Trent Jonas

1 week ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Trent Jonas

Effigy Mounds National Monument is the Hawkeye State's premier National Park Service unit. Despite (or thanks to) its remote location, the park averages about 61,000 visitors per year, placing it in the bottom 50 percent for annual visitation when compared to all other NPS units. These numbers always surprise me, because even nearby (less than 10 minutes by car) Pikes Peak State Park sees around 250,000 annual visitors.

1 week ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Trent Jonas

The Hawkeye State is home to hundreds upon hundreds of miles of wonderful hiking trails. Many of them are descriptive and alert hikers to what they should expect upon setting out. Take, for example, the High Trestle Trail, which runs between Ankeny and Woodward. It's a rail trail that, as the name implies, crosses the Des Moines River on a former railroad trestle that rises more than 120 feet above the river valley. Pretty straightforward, right? Other trails bear more whimsical monikers.

1 week ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Trent Jonas

Lake Shetek is a gem of a state park in southwestern Minnesota, just outside the tiny town of Currie—which, despite its petite size (a few more than 200 residents), is no slouch, itself. Folks who visit Lake Shetek State Park or who otherwise recreate in the greater Lake Shetek area are often charmed by what the community has to offer. In fact, whether you come for the state park or not, Currie, Minnesota is worth a visit in its own right.

1 week ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Trent Jonas

Hike This (Not That) takes you on an adventure to experience both the well-known trail and the hike you probably haven’t heard of. We share how to get to both, what to expect, and why we would choose to hike each trail. Maybe you’ll want to visit both or maybe one of these hikes will seem more appealing; but you’ll leave with an appreciation for all that awaits you out on the trail. This is a tale of two hikes.

1 week ago | onlyinyourstate.com | Trent Jonas

stops 8 distance driving time In This Guide Pipestone National Monument – Pipestone, Minnesota01 Gneiss Outcrops SNA – Granite Falls, Minnesota02 Alexandria, Minnesota03 Hampton Inn and Suites Alexandria – Alexandria, Minnesota04 Itasca State Park – Park Rapids, Minnesota05 Lady Slipper Scenic Byway – Black Duck, Minnesota06 Lost 40 SNA – Northome, Minnesota07 International Falls, Minnesota08 Cobblestone Hotel and Suites International Falls – International Falls, Minnesota09 Voyageurs...