Rolling In Rock County

Aug 6, 2025Bike Trails, Biking, Kayaking, Minnesota Miles Blog, State Parks, Water Trails

A person wearing a red shirt rides a bicycle along the top of a grassy hill under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. A large leafy tree is on the left side of the image.

It’s not every day you get asked to judge a wiener dog beauty pageant, but that’s exactly how our latest trip began.
My wife, Jen, and I had returned to Luverne because we’d had such a great time on our first visit a couple of years back. On this trip, we arrived just in time for their famous Hot Dog Nite in July. Dreamed up over 60 years ago by the local Chamber of Commerce, the event has grown into a beloved town tradition. That night, as in years past, they handed out around 15,000 hot dogs. If you laid them end to end (and yes, someone did the math) they’d stretch nearly a mile and a half. Naturally, no celebration of this scale would be complete without a wiener dog beauty contest, which is how we found ourselves roped into judging one of the most adorable competitions we’ve ever seen.

A bike leans against a large outdoor sign reading Main Street Luverne

Of course, our main reason for visiting wasn’t hot dogs, it was to dive into the outdoor adventures Rock County has to offer, and we planned to bike the local trails, paddle the Rock River, and take a bison tour at Blue Mounds State Park. And that was just the beginning, because a huge addition to Luverne’s must-see list was on the way.

A spacious hotel suite with a work desk, two chairs, a small sofa, a coffee maker, and a TV. The bedroom with a large bed is visible through an open doorway. Large windows let in natural light.

Thursday: Hot Dogs, Tandems, and Fireflies

We rolled into town on a sunny Thursday afternoon and checked into our room at the GrandStay Hotel. Just a mile from downtown and right along a scenic bike trail, it turned out to be the perfect basecamp for our weekend adventure. The place was more suite than room, with a full kitchen, cozy living room, fireplace, and a separate bedroom. We could have stayed for a week and never wanted for anything.

Two people stand outside a small brick building labeled Red Rock Luverne Bike Loan Program. The man adjusts a tandem bicycle, while the woman looks on. Several bikes are visible inside the open building.

A smiling man and woman ride a red tandem bicycle in a parking lot beside a white SUV, with apartment buildings in the background. The woman waves and both appear happy and relaxed.

But we didn’t come to hang out indoors. Thanks to the Roll On Luverne Bike Loan Program, we borrowed a free tandem bike straight from a little mini-garage behind the hotel and hit the Luverne Loop, a seven-mile paved circle around town, complete with spurs connecting to Blue Mounds State Park and the Ashby Memorial Trail. Together, they make up about 15 miles of scenic riding through prairie, neighborhoods, and open sky. It’s a shining example of what small towns can do for active travel. This trail took us straight into downtown, where a lively energy was already building.

Volunteers serve food and drinks to people at an outdoor community event. One woman hands a plate to a guest, while others wait in line. The atmosphere is casual and friendly.

A group of people stand smiling in the street at an outdoor event. Most wear matching red t-shirts with hotdog graphics, while a few wear colorful shirts with hotdog patterns. Other festival-goers and tents are seen in the background.

Volunteers in green shirts serve food from a table outdoors to people standing in line. A woman at the front of the table is smiling while preparing a plate with a hot dog. Trees and more people are visible in the background.

A woman with gray hair and glasses eats a hot dog from a paper tray while standing on a city street during an outdoor event. Other people and buildings are visible in the background.

A group of people gather outside a brick building at a street fair, serving and receiving food from a table with drinks and condiments. American flags decorate the building, and a street sign reads “222 E. Main Street.”.

Two men holding grill tongs standing next to a grill trailer with hot dogs.

It was Hot Dog Nite, one of Luverne’s signature summer events, and though we arrived early, the smell of grilled meats already lingered in the air. As the evening wore on, Main Street transformed. Families, couples, and groups of friends strolled up and down the sidewalk, collecting gourmet hot dogs from different businesses and community organizations. Each one put its own spin on the classic: some loaded theirs with chili or bacon, others went all-in with melty cheese sauce and jalapeños, even pizza topped with wiener wheels.

A person with a brown braid wears a white T-shirt with a red graphic of hot dogs and text that reads “Sun’s Out, Buns Out. Relish the moment.” The shirt has a red checkered pattern at the bottom.

