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A Central Minnesota Outdoor Adventure Guide Supplement to Benton County News, Star Post, Sauk Centre Herald and Sauk Rapids Herald
ST R February 2022
Publications
Check out what’s inside! 3 5 8 10 12
State parks are perfect playgrounds // St. Cloud d Minnesota recreation map Yurts, year-round … for you? Helping people catch fish // Sauk Centre Hitting the tails // Rice
13 15 16 19
Know the rules Sauk River State Water Trail Disc golf a rising star in outdoor recreation // St. Cloud A bike ride for everyone
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2 // Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022
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Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 3
Anderson is adventurist at heart BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
ST. CLOUD – Katie Anderson made it her goal for 2021 to visit as many of Minnesota’s state parks as she could. Venturing out in the early morning and getting back late at night, the St. Cloud adventurist planned a number of day trips, hitting multiple parks before the sun went down. Other times, she planned three- or fourday excursions. Though Anderson had destinations in mind, she took every opportunity to stop along the way, or make a side trip if she saw something interesting. “Being locked up the year before, just to get out and explore Minnesota
and enjoy what we’ve got right here (was important),” she said. Anderson grew up taking camping trips with her mom, aunts, sisters and cousins. Her father and uncles always stayed home. Now, she extends her invitations to her whole family, whoever can come, sisters, cousins, nephews, in-laws. “It’s just about having fun with the family,” she said. Anderson Dons her black tennis shoes and grabs a backpack filled with lunch fixings and water when she knows she’s heading out for a whole day. She takes things as they come. If they adventure too late into the
Katie Anderson comes across a secret hideaway in the woods at Banning State Park.
evening, she’s not opposed too sleeping in her car, althoughh she hasn’t had to resort to it. She made her first tripp out last May, heading to Banning State Park for a 13-mile hike. She also day-tripped to Charles A. Lindbergh State Park and Crow Wing State Park in early spring. She planned a big day trip for July, leaving the house around 5 a.m. and returning home around midnight. She and her crew followed the waterfalls and stopped at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park where they did the cave tour, Caron Park, Sakatah Lake State Park and Minneopa State Park. PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Anderson page 4
Katie Anderson (from front), Tina Anderson, Betsy Lenzen and Kim Seitz hike the trail at Temperance River State Park.
Dappled in shade, this staircase is part of a trail system in Banning State Park.
This waterfall at Minneopa State Park was on Katie Anderson’s visit last summer as she toured various parks throughout the state.
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4 // Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022
Anderson from page 3 “I try to see most of the whole park,” she said. With the summer drought, she said the waterfalls were all in different stages. “Everyone is different and it’s just amazing how they’re all made,” she said. “They’re just so pretty and it’s relaxing to sit there and listen to them.” A second trip in July brought her to the Canadian border and back, hitting Judge C.R. Magney State Park for the Devil’s Kettle Waterfall, Grand Portage State Park, Temperance River State Park, Black Beach Park, Gooseberry Falls State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. She went with a group for three or four days and lucked out on their overnight stay, nabbing a stay in a train car available for rent and spending one night in Lutsen. She estimates she made it to 13 of the parks last year and said she’s hoping to venture to more this summer. “It’s always an adventure,” she said. “I just try to enjoy all the weekends I can get.”
Katie Anderson (from left), Kim Seitz, Tina Anderson and Luke Seitz get ready for a tour at Mystery Cave.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
(Left) Katie Anderson toured a number of waterfalls on her outdoor adventures last summer, including this one at Minneopa State Park. (Right) Katie Anderson, Kim Seitz, Tina Anderson and Betsy Lenzen take a break from hiking to pose in Temperance River State Park. Katie Anderson invites friends and family to come along on her outdoor adventures.
Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 5
COURTESY OF MINNESOTA TRAILS MAGAZINE Garden Island Rec. Area Lake of
Minnesota’s bike trails, long distance hiking trails, water trails, state parks, state recreation areas and biomes
the Woods
Zippel Bay Lake Bronson
Red River of the North
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75
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71 Long Prairie 10
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DECIDUOUS FOREST
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CONIFEROUS FOREST TALLGRASS ASPEN PARKLAND
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STATE RECREATION AREAS BIKE TRAILS
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ROADS STATE WATER TRAILS CITIES LONG DISTANCE HIKING TRAILS Not for Navigation Jan. 2021
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35 Falls Cannon
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53 Vermillion
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71
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Yurts, year-round … for you? BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
Visitors have been flocking to yurts yearround at Minnesota’s state parks. Yurts, round tents traditionally covered in skins or felts and used by nomadic groups, have become a unique, popular destination for Minnesotans looking for a rustic getaway. “It offers a really comfortable, cozy place to stay as you participate
in your recreation activities,” said Jamie McBride, policy and operations specialist with the state park and recreation areas within the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The state parks system offers two yurts at Afton State Park, three at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and two at Glendalough State Park. Yurts are popping
up at various recreational areas and rental property sites throughout the state. Some, like the state parks, are set up for basic camping while others are set up for “glamping,” or fancy camping, while still others, like the one at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center near Spicer, are great for providing a staging area or home base for outdoor recreational activities. At the state parks, the yurts range in size from 16-20 feet in diameter
and accommodate three to seven people, respectively. The yurts in the state parks are appropriate for year-round camping. They are finished with wood floors and wood stoves and offer basic furnishings including bunks and a futon/bunk bed. They are also equipped with a table, two chairs, two benches, a glider chair and a side table. These yurts have windows that open and a skylight in the domed roof. While at least one yurt in each park is ADA accessible, there are a number of ways for campers to reach them, including hiking, canoeing, snowshoeing and biking. These yurts don’t have electricity or indoor plumbing but are often located near primitive toilets. Cooking is done outside at a fire ring and they typically have a food storage locker to protect food from critters.
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Cuyuna Country State Park offers three yurts for rent year-round. These yurts provide a cozy place to call home for the night while exploring the park during the day.
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Yurts page 9
(Above) A family enjoys a picnic near the yurt they’re staying in at Glendalough State Park. The yurts have space for sleeping and relaxing but all food prep and cooking is done outside. (Below) A small portico covers the entrance to this yurt at Glendalough State Park.
Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 9
GET SPRING
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Yurts from page 8 The yurts typically book up as soon as the state’s 120-day reservation window opens, especially on weekends. “They’re serving a similar audience as the camper cabins, but we have far more camper cabins than yurts,” McBride said. “It is a bit of a novelty and once people book, we get them as repeat visitors.” Most of the yurts are placed in areas where there are lots of recreational opportunities. In Glendalough State Park, the yurts sit just off the
There’s plenty of space for sleeping and relaxing in this yurt.
shoreline of the lake and a paved bike trail. People can bike out to the site and canoe during the day. In Cuyuna, the yurts provide access for mountain biking adventures. “It’s a bigger space that offers a cabin-like feel but still maintains something more rustic than a camper cabin,” McBride said. “It’s roughing it a little bit.” At the environmental center, Kory Klebe, the program coordinator, said their yurt is available for
overnight rental but in the winter, it only warms to about 10 degrees higher than the outdoor temperature, unlike the ones for rent in the Minnesota parks system. Klebe said their yurt is next to Kettle Lake and visitors use it as a home base for cross-country skiing, kick-sledding and snowshoeing at the center in the winter and fat tire bikes, kayaking and canoeing in the summer.
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Helping people catch fish Zenzen finds joy as guide in Central Minnesota BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
SAUK CENTRE – Shaun Zenzen spends more than 600 hours on the water each summer. Split between tournament fishing and serving as a fishing guide for Central Minnesota visitors, Zenzen said it has almost become a full-time job. “There’s no reason to drive two hours or three hours away from the cities,” he said. “In Central Minnesota there’s great fishing … people can take fish home, eaters to trophy-class fish, you don’t have to go far.”
Zenzen began dabbling in tournament fishing in 2008 and after getting a new boat in 2010, he started getting more calls from people asking him if he’d take them out on the water. By May 2017, he said he was going out almost every Saturday and Sunday in the summer taking people on guided trips. He has a 17 and 1/2-foot blue and white Yar-Craft loaded with sponsors on the outside. The boat is completely decked out
Shaun Zenzen, tournament fisherman and fishing guide, catches a 29-inch walleye using a live bait rig on Cass Lake.
Bryce Rooney catches a 27-inch walleye on Lake Osakis with his dad Darron Rooney and Darren’s friend Shaun Zenzen, a fishing guide. Bryce caught this fish after a half hour on the water on a 90-degree day.
