Lake

Frontenac State Park

What's this!? Topography in Minnesota? The beautiful hills of Frontenac State Park.

The Drive: Although Frontenac State Park is the second park I've written about to be in the blufflands of southeastern Minnesota (Whitewater being the other), it is the first that has really allowed me to drive through the area on one of these trips. The route takes you along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border on WI-35 through rolling hills, high cliffs, and a series of (seemingly) mountainous river bluffs. The most distinguished of which is Barn Bluff in Red Wing, what remains of an ancient island in the massive Glacial River Warren. If you do a day trip to Frontenac, make sure to stop in Red Wing, the town famous for its boots, pottery, and my relatives (shout out to the Red Wing Whitsons). On a summer day the Barn Bluff hike is a great side trip. Frontenac is just a few minutes south of the town along the river.

Feather on the shores of Lake Pepin at Frontenac State Park

The Park: The 3000 acre park is located on the west shore of Lake Pepin, the widest and arguably most scenic section of the Mississippi River (and also the birthplace of waterskiing). A major flyway for migrating birds, ornithologists have counted as many as 260 different species of birds in the park. Only about half the park is accessible by trails and I would fairly arbitrarily divide that half into three sections. The first part is the river front. There is trail that cuts right along the bluff and goes down to the banks of Lake Pepin. You also get to see In Yan Teopa Rock - a religiously significant landmark to the American Indians in the area. The second area is the the inland region where the hiking club trail is located. In my opinion this is the most scenic section (and where most of these pictures are from). Finally there is Point au Sable (Sandy Point), the sight of an old French trading post on the far side of the town of Frontenac. If you have time, visit all three areas as they each offer a unique experience in the park.

Birch trail with a dusting of snow at Frontenac State Park  

The Hike: On my first visit to Frontenac, we just hiked the riverfront trail and I wasn't too impressed, so I wasn't thrilled to be going back to check out the Hiking Club Trail. I am pleased to say, however, that the Hiking Club Trail well exceeded my rather low expectations. The trail starts at the main parking lot and immediately turns away from the river. It is a hilly trail, traversing forests and fields on its 2.7 mile loop through the park. About half way through there is an overlook of the river valley that I imagine would have been spectacular vista in fairer weather. Unfortunately, the thick fog left a blank canvas where the view should have been (but made for great pictures otherwise). Also keep your eye out for the three 1960's era cars mysteriously abandoned in a ravine on the way. Like most Hiking Club trails, this hike would be great at any time of year, but as long as you don't mind being a little wet and cold (and true hikers don't), it's hard to beat a foggy autumn afternoon during the first snowfall of the year.

Cumulative Miles Hiked: 58.1

Cumulative Miles Driven: 2610

Arbitrary Rating 4/5 (3/5 +1 for a foggy day)

Biome: Eastern Broadleaf Forest

Region: Blufflands

Lake Shetek State Park

Lake Shetek State Park Hiking Club Path on the Island. 

The Drive: If you think that after driving hundreds of miles through almost identical corn and soybean fields, the drive would start to become dull, you've underestimated my ability to romanticize my experiences. I just can't gaze out at the rolling hills of gold and emerald and not feel like I'm in the middle of some cheesy and endearing patriotic medley. Every red silo and every ramshackle farmhouse evokes some idealized version of the American heartland - the breadbasket of the world - bulwark of quiet civilization guarding us against the uncertainty and wilderness of the outside a world - a proverbial beacon on the hill. Even though I know most of these farms are controlled by massive agricultural conglomerates with patented GMO seeds producing an economically unsustainable product, kept alive by immense, politically driven government subsidies, and operating on land illegally seized from oppressed indigenous people, when I'm actually on the road, it is easy to ignore all that and just appreciate the many hues soybeans go through on their way to drought induced death.

Lake Shetek is actually a pretty big lake, something I wasn't expecting to encounter in this part of the state. 

The ParkLake Shetek (Shetek means Pelican, but I never saw any there) is another park that I don't really feel the need to explore more than I did. Although there is about seven lakes within the boundaries of this small park, the main attraction is Lake Shetek itself, a large lake popular with fisherman and boaters. I am not a fisherman and it was not a friendly day for boating or swimming, nor was the one mile hiking club trail adequate for me to get an idea of the kind of hiking they have, so I guess I can't truly attest to the virtues of this park. They do have an old pioneer cabin (history!) which is worth exploring and a really unusual monument right outside the park. I'm still not quite sure what it was commemorating. The beginning of the Casey Jones bike trail is near the park as well.

An old barn in Lake Shetek State Park 

An old barn in Lake Shetek State Park 

The Hike: Beginning at the boat landing, this one mile jaunt takes you across the Lake Shetek causeway to a self-interpretive island loop. While walking through the tangle of second growth oak and ash, you learn from signs how beautiful the island was before it's virgin forest was ravaged by disease, leaving it as barren as the stripped farmland on the lake's shores. Using my impressive imaginative skills I was able to reconstruct the island as it was and consequently enjoyed my hike much more. I enjoyed it less, however, the second time I did the loop since I somehow missed the password sign the first time around (one of the contributing factors to the park's 3/5 arbitrary rating). The path is easy, quick, and relatively uninteresting. Check it out if your in the area, but don't go out of your way.

The path to the island. It gets pretty windy out in the middle of the lake so be prepared. 

Cumulative Miles Driven: 1190

Cumulative Miles Hiked: 38

Arbitrary Rating: 3/5