Maglessen Bluff Hike (MN)

Rushford MN is located in the scenic Root River valley in south eastern MN. It is probably best known by bikers who travel the Root River/Harmony-Preston Valley State bike trails. But it has a special hiking gem there too. If you have traveled along Hwy 16, you probably have seen the bluff that has Rushford's name set in stones high up on a bluff. That bluff is Maglesson Bluff, a city park.

This is a true bluff hike. You can start from the top (accessed off Maglessen Drive which starts you at the top of the bluff with it's park amenities) and hike down almost 500 feet as either an out-and-back or a loop. Or you can start at the bottom and head upward to it's 1174 ft top. The trails are old quarry and logging trails so plenty wide.

Trailhead sign at the base of the bluff

We chose the trailhead at the base of the bluff as our start. Found at the end of W. Winona St, opposite the Oak Grove Cemetery entrance, there is plenty of room for parking at the trailhead. The trail is about 1.8 miles total but while short in mileage, as you can imagine, it is elevation hiking at it's best. It took us about 1.5 hours.

The Oak Grove Trail is a steep initial introduction to the hike. It heads up 200 feet for the first quarter mile with only a turn our two on a dirt and mown grass trail. On these shaded, wooded trails on the north side of the bluff, the ferns were lush and covered the hills all the way up. They gave us resting time to catch our breath on the initial uphill slog and to enjoy and identify ferns (maidenhair, ostrich, lady, bladderwort and interrupted) plus many other fungi and flowers, both blooming and post-bloom.

Ferns were prolific along the slopes

Wide, well-maintained trails

We passed a small old shed and then headed up on the main trail which is wide and well-maintained with rocks and log borders to shore up the trail against erosion on the steep bluffsides. We really appreciated the trail work that had been done. There were also numerous switchbacks to ease the elevation gain which made for a pleasant ascent.

Go right, hikers, go right!

Shortly after we hit this wider trail, we had a decision to make - head to the right to the Quarry Trail or to the left to the Stair-Climber Trail. Our hiking app comments said go right - and we're glad we did. The rolling switchback trail was easy and continued upward, past the old limestone quarry and around to the south side of the bluff where we saw deer and fawns peeking at us.

Once on the top we were treated to spectacular views of surrounding bluffs and Rushford. There are also three outlooks above the "Rushford Rocks" goat prairie. 

You can add an additional 1.25 miles to your hike by walking out-and-back to all of them. You'll see the Rushford Burr Oak, a great-great-great-grandmother of a tree, and can discern a few mounds of indigenous people by some of the overlooks as well. It makes a wonderful "amble" trail for those who want the views but a less strenuous hike. Drive up to the park and walk along the road to the two lookout areas. From there head to the small picnic shelter. Behind it is access to the very last part of the trail. Turn right on the bark-chipped trail and follow it as it gently rises up to the easternmost look-out for an additional .75 miles.

Rushford Burr Oak, reported to be over 200 years old

Going down

We took the Stair-Climber Trail on the way down. The stairs drop for an amazing 250 feet pretty much straight-down with a few turns but nothing resembling a switchback. Again, I admire the trail builders but it is a knee-pounding experience on uneven heights from stair to stair. I can safely say that I would rather go down them rather than up. 

A welcome rest halfway
down the stairs

We rested at a bench near sandstone that lies under the Oneota Dolomite (limestone) that caps the bluff. Then onward!  Once down the stairs, the remainder of that trail again becomes a wide rolling trail around the east and north sides of the bluff. 

Bridge over the ravine

The trail joins the Oak Grove Trail again shortly after passing a bridge crossing a steep ravine.  The waters must really roar during the spring thaw and heavy rains! Before long we were dashing down the final steep 1/4 mile to our start!

THE HIKE

A true bluffhound's dream hike (although you need to feel comfortable with very steep sections to truly enjoy this hike). Lush hardwood forests shade the trails as you gain a quick 200 ft at the base of the bluff on this 1.8 mile loop (or out-and-back trail). The profusion of ferns covering the slopes is simply amazing. The rest of the wide, well-maintained trail leads you through switchbacks up to the top of the bluff where the city park is. Add an additional 1.25 miles to your hike by walking out-and-back to all the lookouts at the top. Return the same way or challenge your knees on the Stair-climber Trail as you drop a quick 250 feet to a lower level of the trail that eventually joins back up with the Oak Grove Trail.

Location:

If hiking from the base, head into Rushford until you come to West Winona St. Turn left and follow it to the parking lot at it's end. The trail head is opposite the Oak Grove cemetery gate. If beginning the hike from the top, head into Rushford, turn left onto Hwy 30 until you come to Maglessen Drive. Turn right and follow the road up to the park at the top of the bluff. The trailhead is down from the parking lot by the east overlook

More ferns...because I was super impressed!

All Images - Marge Loch-Wouters