Beginning the Journey - Minnesota State Parks

This summer, my family is beginning our quest to complete the Minnesota State Park Hiking Club and Passport Club. We don't have an end date in mind, but plan to use the clubs as motivation to explore more of our great state.

To complete the Hiking Club book, hike 68 trails and state parks throughout Minnesota. The Hiking Club trails are indicated on the official state park maps. While hiking, look for the blue password sign and record it in the book, along with the mileage of the trail. Once you hit certain milestones, bring your book to a state park office to receive mileage patches and free nights of camping!

For the Passport Club, stop at all of Minnesota's state parks and recreation areas. Stamp your book at the park office or entrance. You'll earn a pin after 25 stamps as well as more free nights of camping.

Both the Hiking Club and Passport Club books can be ordered here.

As extra motivation and easy tracking, my sister bought us a Minnesota State Park pin map on Amazon. We put black pins on each state park where my husband and I have gone, silver pins wherever our whole family has gone, and will put gold pins once we've found the Hiking Club password. Since our children are 7, 5, and 3, we don't plan to do the Hiking Club trail every time we visit a state park (especially if the trail is long) and will plan to return when they are older.

Minnesota State Park Pin Map

In planning my trips and choosing trails, I heavily reference blog posts (Day Tripper is one of my favorites), Facebook groups such as Hiking Minnesota, and the AllTrails app and website to hear personal experiences. I hope my blog can be of assistance to others, especially those adventuring with their children!

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