Walking and Hiking

Hemlock Ravine SNA is your next door neighbor! If you look out into the ravine you are seeing some of this state land that is home to one of the few remaining native stands of eastern hemlock trees in Minnesota. This tree is now endangered in the state and many have been lost to landslides in flood events. For this reason, the steep ravine slopes are off limits on both our private land and the adjacent state land. However, if you walk 1/4 mile down Jay Cooke Road there is a trailhead with a short trail on flat terrain. There are a number of fenced deer exclosures and you can see a few large hemlock trees. Hint: the easiest characteristic to spot is that the very tip of the treetop droops into a hook shape. This is a short hike but a beautiful area.

This fantastic State Park has countless places to explore, and a stop at the Swinging Bridge is definitely recommended. If you want to walk from the cabin, you can do that too! There is a State Park trailhead 0.4 miles down the road where Jay Cooke Rd intersects with the Munger trail. You can walk for miles on the paved Munger trail or take any of the State Park trails leading out from that trailhead. Trails include the Greely Creek Trail, Triangle Trail, and Oak Trail. Mix and match different options for 1-5 mile routes. Our favorite is a great overlook to the St. Louis River on the Triangle Trail loop.

If you are looking for bigger vistas and more vertical, Ely's Peak is a local favorite. There is a trailhead off of Becks Road that is about a 15 minute drive. Walk a short section of the Munger Trail and then connect to sections of the Superior Hiking Trail heading up to the overlook. The loop route is 2.9 miles and 400 feet of elevation. The route details are here.