An older man wearing glasses and a cap that says ITS A BAD DAY TO BE A HOT DOG sits outdoors, looking serious. He is dressed in a red-patterned shirt, with blurred people and a stone wall in the background.

The crowd was just as entertaining as the menu. People wore punny shirts and costumes dedicated to the beloved hot dog. One shirt read, “Feed me hot dogs and tell me I’m pretty” while another declared, “Sun’s Out, Buns Out.” An older gentleman tipped his hat to us as he passed. It read “It’s a bad day to be a hot dog.”

A woman smiles while holding a dachshund dressed in a colorful outfit and tiny cowboy hat at an outdoor event, with people and houses in the background.

An older man stands outdoors holding a brown dachshund and a young child. A person with gray hair is in the foreground, and houses, cars, and street signs are visible in the background.

Around 6:30 p.m., we followed the crowd to bleachers set up on Freeman Avenue, where the main event was about to begin: a wiener dog beauty pageant, followed by a race. As judges, we took our job seriously—alongside Haley, our fellow judge and local expert. Ten dogs in total paraded through the fenced-in arena (low fencing, obviously). We scored the pups on things like confidence and costume creativity. Extra points went to owners who matched their pets, which led to some truly inspired pairs.

The roster of contestants included names like Gertie, Pixie, Turbo, Bandit, and Santa Paws. Each one brought their own flair to the stage, but in the end, only two could win. Chancho and Mia took home top honors in the male and female categories, respectively, to the cheers of the crowd.

A dachshund races down a street toward a kneeling man as a large crowd watches from behind orange barriers at an outdoor event. Other small dogs and spectators fill the lively scene.

A brown dachshund wearing a harness runs energetically on a paved surface, with its ears flapping and all four paws off the ground. The background is blurred to highlight the dog’s motion.

Then came the races, which were chaotic, hilarious, and absolutely delightful. Pairs and trios of dogs lined up as their humans tried every trick in the book to coax them across the finish line. One owner even used a t-bone steak for motivation. At the shout of “Go!” the dogs were off—some bolting straight ahead, others veering off course or stopping to sniff. The crowd roared with laughter. It was a hoot.

People sit at picnic tables with orange umbrellas in an outdoor patio area on a sunny day, enjoying food and drinks. Trees and buildings are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A pint glass of amber beer with a foamy head sits on a wooden railing outdoors. The glass has a honeycomb pattern and reads Take 16 Brewing Co. Luverne, MN. Picnic tables and people are in the background.

After the final heat, we coasted over to Take 16 Brewery for a celebratory pint and a taste of their newest creation, Wooden Warrior—a beer named after Luverne’s soon-to-be-famous giant nutcracker statue. The dedication was set for the next day.
There was a street dance still to come, but after a full day of judging, riding, and snacking on hot dogs, we were tuckered out. We pedaled back to the hotel just as the fireflies came out in force, lighting up the grasses beside the trail like tiny floating lanterns. Somewhere back in town, the music played on, but we drifted off to sleep with full bellies and big smiles, ready for whatever Luverne had in store next.

A window displays a neon sign reading LOS BRAVOS WE ♥ LUVERNE with reflections of the street, cars, and an orange inflatable tube man outside.

Two plates of Mexican food with rice, refried beans, and a taco on a table, along with two glasses of iced horchata, a wrapped tortilla, and empty chairs in a restaurant setting.

Friday: Tacos, Clay, and Victory Cheers

After our Hot Dog Nite kickoff, we fueled up with lunch at Los Bravos, just a few steps across the parking lot from the GrandStay. Jen went with a classic lunch chimichanga, while I opted for huevos con chorizo. A cold horchata rounded things out. Our server sang along to a sad love song by Los Rayos de Oaxaca, but there was nothing melancholy about the scene. We enjoyed a joyful midday meal that gave us a solid base for exploration.

Two people examine a ceramic vase in a pottery shop filled with shelves of handmade pottery. The shop has gray walls, a window with a view of trees, and various pieces of pottery on display.

Colorful, handcrafted pottery vases with various patterns and glazes are displayed on white shelves against a dark, grid-patterned wall in a gallery or studio setting.

