Reno Spillway Hike (MN)

Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

The Mississippi River plays a big part of hiking in the Driftless region. It's surrounding bluffs provide great challenging bluffland hikes up to the top to view the river and region. Lowland hikes along the wetlands and river bottom provide abundant wildlife and an ever-changing scene of river and plant life to observe.

One of my favorite seasonal lowland hikes is along the Reno Spillway in the Reno Bottoms, south of Brownsville MN. The spillway is part of a long dike road that stretches from the foot of a bluff all the way to the back gate of Lock and Dam #8 in Genoa WI. 

Image- Marge Loch-Wouters

This 6.8 mile out-and-back gravel road was originally built to bring building material for the lock and dam construction back in the 30's. This in-and-out hike can be tailored so that you can turn around at any point making it be the mileage you want to go for lavish vistas of the river, bluffs and wildlife refuge.

The road, which borders the U.S. Wildlife Refuge, is an area used by fishers, walkers, hikers, bikers and occasional service vehicles for the lock and dam, Fish and Wildlife Service and the regional power company. But those vehicles are rare.

Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

What is prolific are wildflowers, migrating waterfowl, eagles and other wildlife - plus an up close and personal view of the Mississippi River, the MN bluffs and a chance to walk almost halfway across the river as you zigzag towards the lock and dam.

It's often a rare treat to hike here. Because it is a spillway,  the Mississippi  River water often overtops the "release valve" of the lowest parts of the trail. Sometimes one can wade through; other times the volume and force of the water cuts the hike short.

When the moment comes to walk the spillway, people head there - especially to catch the spring and fall migrations of trumpeter and tundra swans, pelicans and ducks. Lucky hikers are treated to hundreds of waterfowl flying overhead to their wintering grounds or spring nesting sites.

There is also a canoe access point for a canoe trail through the Reno Bottoms of the US Wildlife Refuge.  That canoe access sign on the highway marks the entrance to the trailhead

THE HIKE

Reno Spillway

Flat trail on up to 6.8 miles of gravel trail and rough cement (on the spillway portion of the trail). Many wildflowers, migrating waterfowl, hardwood floodplain forests, aquatic plants. This hike can go from easy to more challenging depending on whether you head to the lock and dam at the end.

Location:  Follow MN Hwy 26 south about 7 miles south of Brownsville. Look for the canoe access sign and turn left (when heading south) and park in the dirt lot at the bottom of the road.

Image - Lavon Court