with multiple fish locators and all the latest tech. When Zenzen takes clients out on the water he supplies all the equipment; all they have to bring is a phone or camera for photos and a cooler to bring home the fish. The people he takes on guided trips use all his tournament-grade equipment. “I don’t want them to not be successful because they don’t have good equipment,” he said. “I want them to have the best experience they can.” He typically brings people out on one of a handful of local lakes including Sauk Lake, the Alexandria Chain of Lakes, Lake Reno or Lake Minnewaska. Though many PHOTOS SUBMITTED The Larson family fishermen get up poses with a large before the sun stringer of fish to hit the water, after a day on the he said tournawater with guide ment fishing has Shaun Zenzen. taught him how to be successful hunting for fish throughout the what I’m doing,” he said. day so he takes on “I don’t’ want them there clients whenever just to take home fish, I they want to go. want to teach them how He focuses most- to catch fish.” ly on catching walleye, Oftentimes, he said, but said some clients are people get sucked into after Northern. For him, the next big and flashy taking people fishing is thing and he said he’s about teaching them the done it too, but more ofskills. ten than not, keeping it “I try to teach them simple provides the best how and why I’m doing results. He now makes 35 to 40 trips onto the water each summer with clients and half of them are repeat customers who go out with him every year. Most of his clients bring a child along, a spouse,
Shaun Zenzen (center) guides a group out on the water for Fishing with Vets.
a parent, a friend, or co-worker. He admittedly has a soft spot for the military veterans he brings out on the water.
“When they walk away, more often than not, they are so happy and enthused they had such a good day,” he said. During the winter, Zenzen studies the maps and graphs of all his fish locations from the year. He updates his software and spends time looking at weed patterns, water features and things he might have overlooked. “Any little key feature that might hold fish,” he said. When he’s tournament fishing, he pre-fishes 10 spots and narrows it to five locations before the tournament starts. Though that, he said, is competitive and requires a game-face; when he takes clients out to fish, he’s relaxed and comfortable. “I get joy out of seeing people catch nice fish,” he said. “People Andrew Illies catches a 24-inch walleye on forget to go back to the the Alexandria Chain of Lakes with guide Kim Wiechman catches a 24-inch walleye on Lake Reno basics, it’s a time-proven Shaun Zenzen. with fishing guide Shaun Zenzen. tactic.”
Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 11
12 // Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022
Hitting the trails!
Longtime rider, Martin stresses safety first BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
RICE – Five or six machines, 15 to 20 people, an open weekend and the open trail. That’s what Ryan Martin looks forward to. The Rice resident has been four-wheeling and riding dirt bikes for years. He goes out once or twice a month for bigger, weekend-long rides and once a week for smaller rides. On a long weekend, he’ll travel 40 to 50 miles in a day over the course of four or five hours. “It’s the comradery of the people we’re riding with,” he said. “We meet people on the trail, it’s the overall atmosphere and what it means to be out there.” His group usually combines a ride with a camping trip, choosing sites where multiple RVs and campers can pull in
for the night and they can all hang out around the bonfire. For him, it’s a getaway and something he’s been enjoying for years. His group frequents Spider Lake in Cass County but has also gone to Gilbert, an off-highway vehicle recreation area on the Iron Range, for a four- or five-day trip, and he’s hoping to make it to Nemadji State Forest this summer. They mostly visit state forests or trails that are mapped out. Different trails, he said, allow for different types of vehicles and it’s important to follow the local postings. Some trails allow off-highway motorcycles/dirt bikes and others allow four-wheelers, while some offer both. He and his friends keep up to date on
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Trinity Trutwin (front left) jokingly covers her face for a photo while stopping for a break from riding at Spider Lake in 2019. Behind her in white is Corey Oldakowski, front center is Ryan Martin and next to him, Ryan Rolfzen and his son, Zach Rolfzen, are on the far right.
trail-riding information by following the Facebook pages of groups that maintain the trails, including Lake Country ATV Riders and Minnesota ATV Riders. Some
trails are maintained by the local clubs but permitted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Martin has been riding trails across Minne-
sota for 10 to 15 years and said since the onset of COVID-19, and a move by people to get outdoors, there’s been an increase of traffic on the trails too. The demand has also
made it more difficult to buy new equipment but, even on the busiest holiday weekends, the trails
Trails page 13
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Trails
Know the rules!
from page 12 aren’t over-crowded. “It’s a really great thing for people to get off the couch,” he said. He encourages others to be prepared as they head into the woods. While some of the trails are very nearr populated areas, otherss can be remote and rid-ers need to be prepared d to handle emergency y situations. He goes in n a group with a couple first aid and CPR responders and said to date, nobody in their group has had a big medical situation but they’ve come across some on the trails. He encourages everyone in his group to wear a helmet. He usually rides first in the group, don-ning motocross trail-rid-ing boots and appropri-ate clothing to protect ct him from branches and d rocks. He rides his bikee out front and uses hand signals to let others on the trail know there’s a large group behind him. For newbies, he recommends the DNR’s ATV training course. He also encourages people to ride with a friend and let someone know where they’re going and when they’ll be back. “We’ve come across nasty things on some rides; it happens, people doing things recklessly,” he said. He and his friends work to keep their group safe and they always choose appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring supplies like water, which become especially important if a machine breaks down in the woods. Additionally, he said, even for the trails he rides multiple times a year, riders need to be prepared for things to have changed on the
BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Friends and neighbors of Ryan Martin go riding together on the Spider Lake trails in 2019. Far right front is Troy Polhamus, and to his right is Arsenio Clinton.
