MN Driftless Hiking Trail Updates

When last we checked on what’s up with the development of the proposed MN Driftless Hiking Trail, they had just received a $400,000 grant through the MN voter-approved Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.*  These funds helped them hire a new trail director, Alexa Shapiro (founder of the Winona Outdoor Collaborative) and will fund trail building equipment and mapmaking for the trail over the next 2.5 years.

On January 17, the group released their first report on activities over the past few months since Alexa joined the group as Trail Director. Here are a few highlights:

"It’s been 90 days since we hired our first employee, and we’re proud of how much we’ve accomplished in just three months. While we’ve made significant progress, there is still a lot of work ahead to bring the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail to life. The past three months have been a whirlwind of activity and connection as we work toward establishing accessible trail in state forests, parks, and local areas. Here's a snapshot of what we've accomplished and where we're heading:

Trail Designation Progress

• Met with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to kick off conversations about designating trails on public lands.
• Initiated discussions with local city officials to understand the process for trail designation on city-owned properties.

Community Engagement

• Hosted a community forum in Chatfield to gather input on the trail project. We heard valuable thoughts, ideas, and concerns that will help us build a trail aligned with the community’s vision.
• Planned additional community forums in Caledonia and Whalen to ensure widespread input and engagement across the trail corridor.

Exploration and Outreach

• Spent time hiking and exploring in the trail corridor, including Beaver Creek State Park, the Norwegian Ridge Birding and Nature Trail, and Cabbage Rocks, among others.
• Met with board members and project advocates, strengthening our relationships with key supporters."

To read the full update, please stop here.

And if you are interested in learning more, mark your calendars for their next event: 

Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail 

Community Forum

Monday, March 10, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

City of Caledonia Municipal Auditorium, 219 E. Main St

“Join us for an engaging evening to discuss the future of the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail! We’ll share updates on the trail’s development and provide an open space for your ideas, questions, and feedback. Whether you’re a passionate hiker, a local resident, or simply curious, your voice matters in shaping this exciting project. Refreshments will be served, and no registration is needed!

This event is designed for residents of Caledonia and the surrounding communities. Whether you are a landowner, outdoor enthusiast, local business owner, involved in tourism, or simply interested in learning more and sharing your perspective, we warmly invite you to attend. Feel free to bring a friend or colleague—everyone is welcome!

This project is supported by University of Minnesota's Empowering Small Minnesota Communities program, a statewide initiative aimed at strengthening small communities' projects and plans for resilient physical, social, and economic infrastructure through UMN partnerships.

This is the second event in a 3-part series—a perfect opportunity to connect with trail staff, dedicated volunteers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Stay tuned for details about our upcoming session in Whalen! Don’t miss this chance to be part of the conversation and help bring the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail to life. See you there!”

If you are interested in this effort to create a 100+ mile hiking/backpacking trail across the Driftless region of MN, you can subscribe to the Minnesota Hiking Trails' newsletter here. These occasional newsletters are info packed and keep you in the know.

Additional posts on the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail:

• Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail Introduction 10/18/23
• Minnesota Driftless Trail Development Update 5/1/24

* This fund, originally approved by referendum in 1991, received  an overwhelming 77% of MN voters support statewide in November 2024 elections. The vote amended the state's constitution until 2050 to continue using lottery proceeds for the purchase of land, construction of trails, environmental research, fish and wildlife habitat projects, clean water initiatives and more. This system, administered through the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, recommends millions of dollars in grant money each fiscal year to fund projects that benefit hikes, bikers, hunters, fishers, campers, skiers and all Minnesotans who use the outdoors. You can read more about it here.