An older man behind a glass display case shows a small item to a woman in glasses at a shop. Shelves with books and decorations are visible, along with a window showing a green yard outside.

We took our own bikes out this time and pedaled around town. Our first stop was Deuschle Studio, tucked inside a former horse barn that houses a pottery studio. Jerry Deuschle welcomed us into his world of clay and fire and even gave us a tour of his workshop. His specialty is Raku pottery, a dramatic process where red-hot vessels are removed from the kiln and placed into combustibles like sawdust or newspaper. The resulting glazes shimmer with iridescent purples and mesmerizing metallic greens that are unexpected and unpredictable. Jerry’s wife, Kathy, creates intricate bead crochet jewelry, each piece a spiral of tiny glass colors and quiet patience. The whole space felt like a beacon of art on the prairie.

A brick storefront with an American flag, blue umbrellas, tables, chairs, and a red bicycle outside. The shop has a Functional Nutrition sign and large windows showing shelves of snacks inside.

Two blended drinks with blue straws sit on a black metal outdoor table. The street and buildings are visible in the sunny background.

Back in town, we stopped at Functional Smoothies. We hadn’t pedaled much, but the heat of the day was building and we cooled off with a couple of shakes in the shade of an umbrella on the sidewalk.

Spectators sit on bleachers watching a youth baseball game on a sunny day. Players are on the field, and an umpire stands behind the batter. A woman in a white and red cap holds a snack bag in the foreground.

Baseball players in blue and gray uniforms watch intently from the dugout as a play unfolds on the field, with one player fielding the ball and another running toward a base on a sunny day.

A baseball pitcher in a blue jersey prepares to throw a pitch on a baseball field, with a teammate in the infield and cars parked in the background near trees and a railroad crossing sign.

A young baseball player in a red helmet stands in the batter’s box, preparing to bat as spectators watch from bleachers and behind a chain-link fence on a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky.

A baseball player in a blue jersey leans on a fence, watching a game in progress. In the background, a batter faces a pitcher as the umpire and catcher crouch behind home plate. Spectators sit in the stands.

A baseball player in a blue jersey swings at a pitch as a catcher crouches behind him. Spectators sit on benches and grass behind a fence, watching the game on a cloudy day.

That evening, we headed to Redbird Field to watch the hometown Luverne Redbirds face off in an exhibition game against the Brandon Belugas. In honor of the upcoming nutcracker statue dedication, the Redbirds wore custom Nutcracker jerseys, and the crowd turned out in style. Popcorn in hand, we cheered through a nail-biter of a game, but Luverne clinched the win with a last-inning surge, ending 5–2. Just after the game, a pop-up thunderstorm had us huddling under the bleachers, laughing with locals and comparing hot dog tallies from the night before. We each bought Luverne ball caps, a worthy souvenir.

A retro-style drive-in restaurant with a large Tasty Drive-In sign and neon lights glows at dusk, with an empty parking lot and a cloudy evening sky in the background.

A red tray on a yellow table holds two burgers, two servings of fries, and a serving of fries topped with melted cheese, all in paper baskets at a casual restaurant.

A retro-style diner with red and yellow booths, people dining, and two employees behind the counter. The decor includes vintage items like a bike and ice cream cone statue. The atmosphere appears casual and friendly.

Dinner at JJ’s Tasty Drive-In was pure Americana. A retro gem with burgers, shakes, and a 1949 Harley Davidson 125 on display. It was bacon cheeseburgers all around, mine with fries, Jen’s with chili cheese fries. The ritual? Always grab a napkin for that messy first bite. The ketchup will find a way.

A country band performs on an outdoor stage at dusk, with guitarists and a drummer playing. Several audience members stand and watch near the stage. Trees and festival signs are visible in the background.

We returned to the field for a concert by 10 Miles from Nowhere, a country band with its own small following, who knew all the lyrics. As twilight settled in, the band played on, the locals kicked up their boots, and we called it a night, knowing we still had a full weekend ahead.

Saturday: Coffee, Climbing, and Giant Legs

Saturday morning, we were back in the saddle, biking our way into town again. While in Luverne, you can park your car, because the bike really is king and you can get anywhere you want on two wheels.