Ryan Martin’s bike sits at an overlook of a ravine while out riding in Gilbert, Minnesota.
trail with the seasons and with weather. “I may ride a trail four times a year and each time I go up there, it’s a little different,” he said. He’s also run across lots of wildlife on his adventures, like deer as well as bears, including mama bears with cubs. He encourages new riders to rent a machine and try it out, or go with an experienced friend to see what kind of machine makes for the best fit. Today’s machines, he said, are huge and need to be respected. Novice riders should opt for equipment that gets them up a hill but keeps their speed under control. “You have to respect the machine’s power and make sure you’re riding appropriately
More people than ever are out using ATVs on trails across the state. Following the safety guidelines and knowing exactly where recreational vehicles are allowed is key to keeping the trails fun for everyone, said Bruce Lawrence, recreational vehicle coordinator/division of enforcement with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “Our trails are designed to go slow, they meander,” he said. With new trail riders out there, he encourages everyone to keep a watchful eye. “You have to have your head on a swivel at all times and be careful on corners – speed is always a factor,” he said. Here are some of his top tips for good riding: • Know where your vehicle is allowed. Not all vehicles are allowed on all road surfaces or trails. Check with your local road authority, city or township to see where recreational vehicles are permitted. • Check out the DNR website for a list of trails: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ ohv/az.html • Everyone under the age of 18 riding must wear a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Bike helmets and hockey helmets don’t qualify. • The DNR offers more safety information here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ ohv/safetyfirst.html Different classes and certifications are required to ride depending upon age:
Kids age 6 to 9:
* Can complete a free study guide at https://www.atvcourse.com/usa/minnesota/youth/
Troy Polhamus (from left), his son, Jacob, and his wife, Heidi, go riding in the Emily-Outing Trail area in Cass County.
with the trail conditions too,” he said. Respecting landowners is a big part of that. He said trails are often made with special permission from landowners, and riders who take advantage of that and ride through farm fields or other unmarked
territory can ruin the fun for everyone. Martin and his friends enjoy riding so much they’re talking about starting a local club to get some maintained trails around the St. Cloud/Sauk Rapids area that can connect with trails near Camp Ripley.
Kids age 10 to 15:
• Can complete the ATV Safety online course at https://www.atvcourse.com/ usa/minnesota/. The course is $24.95. • Then, kids can attend a Hands-on Safety class. Students ages 10-15 must register for a Hands-On ATV Safety Training class, which can be found here: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ safety/vehicle/atv/index.html#calendar. The class includes basic ATV operation, protecting the environment, common ATV parts and controls, Minnesota rules and laws, responsible ATV riding skills for trail riding, and practicing/demonstrating skills on an ATV course. *Student must be fitted to the ATV they will be operating. Students can print their ATV Safety Certificate from the DNR website after passing the class. The certificate becomes valid at age 12.
Ages 16 and older:
Friends of Ryan Martin line up their machines for a break from riding in the Emily-Outing Trail area. Pictured are Willy Kikpa, head trail master (from left), with Heidi Polhamus, her son, Jacob and husband, Troy, as well as Ryan Martin, Ryan Rolfson, Corey Oldakowski and Martin’s brother, Terre Martin.
