Waterfalls of Minnesota


Book Description

Let Master Photographer Lisa Crayford guide you to the top-ranked waterfalls in the state, as well as her "secret waterfalls." Your bucket list should definitely include these 117 gorgeous locales that decorate Minnesota's landscape, including bridge views, short hikes, secluded waterfalls in urban areas and hidden gems along the North Shore. With this book in hand, you can easily plan to see them all. The waterfalls are organized geographically and ranked by beauty. Start with the ones nearby, then get away to discover those farther afield. All the information you need--directions, distance, hike difficulty and more--is right at your fingertips. These natural wonders prove that the Land of 10,000 Lakes is also home to some of the most picturesque waterfalls in America




Waterfalls of Minnesota's North Shore and More


Book Description

Join Eve and Gary Wallinga on the trails that lead to the magnificent waterfalls of Lake Superior's North Shore. From the St. Louis River in Jay Cooke State Park to the Pigeon River on the Canadian border, and now, in this new and expanded edition, the authors go beyond the North Shore to northern Wisconsin and across the border to Ontario. Maps and directions to over 150 waterfalls are included in this unique guide. From highway waysides to invigorating day-hikes, Waterfalls of Minnesota's North Shore and More offers waterfall experiences for everyone who enjoys the splashing splendor of Lake Superior's tributary rivers and streams. Let the Wallingas be your guides to new North Shore adventures. Many waterfalls in this book appear for the first time in any North Shore guide!




Minnesota Waterfalls


Book Description

Guide to 70 waterfalls with directions and color photographs




Hiking Waterfalls in Minnesota


Book Description

Hiking Waterfalls in Minnesota includes detailed hike descriptions, maps, and color photos for approximately 100 of the most scenic waterfall hikes in the area. Hike descriptions also include history, local trivia, and GPS coordinates. Hiking Waterfalls in Minnesota will take you through state and national parks, forests, monuments and wilderness areas, and from popular city parks to the most remote and secluded corners of the area to view the most spectacular waterfalls.




Day Hiking Trails of Gooseberry Falls State Park


Book Description

Imagine a place where five waterfalls spill over billion-year-old rock, all within a mile of one another, where both incredible vistas of the world's largest freshwater lake and paths past an array of sweet-scented wildflowers await, where you can traipse through historic handcrafted stone buildings or alongside a creek meandering about an evergreen forest. The place is real: It's called Gooseberry Falls State Park, which many consider the crown jewel of Minnesota's multitude of natural gems. With this book, you can: Plan a day of fun family-friendly activities Learn the best places to see the park's waterfalls Discover the Lake Superior shoreline Find directions, picnic areas, parking lots and more! With the "Hittin' the Trail" series, you'll never need another hiking guide to any of your favorite destinations. We'll see you on the trail!"




Minnesota State Parks


Book Description

Explore Minnesota’s state parks and state recreation areas with this all-in-one guide. When you consider a visit to Minnesota’s state parks, you might imagine hiking, bicycling, camping, fishing, swimming, bird-watching, or simply relaxing beside a babbling river. Of course, you’re right. The beautiful parks are perfect escapes for your favorite outdoor activities—but there’s so much more to do. Minnesota’s state parks offer a multitude of unique experiences and new adventures! Discover them all in Minnesota State Parks by Anne Arthur and debut author Signy Sherman. Wade across the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park. Explore an open mine pit at Hill Annex Mine State Park or an underground mine at Lake Vermillion-Sudan Underground Mine State Park. Immerse yourself in history at Fort Snelling State Park or Fort Ridgely State Park. See the bison herd at Blue Mounds State Park. Tour the cave at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. You’ll also have opportunities to try everything from archery to snowshoeing, stay in a cabin or yurt, or even go scuba-diving (if you have the training and equipment). This comprehensive guide spotlights all 75 state parks and state recreation areas in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Each entry includes full-color photography, a map, and the details you want to know—including a park overview and descriptions of the trails, campgrounds, and interpretive programs. Plus, the authors’ tips help to ensure that you maximize the fun. Inside you’ll find Guide to all 75 state parks and state recreation areas Maps that show hiking and biking trails at a glance Expert tips from the authors Nearby attractions that help you make the most of your vacation, road trip, or weekend getaway Get outside and connect with nature. It’s as easy as finding a nearby state park. Use Minnesota State Parks to choose the destinations that are right for you, or begin your journey to visit them all!




