In Minnesota's Northwoods, unbeknownst to many, there remains an untouched parcel of land that contains "old-growth" red and white pine trees that date back as far as 350 years. It's called the Lost 40, and the simple one-mile hike is one of the most phenomenal in the state.
advertisement
The Lost 40 can be found deep in the forest. Part of it is incorporated in the Lost 40 Scientific and Natural Area managed by the MNDNR, and part is managed by the National Forest Service.
An 1882 surveying mistake led the 40 acres to be accidentally mapped as a body of water, and subsequently left alone during Minnesota's logging craze. To get a better look at the forest and the trail, check out this video:
Looking for more short, beautiful hikes in Minnesota? Check out this list of hikes under 5 miles with spectacular views!
With our rich Scandinavian heritage here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, finding trolls in Minnesota may be a little less surprising than it would be in, say, New Jersey. But that doesn't mean we don't lift an eyebrow when they start to pop up in our forests, hidden out of sight, and demanding a little effort to locate. So, when I heard about a bunch of trolls that had appeared in the woods near Detroit Lakes, MN, I took notice and decided I'd better go investigate for myself.
advertisement
On a recent Saturday, I hopped in the car and traveled northwestward from my home in the Twin Cities to the charming resort community of Detroit Lakes to see out about these trolls.
As it turns out, they're are the work of Danish artist Thomas Dambo, in cooperation with Project 412 and the Detroit Lakes Tourism Bureau.
The trolls - and other things - were constructed by teams of volunteers and hidden in several spots around the region. And our job is to find them - scavenger hunt style.
Although you can start anywhere - as I discovered - the Detroit Lakes Troll Hunt is designed to begin in Washington Park, where you'll meet Alexa, the Troll of Detroit Lakes. You can't miss her - she's right out in the open, and as you learn about her, you'll find a clue that you'll need to locate the other trolls in the area. Hint: This is a driving troll hunt.
Each troll has a name and story, which is revealed when you meet them.
One of the trolls is actually closer to Frazee than to DL - and since Frazee was on my way (and I'd done a little research ahead of time), I visited him first.
I spent the better part of an afternoon locating the trolls that I did, and according to AllTrails Plus - which I used to track my routes - I walked over three miles. Although, I noticed the pretty intense humidity, I didn't really notice how much walking I had done, because I was so focused on the scavenger hunt, itself. I ran into a lot of families with children really enjoying themselves, so it's clearly an awesome - and relatively inexpensive - way to get to kids (and grown ups) outside and moving around while having an excellent adventure and a fun thing to do in summer in Minnesota.
Have you gone searching for the trolls in Minnesota around Detroit Lakes? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to tell us if you found them all.
This Little-Known Scenic Spot In Minnesota That Comes Alive With Color Come Fall
Bluff Country in southeastern Minnesota offers stunning fall foliage, especially in the Zumbro Bottoms Management Area and Kellogg Weaver Dunes Scientific and Natural Area.
There are few places better to enjoy fall foliage in Minnesota than the Bluff Country of the state's southeastern corner. Rippling westward from the Mississippi River valley, the folded valleys and ravines of the Driftless Area are home to the largest remaining stands of hardwood forest in the Land of 10,000 Lakes: the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest. And one of the best spots in this part of the state to get out and tree bathe in the autumn splendor is the forest's Zumbro Bottoms Management Area.
advertisement
The Zumbro Bottoms Management Area spans the Zumbro River valley where it widens near its confluence with the Mississippi, just outside the town of Kellogg.
Cell service isn't always reliable here, so its a good idea to download the trail maps for offline use with an app like AllTrails Plus - which is my go-to for offline navigation on my smart phone.
The area is home to hardwood forests of oak, maple, ash, and basswood, as well as stands of towering pines.
Views of the uninterrupted foliage across the broad valley make this an awesome place for your fall adventures, whether you're hiking, biking, offroading, or on horseback.
Located near the mouth of the Zumbro River along the Mississippi, Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA is gorgeous in the fall, when the grasses of the sand prairie turn tawny and the oak savannas crackle with fiery foliage.
You can also enjoy sweeping views of the fall colors up and down the Mississippi River valley - and across to Wisconsin - from the vantage point of these rare Minnesota sand dunes.
This is among my personal favorite places for fall hiking in Minnesota - in fact, the Zumbro Bottoms Loop is also a fantastic snowshoeing destination once the snow falls. When you've had your fill of foliage, head into nearby Wabasha for a pint and some food at the Olde Triangle Pub, right on Main Street across from the Mississippi River.
Have you visited Zumbro Bottoms in the fall? What are some of your favorite spots for fall foliage in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!
