2024 Spring Walk-Hike Activities

Join IBM Alumni members, spouses, and guests for Walking/Hiking events this spring to get some exercise while enjoying nature and the outdoors. Nine walk/hikes will start the first week in May and continue through June and include trails in city and county parks. The trails are moderate with some inclines and will take about 1 ½ - 2 hours with the trail leader pointing out interesting geological features and history of the parks and wildlife and flora along the routes.

1. May 1- 9:00 am: Quarry Hill city park, 701 Silver Creek Road NE Rochester which is accessible from County Road 22 (East Circle Drive), meet at the parking lot by the Nature Center. The Park offers more than eight miles of trails. Paved, grassy and some incline provides a variety of options of trails through meadows, woodland, oak savanna, quarry ruins and overlook of Rochester. Park Info and trails map.

2. May 8 - 9:00 am: Essex city park, 5455 West River Road NW, Rochester. Meet at the parking lot by the picnic pavilion. Essex Park, located on the north edge of Rochester, has many trails that loop through prairie, woods and meadows providing a great opportunity to enjoy nature and the outdoors. Some trails are paved, others are grass or dirt trails. Park Directions

3. May 15 - 9:00 am: Indian Heights Park, 1800 terracewood Drive NW, Rochester. Meet at the parking area at the end of Terracewood Drive. Indian Heights Park is a little known gem situated between Assisi Heights to the west and the Zumbro River. Trails wind through woods, oak savanna, around an old quarry and offers a hilltop overlook of the city of Rochester. The name “Indian Heights” was coined by pioneers who recognized this as an Indian burial ground in the 1800’s. The trail leader will talk about the Indian and Pioneer history of the area. Park info and map.

4. May 22 - 9:00 am: Oxbow County Park, 5731 County Rd 105 NW, Byron. Meet at the 2^nd bridge picnic area parking area. Oxbow Park, consisting of 572 acres, offers a great variety of hiking trails that wind through a landscape of wooded hills and meadows. We will hike on the North Meadow Trail and part of the Zumbro Trail. Park Info.

5. May 29 - 9:00 am: Root River County Park, 4012 80th St SE Rochester, MN 55904. Meet at the parking lot. The 125 acres of Root River Park offers many secluded areas to hike. A 2 mile looped hiking trail winds through the meadows and wooded hills along Root River providing visitors with a variety of options of beauty and natural history. Great scenery with towering limestone bluffs along the Root River. A section of the trail is on a1800’s wagon trail used by early settlers. Park Info and map

6. June 5 - 9:00 am: Chester Woods County Park, 8378 Highway 14 East
Eyota, MN 55934. Meet at the parking lot by the boat ramp. There are about 12 miles of primitive trails through a variety of inviting natural habitats in the undeveloped areas of the park. The trail leader will select a route of about 2 to 5 miles depending on weather and desires of the hiking participants. Park Info

7. June 12 - 9:00 am: Assisi Heights walking trails. Several trails through meadows, some woodland with some steep slopes. This is private property of the Sisters of Saint Francis and for security purposes we need to sign-in at the main entrance building to receive security badge and trail maps. Information on where to meet will be sent a few days before the hike for those who sign up.

8. June 19 - 9:00 am: Oxbow County Park, 5731 County Rd 105 NW, Byron. Meet at the 2^nd bridge picnic area parking area. Oxbow Park, consisting of 572 acres, offers a great variety of hiking trails through a landscape of wooded hills and meadows. We will hike on the Maple trail and part of the Zumbro Trail. Park Info.

9. June 26 - 9:00 am: Quarry Hill Park, 701 Silver Creek Road NE, Rochester which is accessible from County Road 22 (East Circle Drive), meet at the parking lot by the Nature Center. The Park offers more than eight miles of trails. Paved, grassy and rugged terrain provides a variety of options of trails through meadows, woodland, oak savanna, quarry ruins and overlook of Rochester. Park Info and trails map.

NOTE: All hikes will meet-up at 9:00am. A reminder email for those who have signed up will be sent a few days prior to the walk-hike date with directions to the park meet-up area. To Sign Up  CLICK-HERE.

Dave Lind
your walk/hiking activity leader