A group of people socializes inside a cozy café with wooden floors, a counter, and a refrigerator. Some sit around a central table, while others stand near the counter. Warm lighting and exposed brick walls create a welcoming atmosphere.

Two breakfast sandwiches with melted cheese on square plates and two white mugs of black coffee are placed on a light wooden table with sunlight and shadows. Each plate has a fork.

Close-up of a person wearing a medal with a nutcracker figure dressed in a patriotic Uncle Sam outfit, hanging from a red, white, and blue ribbon. The person is wearing a dark blue shirt.

Three young children run toward the finish line of the Nutcracker Half marathon, cheered on by adults and volunteers. Colorful ribbons and cones decorate the path under a red finish line banner. Trees and a flag are in the background.

Wildflowers Coffee Boutique was bustling, yet owner Tracy Wieneke still made her way around to top off coffees and chat. We found a table near a lively coffee klatsch up front and ordered breakfast sandwiches for fuel and espresso to wake us up for the day. Nutcracker half-marathon runners trickled in wearing medals and glowing from the finish line. After the the adults, the kids had their own foot race on the trails of City Park.

A storefront with large display windows showing mannequins dressed in clothing. A bench, bicycle, and colorful wreath stand are outside. A no parking sign and a Upscale Resale sign are visible in the scene.

A boutique clothing store interior with racks of clothes, handbags displayed in front, shelves with accessories, and a person smiling behind the counter. The space is well-lit with teal and brick walls.

We popped into Sassy Seconds, a high-end thrift store where Barry Cowell was holding down the fort until noon. “Just filling in for my wife,” he said with a smile. We browsed racks of vintage and designer finds before heading over to one of the most anticipated events of the weekend.

A young girl takes a photo with a pink camera while a boy in a cap stands nearby, both looking at the unfinished giant nutcracker statue in Luverne, MN. A woman stands in the background, near the base.

At 11 a.m., the crowd gathered for the nutcracker dedication ceremony on the edge of town. While the full 65-foot nutcracker statue, dubbed the Wooden Warrior, is still a work in progress, the base, boots and lower limbs were on display. Striped in red and white, the towering legs hinted at what’s to come: A star spangled giant with a moveable jaw and light-up eyes. With over 5,000 nutcrackers already housed in Luverne’s Historical Society Museum, this massive tribute will soon tower over Highway 75 and usher visitors into downtown.

A shop interior filled with taxidermy animals, animal figurines, and various souvenirs displayed on shelves and counters. A large mounted deer head is on the left, and more animal mounts and art cover the walls.

Undeterred by construction delays, the crowd took selfies with the unfinished monument, rallied behind the dream and cheered for the project’s progress. Next door at Those Blasted Things Souvenir Shop, Jen picked up a nutcracker-themed T-shirt, and we continued on our journey.

A storefront with a shingled overhang displays a sign reading Rock River Relics Antiques • Oddities. A red, white, and blue flag hangs outside. A red truck is parked in front and bicycles are visible near the entrance.

A woman with curly red hair and glasses stands behind a counter, smiling. She wears a plaid shirt and a necklace. On the counter are a tumbler, a water bottle, and a wooden box. The background is colorful and homey.

We biked to Rock River Relics, a small studio filled with art made by owner Lori Ann Hallstrom. She uses stained glass and salvaged wood in her work, including pieces from the old Manitou Hotel down the road. Earrings, sun-catchers, and glass flowers hung in the windows like jewels. The craftsmanship was beautiful, and the history behind the pieces made it even more special.

A lively bar with people sitting at tables and the bar counter, several TVs showing sports, and various drinks and decorations behind the bar. The atmosphere is casual and social.

Two plates of food with tater tots, grilled meat, toast, and pickles are on a table next to two glasses of beer. Background shows chairs and partial view of people standing.

For lunch, we stopped at The Bullpen, a local favorite. I had chislic, aka skewered and seasoned chunks of beef, fried to perfection, a South Dakota tradition with just the right bite. Jen’s sandwich, the raspberry fritter, was a marvel: turkey, bacon, and chipotle sauce tucked between slices of deep-fried raspberry toast. We chatted with owner Ryan Bullerman, while the local high school prom aired on TV in the background.

