State parks are perfect playgrounds // St. Cloud

State parks are perfect playgrounds

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 fi lled with lunch fi xings 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 evening, she’s not opposed to sleeping in her car, although she hasn’t had to resort to it. She made her fi rst trip 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.

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PHOTOS SUBMITTED

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Katie Anderson (from front), Tina Anderson, Betsy Lenzen and Kim Seitz hike the trail at Temperance River State Park.

Katie Anderson comes across a secret hideaway in the woods at Banning 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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“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.”

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. Katie Anderson (from left), Kim Seitz, Tina Anderson and Luke Seitz get ready for a tour at Mystery Cave.