afton state park trails

• The campground is backpack-only and is a strenuous ¾-mile hike from the parking … Afton State Park is in southeast Washington County right on the St. Croix, about halfway between Interstate 94 to the north and Hastings to the south. I went when the lots were full, but still was easily able to maintain social distance and enjoy the park! Afton State Park is located 10 miles north of Hastings in Minnesota’s … Trail base: 0". Trailhead. By Sonja Romine. Caught a beautiful day. However, Afton has plenty of trails … The visitor center offers a good place to get oriented to the trails and special features of the park. Here you will see wildflowers and grasses in restored prairies that were once agricultural fields. Beyond the southern trailhead at Afton City Hall, trail users can continue south into the old village section of Afton via city streets and a pathway between 32nd and 34th Streets. NOTE: When the river is high, a portion of this loop will be closed. We went out this passed Monday and did the north loop. Trails were very well maintained. Very well-maintained park and easily navigated. Among the many activity you can enjoy in the park are hiking, backpack camping, fishing, swimming and cross-country skiing in the winter. April 1, 2020 July 28, 2020. Difficulty: int. 35 reviews of Afton State Park "I'm still trying to figure out how after having lived in the Cities for most of my life I had never once come to the Afton State Park (it's just south of Stillwater on the St. Croix River and less than 30 minutes from the 'burb you know I love2hate: Woodbury). AllTrails has 9 great trail running trails, hiking trails, river trails and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. Afton State Park is an oasis for outdoor adventurers of all kinds and is just 20 minutes from Saint Paul! Everything was well marked and maintained. 45 Miles. Location: 44.857542, -92.7742839. Afton State Park 6959 Peller Avenue South Hastings, MN 55033 Hastings, Minnesota Google Maps Directions HERE Approx 25 minutes East of St. Paul, MN and 40 minutes East of Minneapolis, MN. 6959 Peller Ave S Hastings, MN 651- 436-5391. Amazing views! Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. to exp. Offering over 1,600-acres of woodland, wetland, and rugged terrain, Afton State Park is perfect for the casual hiker and intense trail runner. 0 Miles 0 Kilometers of Trail 0 Recommended Routes 0 Easy Trails ; 0 Intermediate Trails ; 0 Difficult Trails ; MTB Project is built by riders like you. … By Theo Carlson. 8 Intermediate Trails. (track) The trail (s): Park features wooded hills mixed with open prairie along the wild and scenic St. Croix River. South loop was less busy than north loop. Ready for some activity? But that didn’t stop our … Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time! No one else in the prairie with us. There is also horseback riding, bird-watching, cross-country skiing, swimming, mountain biking in 2,702 acres of park and only 5 miles from Afton. With more than 83 Afton trails covering 854 miles, you’re bound to find a perfect trail like the Gandy Dancer Trail - Southern Section or Interlink Trail. of Trail. By Mandy Baldwin. Trails traverse remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines that drop 300 feet to the river and rise up to the grassy ridge tops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. The park’s trails plunge into deep ravines and climb up to ridge tops where you can overlook the St. Croix River Valley. Afton State Park Running. This diverse, 2,702-acre park has trails for both day hikers and backpackers – some with scenic views of the St. Croix River, others which drop into quiet ravines. Just forty minutes east of the Twin Cities, the park lies along bluffs overlooking the St. Croix River. Trails traverse remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. $7 entrance fee per car. Afton is another state park located in close proximity to the Twin Cities. Afton State Park is located in the St. Croix River Valley, surrounded by woods and prairies. We are all looking to get out, keep our social distance and enjoy the first days of spring. The park … VISITOR TIPS. Wild River State Park. ©Afton State Park. #2 - Northern River, Trout Brook and Prairie Loop, #5 - Afton State Park: North and South Loop. The grasses do not start popping up for the year until June. Trail mileage: 12.0. 72 Kilometers. The trails are … Afton State Park Biking. Really beautiful state park, didn't hike a specific trail, more just combined several loops, which is one of the nice things, you can easily add on a little bit more if you want, or can cut it short, there's a lot of connecting trails. Winding in and out of the trail seeing all kinds of different things, including animal track, flower, and grasses. Pretty easy with some elevation changes that make it fun. 2 Recommended Routes. We never knew the hiking opportunity existed in this area. On this 7mile hike we encountered less than 13 people total. Afton State Park . 