A person wearing an orange shirt and pink helmet rides a bicycle on a paved path next to a river, with a metal bridge and lush green trees in the background on a clear day.

A person wearing a pink helmet and orange shirt rides a bicycle on a paved path through a green field dotted with yellow wildflowers under a clear sky.

A cyclist rides on a paved trail surrounded by greenery. A yellow bike warning sign is posted on a pole next to a tree, indicating a downhill slope ahead. The sky is clear and the scene is bright and sunny.

A person in an orange shirt rides a bicycle along a grassy trail in a wide, green field bordered by trees under a clear sky.

We had enough time to ride the rest of Luverne’s trail system, so we set out on the Christopher Martin Ashby Memorial Trail. Though short, it was a scenic out-and-back route that wound through the shaded paths of Luverne City Park and past the calm waters of the Rock River Reservoir. The trail climbed to the highest point in the system, offering a panoramic view of the quartzite cliffs of Blue Mounds State Park. They rose dramatically from the surrounding prairie, an unmistakable sight.

A person wearing a pink helmet and orange shirt rides a bicycle past the Trailhead sign for the Luverne Loop Trail in a small town, with buildings, greenery, and a clear sky in the background.

A person wearing a pink helmet and bright pink tank top rides a bicycle on a paved trail beside a grassy field under a clear, sunny sky.

A person wearing red rides a bicycle along the top of a grassy hill under a blue sky with scattered clouds. A large tree stands to the left.

A woman wearing a helmet rides a bicycle on a paved park path lined with green grass and trees. In the foreground, there is a pergola, wooden chairs, and landscaped garden beds with large rocks.

From there, Jen and I rode back to town and continued clockwise along the Luverne Loop. We passed Redbird Field beside the Rock River, then pedaled into an open, grassy stretch. After crossing Highway 75, the trail led us around the Luverne Ice Arena and onto the west side of town. We cruised past Kolbert and Hawkinson Parks, the disc golf course, and several ballfields before climbing atop what looked like a flood diversion berm. We stopped briefly at Tonto Park to admire the Child’s Remembrance Garden, a peaceful, reflective spot.

The Blue Mound Trail connects Luverne with Blue Mounds State Park

Faraway view of a one-story building on a grassy hill strewn with reddish boulders

The trail then took us past Sanford Medical Center and into the northern stretch of the loop, where a long, breezy downhill made for an easy ride. After crossing North Blue Mounds Avenue, we turned south, catching another glimpse of the park’s distinctive cliffs rising in the distance. That was our next destination, and we finally pointed our wheels toward it.

A group of people stands in a semicircle around a park ranger near an open-sided tour vehicle on a grassy field under a clear sky. The ranger appears to be explaining something to the group.

A young child with light brown hair and rainbow sunglasses uses binoculars to look out over a grassy landscape from behind a metal railing, with open fields visible in the background.

A closeup view of the tufty head of a prairie smoke wildflower

closeup of a prickly pear cactus with new growth

A tall tree stands on a grassy hill strewn with reddish boulders

A herd of bison graze on a field by a fence

Our afternoon adventure was a bison tour at the park, and we made it just in time. Along with eight other people, Jen and I boarded the custom-built Ford F 350 safari mobile (as we dubbed it), which rocked and rumbled across the prairie in search of bison, following a rutted path. The herd stayed hidden in a far corner of the 500-acre enclosure, out of reach to us, and the first thing we learned was that the tour vehicle does not go chasing after them, and seeing the sometimes reclusive animal is not guaranteed. But, naturalist Tiffany Muellner filled our ride with stories and facts that made the trip worthwhile, shy bison or not. We learned about prairie restoration, native wildflowers like leadplant and prickly pear cacti, the role bison play in the ecosystem, and just what it takes to manage a captive herd.

A climber in a yellow shirt scales a steep, rocky cliffside using a harness and rope, surrounded by large, rugged rock formations.

After the tour, on the way back to town, we caught sight of a few rock climbers scaling the red Sioux quartzite cliffs on the Lower Cliffline Trail, silhouetted against the sun. We got off the bikes and stood in awe, but intrigued about maybe trying it for ourselves one day.

Two plates on a red table, each with a burger, crinkle-cut fries, and a side of coleslaw. The burger in front has cheese and onions; the one in the back has extra toppings. Metal chairs are visible in the background.

