Snowshoe Event at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

By Lynne Grigor and Donna Seline

The NorthStar Trail Travelers’ (NSTT) first event of 2022 is a snowshoe hike at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park.
The main 3km trail of the snowshoe hike will take you through a gently rolling forest of maple, basswood and oak, on ungroomed trails. There’s an optional challenge route of 4km. This trail meanders through the forest with a few moderately steep slopes; a boardwalk with stairs and some exposed landscaping timbers, roots and rocks.

We’ll meet around the campfire at the open picnic shelter near the park office. Sloppy Joes and hot beverages will be available for a donation. Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome. Due to COVID restrictions, the park will not have snowshoes to rent, so bring your own or do the walk in winter boots. The event is weather dependent.

With the leaves gone, February is a great time to watch winter birds and the Big Woods is well known for its variety of woodpeckers, which stay year round. We’ll also be able to see the amazing twisted trunks and branches of the Big Woods trees.
When the first settlers arrived in 1854, they discovered an island of woods in the vast oak savanna prairie, which now makes up Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. Sugar maple, basswood, oak, hickory, aspen, elm, ash and ironwood trees shade the land. Over 200 varieties of wildflowers, along with countless varieties of ferns and mushrooms grow in the Big Woods.

Snowshoe Hike 
February 12, 2022

• Nerstrand Big Woods State Park
• 3km easy route or 4km more challenging route, or both
• Register between 10 am and 2 pm and finish by 4 pm
• Cost: $2 for the walk only, $8 walk and a handmade award. Proceeds support the NSTT
• Bring your own snowshoes

About The Club

NorthStar Trail Travelers is a unique club in that it offers noncompetitive walking and snowshoe events primarily in Minnesota State Parks, trails, forests and recreation areas. NSTT has a formal partnership with the Minnesota Department of Resources Parks and Trails Division to offer from four to 10 events in state parks each year. All events are open to the public and membership is not required to participate. NSTT is a chartered club with the American Volkssport Association, which is under the umbrella of the International Volkssports Verband. 
More info: www.nstt.org or find them on Facebook.