1 Easy Trail. Saw two deer on our travels. By Theo Carlson. Will definitely be back! It’s just off this marked trail and worth the extra few steps. It was created in 1969 to protected its territory. 72 Kilometers. The trail's first overlook offers upstream views of the St. Croix River and a look at the beach. AFTON STATE PARK FOR MORE INFORMATION Afton State Park 6959 Peller Avenue South Hastings, MN 55033 (651) 436-5391 Department of Natural Resources Information Center 500 Lafayette Road St. Paul, MN 55155-4040 651-296-6157 (Metro Area) 1-888-646-6367 (MN Toll Free) mndnr.gov/parksandtrails NORTH AFTON STATE PARK … • Wear good hiking shoes. Lake Shetek State Park Lake Shetek State Park is near Currie in southwestern Minnesota and abuts the largest lake in the region. If you feel out of touch with the natural world because of too much city, Afton State Park will help you mark the seasons. 45 Miles. Afton State Park is the final state park along the St. Croix River before the St. Croix flows into the Mississippi River. Scroll Zoom . Afton State Park Hiking. Oh my! And as a result, we often run into other hikers year-round at this state park. Beginner loop is 2 1/2 miles long. Butterflies and Turkeys and Deer! Can get a lot of diversity in this park too, I hoped through prairies, riverside, forrested w/a stream. The Afton State Park hiking club trail has guests first entering a restored prairie loop, located near the visitors center. Within the park, there are 20 miles of maintained trails that will take you through many different landscapes. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips. Explore the best trails in Afton, Minnesota on TrailLink. 1)From the second parking lot, take the main trail .3 mile west to a T-junction. When I went the trail was completely packed snow, so unless there's fresh snowfall or looking to hike off trail, not any need for showshoes. This trail is great if you get bored with common scenery. 3)Turn west and follow the unnamed trail past hardwoods to the park road at mile 1. The park is nestled against the southeast corner of the lake, offering 14 miles of hiking trails through restored prairie, wetlands and 250-year-old oak trees. trail-running river hiking nature-trips dogs-leash forest views walking kids wildlife. If you don’t know – now you know. Overlook. Started to snow at the end which was lovely. Great variety of trail. 6959 PELLER AVENUE SOUTH HASTINGS, MN 55033 WASHINGTON COUNTY. 3 Difficult Trails. Length 7.0 mi Elevation gain 656 ft Route … Map Key Favorites Check-Ins. Very quiet and great workout! This is definitely true at Afton State Park where there are plenty of trails on varied terrain. It was created in 1969 to protected its territory. 20 mi of hiking trails, within 4 mi bike trail and 5 mi horse trail; 12 mi cross-country ski trail and a sliding hill. The race routinely draws runners from all 50 states and beyond. It was beautiful! This photo was taken on the hiking trail at the great River Bluffs State Park I call it The Long Way back. It’s very common throughout our local parks—county, regional, state—that much of the summer hiking trail system (including some of the paved trails) are designated and groomed for cross country skiing in the winter. Terrain / Course Description: The Afton Trail Run consists of a hilly 25K loop (two loops for the 50K), winding through Afton State Park’s trail … Among the many activity you can enjoy in the park are hiking, backpack camping, fishing, swimming and cross-country skiing in the winter. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, and nature trips. The trail is mostly covered, of the trail is in the wood, several portions dip into wildflower laden prairie, and there is a long stretch along the St. Croix river. Afton State Park: MN Hiking Club Trail. Saw an owl and loads of deer. Google Map. Fort Snelling State Park, St. Paul. The Afton Trail Run is a challenging, scenic and well organized trail race featuring 25KM (15.1MI) and 50KM (31MI) race distances. Very muddy and really crowded. Looking for a great trail in Afton State Park, Minnesota? Trail Run Project is built by runners like you. Routes Trails. The park offers visitors a swimming beach, backpack campsites and a visitor center with interpretive … There are 5 moderate trails in Afton State Park ranging from 4.2 to 31.1 km and from 260 to 299 meters above sea level. Afton State Park is located in the St. Croix River Valley, surrounded by woods and prairies. Zoom in to see details. The trailhead at the north end of the parking area. ©Afton State Park. Kinnickinnic Green, Purple, and Yellow Loop, Northern River, Trout Brook and Prairie Loop, Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center Wisconsin Campus. 