Dinner was at the Howling Dog Saloon, where a couple of the burgers were named after locals. I had the “Vircalicious” with jalapeños, and Jen had the “Joe Burger”, also spicy, also delicious. It was that kind of place, where your favorite flavor might just carry your name.
A full day and thirty bike miles later, we were back at the GrandStay, ready for a dip in the pool and some well-deserved rest.

A person in an orange vest paddles a purple kayak down a narrow, calm river surrounded by green grassy banks under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

A person in a pink kayak paddles down a calm, tree-lined river on a sunny day with blue skies and scattered clouds.

A great blue heron stands in the shallow, flowing water of a river with green grass and rocks along the riverbank in the background.

A person in an orange shirt paddles a purple kayak alone on a calm, tree-lined river under bright daylight, with green fields visible in the background.

Sunday: Paddling and Parting

On our final morning, we traded pedals for paddles and took a float down the undulating Rock River with perfect kayaking weather. The calm water twisted and meandered gently, flanked by tall grasses and wide skies. We passed an occasional ripple, but for the most part, it was a smooth trip. We passed the Rock River Wildlife Management Area, saw one barn, and heard nothing but birds and breeze. The longer version of this trip runs nearly 5 hours from Blue Mounds State Park, but this shorter float was perfect. A soul-cleanser in slow motion and a perfect way to kill two and a half hours on a Sunday morning.

A bright yellow café with outdoor tables sits on a sunny small-town street next to older brick and tan buildings. A signpost and colorful decorations are visible near the entrance. Blue skies overhead.

A cozy bar with wooden counters and stools, shelves of liquor bottles, a bartender behind the counter, a fridge labeled COLD BEER, and a TV showing a nature scene on the wall.

A sunny backyard with green grass, several tables and chairs under canopies, and a wooden house with a covered patio in the background. A rustic wooden fence encloses the area.

Two white plates on a glass table each hold scrambled eggs, bacon strips, sausage patties, and biscuits topped with white gravy. The scene is outdoors, with sunlight and grass visible in the background.

For brunch, we drove to nearby Hills, MN, population 800, to the Green Rail Bar and Grill, set in a former train depot. We dined on the lovely back patio and met owner Kyle Knobloch, who visited with us, shared stories and made sure his brunch buffet hit the spot. The whiskey menu looked tempting, but we stuck with coffee.

A tall, rust-colored metal marker stands atop a white concrete base with a plaque, set in a grassy field with green crops under a clear blue sky.

Our final stop was the tri-state marker, where Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota meet. A simple, battered metal monument stands on a rural road where almost no one stops unless they’re looking for it. It’s been banged up, welded, and relocated since 1859, but still marks the spot, kind of. Beside the marker, we found a sunken disk in the grass, and then, using GPS, an even smaller silver spike that may just be the true tri-state point.

Here we stood with the sun beating down on us, cicadas singing, and the wind rustling through the soybeans. This was it. We had run out of state to explore and it was time to turn back, like it or not. It felt like we should have held hands and had a moment, but we said nothing and got back in the car.

A man and woman smiling at the camera outdoors. The man wears sunglasses and a light shirt, and the woman has glasses, long gray hair, and a patterned shirt. In the foreground are a couple of hot dogs on buns.

Final Thoughts: Why We’ll Be Back

We had visited one of those places that sneaks up on you. A place where a burger might be named after your neighbor, where you can chat with the owner of every shop you enter, and where your car can stay parked all weekend while you explore by bike. The people here celebrate hot dogs with unbridled joy, dream big with giant nutcrackers, and find beauty in clay, glass, and prairie grass. We came for a weekend, but left with full bellies, sore legs, and a serious appreciation for this little corner of Minnesota.

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About me

A person wearing a yellow helmet, sunglasses, and warm winter clothing smiles while outside in a snowy Minnesota landscape. They are pointing at something, perhaps one of the scenic mountain bike trails nearby, as the sun shines brightly overhead.

I’m Jan, the publisher of Minnesota Trails Magazine. I’m looking for that one trail, the next ride, a new discovery and other reasons to never sit still in Minnesota.

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Rolling In Rock County