Thousand-Miler


Book Description

In thirty-six thrilling days, Melanie Radzicki McManus hiked 1,100 miles around Wisconsin, landing her in the elite group of Ice Age Trail thru-hikers known as the Thousand-Milers. In prose that’s alternately harrowing and humorous, Thousand-Miler takes you with her through Wisconsin’s forests, prairies, wetlands, and farms, past the geologic wonders carved by long-ago glaciers, and into the neighborhood bars and gathering places of far-flung small towns. Follow along as she worries about wildlife encounters, wonders if her injured feet will ever recover, and searches for an elusive fellow hiker known as Papa Bear. Woven throughout her account are details of the history of the still-developing Ice Age Trail—one of just eleven National Scenic Trails—and helpful insight and strategies for undertaking a successful thru-hike. In addition to chronicling McManus’s hike, Thousand-Miler also includes the little-told story of the Ice Age Trail’s first-ever thru-hiker Jim Staudacher, an account of the record-breaking thru-run of ultrarunner Jason Dorgan, the experiences of a young combat veteran who embarked on her thru-hike as a way to ease back into civilian life, and other fascinating tales from the trail. Their collective experiences shed light on the motivations of thru-hikers and the different ways hikers accomplish this impressive feat, providing an entertaining and informative read for outdoors enthusiasts of all levels.




Caves and Karst of the Upper Midwest, USA


Book Description

This book discusses the karst and pseudokarst of the Upper Midwest, USA, consisting of the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois—the first regional synthesis in 40 years. Starting with an overview of the regional geology of what is largely glaciated fluviokarst and paleokarst developed on Paleozoic carbonates, but including other lithologies such as the St. Peter Sandstone and the Ft. Dodge Gypsum, the caves, springs, sinkholes, and karst hydrogeology of each state are described. Special attention is devoted to the region’s longest caves: Coldwater Cave, Mystery Cave, and the Minnesota Cave Preserve caves. Application of tools such as data loggers and LiDAR, with new conceptual models such as hypogenic speleogenesis, has been transformative here. Special topics include lead and zinc mining in the Driftless Area, vertebrate and invertebrate cave fauna near the Laurentide ice limit, the impact and policies of nutrient and herbicide intensive modern agriculture on karst, and paleoclimate studies. The discovery, exploration, institutional history of caving organizations, and show caves of the Upper Midwest, from the year 1700 onwards, are brought up to date. The top 10 historical paradigms of cave and karst science in the Midwest are reviewed. Perspectives on paleontology, archeology, and Native American rock art are included.




Prairie, Lake, Forest


Book Description

Waterfalls and underground caverns, lady's slippers and dwarf trout lilies, cross-country skiing and fishing adventures--alluring photographs and captivating stories survey these and other delights of Minnesota's popular state parks.




Hiking the Big South Fork


Book Description

Now in its third edition, Hiking the Big South Fork is packed with up-to-date information on the trails of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area in Tennessee and Kentucky. The book combines numerous details about the natural history of the area with fascinating tidbits of folklore and legend to provide an interpretive guide to the trails. The authors have walked, measured, and rated every hiking trail, and, for this edition, they include information about trails in the adjoining Pickett State Park and Forest. The book features detailed maps; checklists of mammals, birds, and wildflowers; and valuable advice on safety, park rules and regulations, and accommodations. The trail descriptions include difficulty ratings, distance and time information, notes on accommodations and special considerations, and detailed mileage indicators to keep hikers informed of their progress and to clarify points of confusion. Also included is a handy chart designed for backpackers who wish to combine trails for longer excursions. Strollers, hikers, and backpackers looking for a less-crowded alternative to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will enjoy discovering this beautiful, rugged National Park service area. Only a ninety-minute drive northwest of Knoxville, the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is easily reached in half a day or less from Louisville, Nashville, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. The Authors: Brenda G. Deaver is a park ranger at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Jo Anna Smith, a former ranger-historian with the National Park Service, now lives in Idaho with her husband, Steve. Howard Ray Duncan, a native of the Big South Fork area, has spent many years exploring the region. A former school teacher and principal, he has been a ranger at Big South Fork since 1985.