• Anyone born after July 1, 1987 can complete the ATV safety online course at https://www.atvcourse.com/ usa/minnesota/ to meet certification requirements. • Alternate ATV safety training is available through the ATV Rider Course offered by the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute. This training is adequate to meet the safety certificate requirements. The fee for the course is $55. The course is available at: https://atvsafety.org/
Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 15
Sauk River State Water Trail
is designated canoe, boat waterway
PHOTO BY RACHEL BORGERDING The Sauk River runs 126 miles across Minnesota, beginning at its outlet from Lake Osakis. Along its route, there are various parks, accesses and camp- The dam at Melrose is one of three portage points along the Sauk River; portage left. sites. The Sauk enters the Mississippi River on the north end of St. Cloud, just above the Sauk Rapids of the Mississippi. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website, near Richmond, the river forms a “Chain of Lakes” where more than 80 miles of continuous shoreline are encountered over a river length of less than 8 miles. The river continues, flowing past granite outcrops and small hills. Near St. Cloud, the river becomes a series of rapids until it joins with the Mississippi River. There are many points of interest along the river, including an elevated tamarack bog on the north bank near Rockville. Along the river: Note: R and L represent left and right of the river bank when facing downstream. • Sauk Lake (mile 102.9 L) Diamond Point – trailer access • Sauk Centre (mile 95.8 R) Sinclair Lewis Park – trailer access, campground, fishing pier • Sauk Centre Dam (mile 95.6): Portage left • Melrose (mile 79 R) – Trailer Access • Melrose (mile 78.5) Melrose Dam: Portage left • Melrose (mile 78.4 L) Sauk River Park – carry-in access, camping, picnic area • Spring Hill (mile 56.4 L) Spring Hill Countyy Park – watercraft campsite PHOTO BY RACHEL BORGERDING BO ty • Spring Hill (mile 56.1 R) Spring Hill County (Above) The Sauk River R is a aPark – carry-in access, picnic area, drinking wadesignated state can canoe and ter boat waterway, and rruns 126 • St. Martin (mile 47.1 R) – carry-in access miles from its beginning at Lake ark • Richmond (mile 31.5 L) City of Richmond Park Osakis to its confluence at th the Missis– carry-in access, picnic area sippi River at Sauk Rapids. ler • Cold Spring (mile 22.3 L) Lions Park – trailer PHOTO BY DIANE DIAN LEUKAM access, fishing pier, picnic area (Left) The dam in Sauk Centre is a portage • Cold Spring (mile 22) Cold Spring Dam: Portage age point where canoers can portage left and right/Burlington Northern Railroad bridge Club re-access the river at the Conservation Conservat ry-in • Cold Spring (mile 21.8 L) Frogtown Park – carry-in below the dam on the east side of U.S. U Highaccess way 71/Main Street. rk • Rockville (mile 16.5 L) Rockville County Park – watercraft campsite • Rockville (mile 16.2 L) Rockville’s Eagle Park k – carry-in access • Miller Landing (mile 7.6 R) – carry-in access • St. Cloud (mile 6.2 L) Pineview Park – carry-in in access • St. Cloud (mile 4.5 R) Knights of Columbus Park – carry-in access, picnic area, drinking water ccess, • Sauk Rapids (mile 0.0) Heim’s Mill carry-in access, confluence with Mississippi River
For more details on roads and bridges alongg the n.us/ Sauk River, please visit https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/ maps/canoe_routes/sauk.pdf Information courtesy of Minnesota DNR
16 // Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022
Disc golf a rising star in outdoor sports BY SARAH COLBURN | STAFF WRITER
ST. CLOUD – As Minnesotans flocked outdoors for recreation in 2020, the number of disc golfers across the country doubled and then in 2021, the sport grew again, by an additional 75 percent. The impact could be seen on local courses and in local shops, with equipment hard to come by. The Professional Disc Golf Association tracked the increase and this season, store owners and local course organizers said they’re ready to greet experienced golfers and newbies alike. “It’s pretty much a family sport,” said Ken Wiggins, owner of Disc Golf Today in St. Cloud. “It’s open to everybody.” He’s been playing for more than 45 years and said while it used to be college-aged kids on the course, he’s seeing everyone from kids to those in their 60s playing. Starting up, he said, is relatively inexpensive, with discs rang-
ing from under $10 for starters to around $20 for higher quality. The sport, according to the PDGA, has seen a 10-15% growth annually for the last two decades so the onslaught of players, which coincided with COVID-19 restrictions, was sharp. More than 24 disc golf courses are located throughout Central Minnesota. The majority of courses, Wiggins said, are free to play and located in local parks. Players can head onto the field individually or in groups and the sport of the game naturally allows for social distancing. The etiquette is simple: Let others finish a hole before throwing, allow other park users to pass through before throwing, and take care of the course. PHOTOS SUBMITTED While disc golf is Holly Finley putts on hole 1 of the Timberwolf course at Airborn Disc Golf Preserve in Clearwater. an individual sport and every athlete is playing against themselves, lots of players go in groups and get competitive majority of players, he Paid apps allow players friends in real time. found in local parks, about it, tracking their said, use Udisc to keep to measure their throws While many disc Cale Leiviska founded progress on an app. The score and find courses. and show their scores to golf courses can be and designed a championship-style course in Clearwater that attracts players from all over the world. The Airborn Disc Golf Preserve in Clearwater offers various courses appropriate for players of different experience levels. The site includes a championship-level, Par 61 course. While many courses are built on a square city park block, this course is built on what used to be a traditional golf course.
Disc golf page 17 A group of friends gathers in the rain to play hole 10 at the disc golf course at Riverside Park in St. Cloud
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Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022 // 17
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18 // Star Publications // Outdoor Adventures - February 8, 2022
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