North Country Hiking Fest: Take on the Challenge, 10th Annual
Join us at Itasca State Park for a day packed full of family friendly and healthy activities focusing on the National North Country Trail. This is a perfect day to take a hike! Are you brave enough to take on the challenge? This year we celebrate 10 years by hiking the entire length of the North Country Trail in Itasca State Park. Our 10.6 mile hiking challenge will begin at the western access point on the Anchor Matson Road and hike across the entire width of the park, where we will conclude near Highway 71. (refer to Maps 12 thru 14, pages 104- 116 of the “Guide to the North Country National Scenic Trail in Minnesota”).
For those short on time or not wanting to hike the challenge, join us in the afternoon for hiking tips and a chance to make your own hiking stick during our Hiking 101 program. Learn tips about hiking while you design your own hiking staff. We will then try them out on the trail as we hike a 2 mile loop along the bike trail to Preacher’s Grove and along Brower Trail.
Gather together for a picnic meal (fee) followed by an evening special presentation.
More details will be available closer to the date. Visit www.northcountrytrail.org/llc to learn about the trail system.
Date and Time
Saturday Aug 27, 2016
10:30 AM - 7:30 PM CDT
This is the eighth of 12 hikes to be held as we celebrate 125 years of Minnesota State Parks and Trails and 100 years of the National Park Service. This event is sponsored by both Itasca State Park and the Itasca Moraine and Laurentian Lakes Chapters of the National North Country Trail.
Learn more about the North Country Trail in Itasca State Park and east, at the Itasca Moraine Chapter site: http://northcountrytrail.org/itm/
Learn more about the North Country Trail in Itasca State Park and west, at the Laurentian Lakes Chapter site: http://northcountrytrail.org/llc/
Location
10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.: Carpool for the Itasca/North Country Hiking Challenge (meet at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center before 10:30 a.m. to carpool to the trail head).
11 a.m.-5 p.m.: Itasca State Park/North Country Trail Hiking Challenge (start at Anchor Matson Road Trailhead—see note above about carpooling; conclude at Highway 71 crossing.)
2—3:15 p.m.: Hiking 101: Tips, Tricks and Make Your Own Hiking Staff
3:15-4:45 p.m.: Hike to Preacher’s Grove
5-6:30 p.m.: Catered Cookout Picnic (fee)
6:30 p.m.: Special guest presentation (tbd)
Notes: Dress for being outdoors, including sturdy boots that can get wet/muddy, water, energy snack, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, insect repellent- including tick gaiters and hiking/trekking poles.