Celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 5

[HD]

News Releases
Celebrate National Trails Day on Saturday, June 5, at state parks, on state trails and in state forests
(Released June 3, 2010)


The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages families and individuals of all ages to get out and enjoy a public trail by hiking, biking, horseback riding, inline skating, canoeing, kayaking and off-highway vehicle riding on Saturday, June 5, which is National Trails Day. Minnesota’s public trail system includes trails managed by national, state, regional, and local agencies, and is well known as one of the best public trail systems in the nation.

National Trails Day events at state parks, along state trails, and in state forests include the following:

Family Fun Bike Ride, Lake Bronson State Park (Lake Bronson), 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Bring the family for a day of biking on the park’s seven miles of bike trail. Experienced riders can try out the natural-surface mountain bike trail, and beginners can take a leisurely ride on a paved trail. Local bike experts will have demo bikes for visitors to try and will lead guided rides. A kid’s bike safety check will also be offered. The bike event is free; however, a state park vehicle permit is required for vehicles entering the park. For more information, contact Lake Bronson State Park at 218-754-2200.
Gateway State Trail Celebration, Gateway segment of the Willard Munger State Trail (Oakdale), 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Gateway Trail Association will host an event celebrating the 18-mile Gateway State Trail, which goes from St. Paul to Pine Point Regional Park, four miles northwest of Stillwater. The association will provide snacks, beverages, information on the Gateway Trail Association, and free bike repair. Information on the Minnesota state trail system, which includes more than 1,200 miles of trail, will also be available. For more information, contact www.gatewaytrailmn.org, or 651-351-7506.
Zumbro Bottoms Trail Maintenance Volunteer Work Event, Zumbro Bottoms Unit at the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest (Theilman), starting at 9:30 a.m. at the West Assembly Area.
Each spring on National Trails Day, the Minnesota Trail Riders Association and the Golden Eagles Motorcycle Club team-up to host an event to spread wood-chips on the horse and hiking trails at Zumbro Bottoms along the Zumbro River. Volunteers haul and spread wood chips that are provided by the Minnesota DNR. For more information, contact the Minnesota Trail Riders Association event coordinator at rlwright@frontiernet.net or 507-775-2512.
The American Hiking Society maintains a list of registered National Trails Day events on their website at www.americanhiking.org. Registered National Trails Day events in Minnesota include a hiking trail event on the North Country Trail in Ponsford, a birding walk at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge in Zimmerman, and a canoeing event at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Wabasha.

Two long-distance hiking trail associations have traditionally held National Trails Day events, too-the North Country Trail Association and the Superior Hiking Trail Association. In addition to the registered event listed above, the Arrowhead and Itasca Morraine chapters of the North Country Trail Association will host events in the Chippewa National Forest and near Itasca State Park. For information, see www.northcountrytrail.org. The Superior Hiking Trail Association will host two events, one at Hartley Nature Center in Duluth and another near Grand Marais. For information, see www.shta.org.

The Minnesota DNR manages thousands of miles of public trails, including those in 73 state parks and recreation areas, along 21 state trails and in 58 state forests. It also manages 31 water trails, which provide paddling opportunities along streams, rivers, and Lake Superior. In the winter, the DNR grooms thousands of miles of trails for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

For more information about state-managed trails, call the DNR Information Center, 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or visit www.mndnr.gov/parksandtrails.