Spring hikes with some elevation to them, so the chances of trails being closed are lower. They’re also trails with a river nearby, so you can experience the power of the Spring thaw and witness it firsthand from a safe vantage point.
Jay Cooke State Park, Carlton, Minnesota
Jay Cooke has an extensive system of trails, and the best place to start your hike is the Swing Bridge. You get a gorgeous view of the St.Louis River. Then you can hike along it for several miles, climbing gently in elevation. Hence, you are way above the river for most of the hike but can still see and hear it.
*Jay Cooke may be impacted this Spring by significant repeated snow events in Northeastern Minnesota. Be sure to check trail conditions before planning a day trip or longer at this park.
All paved trails around the pavilion at Crosby Farm Park should be accessible and open right now. The area by the dock will likely be flooded in the next couple of weeks as temperatures rise. These trails are great to hike with kids because they are flat and easy. You can access the beach by the river, climb all over the driftwood and fallen trees, and see across to Fort Snelling State Park.
*You could also hike at Fort Snelling State Park for similar terrain but much farther distances, should you choose a longer hike. Crosby Farm has more accessible access to a beach area than Fort Snelling.
I saved my favorite for last! Minnehaha Park is a MUST VISIT in Spring! Seeing Minnehaha Falls melt and the power and force of that water are something to be witnessed! In Spring, the lower trails can be flooded and closed as the creek melts, swells, and runs wild. It hasn't flooded in the past couple of years, but 2023 could be another story with all the moisture we've had. Check conditions before your hike, but regardless, the upper trails around the falls will be free of flooding, and you will have a great view of the falls in all their glory!
Let's celebrate Spring by getting out and playing in the rain, mud, and mess, and let the winds blow in this new season!
What's your favorite way to celebrate Spring?
Please Share your favorite trails or ways of welcoming Spring in the comments!
