Hike 39 - Stone Arch Bridge - Hennepin Ave Bridge Loop

It’s been a minute. A long minute - I’m not sure when I last documentated a hike, and I know winter hiking is a thing, but I rarely seem to get around to it. Technically, it’s still winter, but it’s nice enough to get back to it as I have 12 hikes to clock in this year. I’ll get in more than that, but the goal has become to document 12 new trails. And while this isn’t technically a new trail to me, it’s one I haven’t documented or perhaps even walked since I started this goal.

I’ve walked the Stone Arch and Hennepin Avenue bridges more times than I can count. I used to live in the neighborhood and loved how I could step out my door and walk the trails along the Mississippi River. I’ve spent many hours along the river realizing that one relationship was over and later embracing a new relationship. I spent time out here to get a dose of nature, to be alone and think, to exercise..

It really is one of my favorite urban trails to walk. There is so much to see and do and different paths to take. If you want to stop to get a bite to eat, you can do that. If you want to get your fill of history you can do that, if you want to sit and take in the river have a seat. I love my home and community where I live, but I miss my old neighborhood mostly because of this trail.

Trail: Stone Arch Bridge/Hennepin Ave Bridge Loop

Location:  Minneapolis, MN

Trail surface: mostly paved (some earth on Nicollet Island)

Date: 3/7/21

Jo: ★★★★

Riley: ★★★★

Hike 38 - Pike Island

Thanksgiving was a little different this year since we weren’t supposed to gather in groups due to a rise in COVID-19 illnesses. While I missed seeing family, I really enjoyed hanging out with my immediate family. We went on a hike, and ate a Thanksgiving dinner we ordered from a local restaurant (The Block). It was perfect. There were a lot of people out hiking along with us, but there was always plenty of distance between us and other groups.

Trail: Pike Island

Location:  St Paul, MN

Trail surface: earth

Date: 11/26/20

The last time I hiked Pike Island, which is a trail within Fort Snelling State Park, Jesse and I were dating so that was probably 15 years ago. Jesse, on the other hand, has been out on this trail a handful of times in the last month. It was surely a sign that I needed to go back, but turns out we were missing one thing... a dog. I’ve never seen so many dogs on a walk before. Definitely more people had dogs that didn’t, and you can bet that once home, I went online and searched for dogs at local shelters. I’m still dogless and probably will be for some time, but if anyone wants to lend me their dog I’ll take them on a walk here.

Pike Island is especially interesting as it’s where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers come together. Had it been a warmer day, I could see us spending time hanging out on the beach watching the birds fly from tree to tree.

Jo: ★★★★

Jesse: ★★★

Riley: ★★★★

Hike 37 - Bass Pond and Old Cedar Bridge

Why yes, I’ll get outside during this beautiful fall weather. Fall is my favorite time to hike - it’s usually not too hot and not too muddy, the bugs are gone and if you catch it at the right time, you get to see beautiful fall colors. I’ve been wanting to check out the old Cedar Bridge for some time. The last time I came down here was when Jesse and I were dating, it was covered in snow, and the bridge was so damaged, it was unsafe to walk on. But years later, the bridge has been repaired and the trails around it updated.

Hike #: 3

Trail: Bass Pond and Old Cedar Bridge

Location: Bloomington, MN

Trail surface: earth

Date: October 11, 2020

Jo: ★★★★

Jesse: ★★★★

Riley: ★★★★★

This is another area where there are a bunch of trails to select from depending on how long you want to walk. We started at one parking lot, walked around one side of the pong, came across a newly built nature play area, crossed the bridge, and then headed back on the other side of the pond. There’s even a little library at the nature play area that’s so new that there aren’t any books in it yet.

Riley was in a bit of a funk on this hike, but once we got to the nature play area and the bridge, she sparked back to life. and it made all the difference. While I appreciate all sorts of trails, I really love those that pay attention to all ages like this one.