UpNorthica

This Saturday, over 20,000 people will be celebrating The Great American Backyard Campout to discover and share the joys of the outdoors – even here in our own backyards. Whether you’re a self-described ‘indoorsy-type’ or a seasoned Boundary Waters canoeist, we at UpNorthica want to do our part to get you outside. So let us put a bug in your ear offer some great ways to make your campout memorable (as in, a happily memorable sort of way.)

Idea #1: Take a local hike
Start your campout by finding a trail that’s new to you… and just exploring it. Don’t drive far; find something local if you can. Then, take in one of the true simple pleasures of hiking: Finding out what’s around the next bend. It may be a turtle crossing the gravel path; a close encounter with deer hiding in the tallgrass… You’ll be surprised at the benefits from even a beautifully-shaded stretch of much-needed peace and quiet. Whatever you find, it makes for a great warm-up for your campout experience. And don’t forget that camera!

Now, where to find that trail?

Turns out, these are fantastic days for hiking in Minnesota’s 72 state parks (find one here). In addition to their myriad trails, you should check out their sesquicentennial Geocaching History Challenge. Each park has a state history-themed cache, and if you don’t have your own GPS device for treasure hunting, some parks will even supply you with one.

But don’t be limited by state parks. Countless regional parks, nature reserves and trails are likely closer than you think. Sites like MNTrails.com can help you find one close to your backyard. Or pick hikes that others have created and rated on MapMyHike.com.

After your hike, you’ll return to your home, ready to get cooking on tomorrow’s Backyard Campout Idea: Trail Supper.