The Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail is continuing it's growth and evolution. Here is the most recent newsletter from the group that updates what they are doing and planning. If you'd like to get involved in volunteering and helping to develop this proposed 100 + mile backpacking/hiking trail (similar to the Ice Age Trail in WI), head over to their webpage for even more information - and to sign up for this occasional newsletter!

Happy July!

With the first half of the year behind us, we’re stepping into a new season of work for the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail.

In the early months of 2025, our focus was on outreach, education, and engagement throughout the trail corridor. As someone still relatively new to the project, having been hired last fall, it’s been a meaningful opportunity to connect with people across the region and hear directly from residents about their hopes and concerns for the trail.

Thank you to everyone who attended a forum, visited us at a public event, or welcomed us for a presentation. We’ve felt incredibly supported in every community we’ve visited–proof that Minnesota hospitality is alive and well.

Looking ahead, we’re turning our focus to building landowner partnerships and working with local communities to establish access agreements. This project has so many layers, so in this issue, we’re sharing more about that process and how landowners can get involved. We hope you’ll take a look!

Wishing you a wonderful summer,

Alexa Shapiro

Trail Director

Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail

Conversations Shape the Trail Ahead

Over the past few months, we had the opportunity to host community forums in Chatfield, Caledonia, and Whalan. These gatherings brought together over 60 community members and sparked meaningful conversations about the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail. We were grateful for the opportunity to listen, learn, and share. Each session helped us better understand local hopes and concerns, and gave us space to talk about the many potential benefits the trail could bring to rural communities—like increased tourism, more opportunities for youth and families to access nature, stronger protections for our unique Driftless landscape, support for local businesses, and the chance to showcase the distinct culture of this region to new visitors.

Of course, these conversations also highlighted some of the tough—but important—questions our project must continue to address. We appreciated the deep interest and thoughtful questions raised. It’s clear that people want to fully understand what the trail could mean for their communities and their land. Concerns ranged from the use of eminent domain to the potential impacts of increased foot traffic. We heard questions about litter, trailhead use, and how this project will respect the landowners who view their properties as places of refuge. We also heard important questions about how the trail might affect local hunters and how we plan to build this project in a way that strengthens, rather than disrupts, existing recreational use. These forums underscored the need for more clear communication from us. That’s why we’ve created a new FAQ document to provide more transparency and clarity about some of the key topics we heard at the forums about landowner partnerships and how hunting will be factored into planning.

FAQ

Despite the tough questions, the forums ended on an incredibly hopeful note. In each community, we saw a spark of excitement—an eagerness to start thinking about what comes next. From new ideas about how to welcome hikers with campgrounds, showers, and supplies, to conversations about funding opportunities and community partnerships, the energy was contagious. One question in Whalan captured the tone perfectly: “What can we start doing now to prepare to welcome hikers?” The answers that followed reflected a genuine sense of local pride and future-minded optimism.

We walked away from each forum feeling more committed than ever to building this trail with communities, not just through them. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to share ideas, voice concerns, and offer support. We’re looking forward to offering more opportunities to ask questions, provide feedback, and shape this trail together. The path forward is clearer—and more inspiring—thanks to you.

Interested in Having the Trail Cross Your Land? Here’s How It Works.

Becoming a landowner on the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail is a collaborative, thoughtful process rooted in mutual respect. It starts with a conversation–about your goal for the land and the vision of the trail. From there, we move step by step:

Intro Conversation – We learn about your property and your vision for your land, and discuss how that could fit into the plans for the trail.
Letter of Intent – A non-binding document that simply says you’d like to keep the conversation going.
Site Visit & Mapping – We walk the land with you, learn how it’s used, and begin shaping what a trail route could look like.
Access Agreements – These vary by property and your preferences–more details coming throughout July on social media and our website!
Trail Designation & Build – We finalize the route and prepare it for hikers.
Public Access Begins – You’re now part of a lasting public asset that benefits your community and the region!

If you’re curious about what this could look like for your land, we’d love to talk. Keep an eye on our social media and website this July as we highlight landowner stories and walk through each step in more detail.

Landowner Partnerships

Voices From the Land

📖Do you love a good short story?

Then you won’t want to miss our July Series – Voices from the Land. We’re highlighting some of the landowners who make the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail possible. These are the farmers, foresters, and families who’ve said yes to welcoming the trail across their land. In this special series, they share what they love about the Driftless, why they chose to partner with the trail, and what it means to care for the land–today and for future generations.

To catch the series, follow @hikemndriftless on Facebook, Instagram, or X. The series begins Friday July 11!

Social Media

Help Build the Trail

One Conversation at a Time

Building the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail is about more than clearing brush or placing signs–it starts with relationships. From meeting with local and state leaders to walking the land with property owners, this trail is being built through trust, dialogue, and shared vision.

If you’re someone who knows the land, the people, and the value of community connection, we need your help. We’re seeking volunteers to support our Landowner Partnerships–trusted voices who can talk with neighbors, share the vision of the trail, and help us connect with landowners interested in learning more.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or someone who’s deeply rooted in the region, your experience and relationships can help lay the foundation for a trail that reflects the heart of the Driftless.

Want to get involved? Send us a message–we’d love to hear from you.

P.S. We had a great time on Sunday helping our friends at the Lost Creek Hiking Trail with building a bridge to cross an area that has become washed out from the recent rain. A big thank you to our volunteers for helping with the project – we’re so grateful for your support! Next time you’re on the Lost Creek Hiking Trail, keep an eye out for the new bridge (pictured below)!

We are grateful to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center for serving as our fiscal sponsor for the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCRM) through the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF). Their support enables us to carry out our efforts to build a 100+ mile backpacking trail, fostering greater access to and appreciation for Minnesota’s natural landscapes.