3 Difficult Trails. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The trail has two large hills, each about 250ft in elevation, but the rest is fairly rolling or flat. In most of Minnesota State Parks, the map doesn’t tell you everything you need to find your way around, but of the parks I’ve visited so far, Afton was the best at providing sign posts. Trail Detail - Afton State Park - Detailed information on a trail, including trail reports, links and maps. 4) Cros… Great trail with nice variety. Afton State Park is a state park of Minnesota, USA, on the St. Croix River in Washington County.Its hiking trails offer views of the river, rolling glacial moraine, and bluffland it preserves.It is a popular place for birdwatching, picnics, camping, and other typical outdoor recreational activities.To deter overuse of a state park only … Really great place, will come back again. MAP AND GUIDE: AFTON STATE PARK. Restrooms and supplies need to be sought out in the communities along the route, although there is a portable toilet at the city park in the old village … The trail wasn’t crowded at all (I did go on a Thursday) very well maintained. 1 Easy Trail. Most of this trail is paved with the south and East portions of this trail are not. Trails traverse remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Croix River. 8 Intermediate Trails. $7 entrance fee per car. View detailed trail descriptions, trail maps, reviews, photos, trail itineraries, directions and more on TrailLink. Location: 44.8556559, -92.774713. ... Afton State Park. Trails traverse remnant and restored prairies, wind down deep ravines and rise up to the grassy ridgetops and bluffs overlooking the scenic St. Afton State Park, a Minnesota State Park located near Cottage Grove, Hastings and Hudson Mixture of paved, gravel and grass. 2 Recommended Routes. Frontenac State Park. I was able to keep social distance. The trails are perfect for hikers, horseback riders and cross-country skiers. The main entrance is off 70th Street and St. Croix Trail South. ©Afton State Park. To do the same, veer south and proceed .2 mile to another fork. Lots of hilly terrain. We encountered countless butterflies, dragonflies and birds, a few wild turkeys, and even a few deer within close proximity. This is a gorgeous hike in the northern area of the park that combines woodland meandering brookside sections with wide open, sun-soaked meadows. Afton State Park: North and South Loop is a 7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Hastings, Minnesota that features a river and is rated as moderate. The rest of the trails are intermediate or advanced. Great Hiking trails in the twin cities metro Family of 4 (teens) visited Afton State park two times within the last 30-days (Spring time - March/April 2019). I don't fish or ski and motorized boats that go any … Best state parks in Minnesota: Afton State Park in Hastings, Minn. You’ll find a variety of trails and offshoot paths at Afton State Park in Hastings, Minn. From the North River Trail along the beautiful St. Croix River to wildflowers and six-foot high grasses on the Prairie Loop to steep terrain overlooking rugged … of Trail. Finally got to hike Afton. Grand oaks and delicate prairie flowers grace the rugged, rolling landscape of this park. At one point there’s a sign that says scenic overlook. There is a nice flat trail you can walk that is about 1.5 miles one way. The park surrounds Afton Alps Ski area/Golf Course. Winter Yurt Glamping. Lots of changes in elevation. There are a lot of other trails with lots of diversity. 651-436-5391 AFTON.STATEPARK@STATE.MN.US. Northern River, Trout Brook and Prairie Loop. Wild River State Park. Afton State Park: North and South Loop is a 7 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Hastings, Minnesota that features a river and is rated as moderate. Afton State Park was established in 1969 for visitors to experience unique natural features and enjoy outdoor recreation. The park is on the river. Shelter Afton State Park. At every trail intersection, there was a post with a letter, A, B, C, etc., that corresponded to a spot on your park-provided map. Trails are great. From camping, hiking, biking, birding, and everything in between this park has something for everyone. Right in the heart of the city, Fort Snelling … And each … Walk by the river was beautiful, and so were the woods! The race was established in 1994 and is now one of the older, larger and more competitive trail races in the country. 2)The loop is 10.5 miles and camp is near the middle, so you can go either way; the writer went counterclockwise. 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