{"id":3266,"date":"2018-03-07T09:00:56","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T15:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/?p=3266"},"modified":"2024-02-08T06:55:42","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T12:55:42","slug":"the-minnesota-state-parks-passport-and-hiking-clubs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/the-minnesota-state-parks-passport-and-hiking-clubs\/","title":{"rendered":"75 reasons to join the MN State Parks Passport and MN Hiking Club 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you love to explore? Do you spend your weekends camping, hiking, fishing, and everything outdoors? Then you need a MN State Parks Passport or are you part of the MN Hiking Club? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programs work great together and give you a good reason to get out and explore. That is why I was so excited when I got gifted a MN State Park Passport this past holiday season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the lowdown on the programs and what you need to start an epic summer adventure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MN State Parks Passport Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The MN State Park Passport Program<\/a><\/em><\/strong> is great for those that love to explore but maybe need a reason to go see them all! As you travel to each park, stop by the main office and get your passport stamped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The passport costs $14.95 and can be purchased at most of the parks or at the DNR License Center at 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s included in the Mn State Parks Passport?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Besides the passport, you will also receive a travel log giving you the opportunity to document some of your favorite parts of the parks. It won’t take long before you realize you are already collecting your first reward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to earn MN State park Passport Rewards?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After stamping 25 parks, you will get a certificate for a free night of camping and a pin. Complete all parks and you\u2019ll get another night of camping in MN State Parks and a customized Passport Club plaque to commemorate your experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Passport<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\"State<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Minnesota State Park Hiking Club<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The MN State DNR also offers a MN Hiking Club<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. For $14.95 you can be a part of this too. By going on the designated hiking trails in MN State Parks, at most of the parks and recreation areas, you\u2019ll be earning miles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hiking trails will lead you to a lot of the park highlights including, waterfalls, overlooks, geological wonders, and historic sites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the designated hikes, you\u2019ll see a sign with the password to verify that you made it through your hike. You can enter in your miles in the Minnesota Hiking Club Book at that comes with your kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to earn MN State Park Hiking Club Rewards?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The rewards for the hiking club are based on the number of miles you\u2019ve completed. It\u2019s the amounts listed in the book, not the miles your fitness tracker counted.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll receive a patch for each milestone of 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, and all the miles. I have been sewing mine to my messenger bag<\/a> along with the other destination patches I have earned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 100 miles, you\u2019ll get a free night of camping and if you can complete them all, you\u2019ll get another night of camping plus an engraved plaque. I plan on picking up a passport at our first park this year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: Finding the Hiking Club Passwords is a great motivator to get younger kids to start hiking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"MN<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

MN Hiking Club and Passport Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Closed Offices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nothing is worse than getting to the MN State Park only to find the office is closed. Don\u2019t stress out, you can still get your passport stamped still. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most stamps hide in a box outside the park\u2019s main office window, near their map stash. If not, they will post a sign telling you where to go. I\u2019ve seen them around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it\u2019s not at the park, you can mail in your passport to Park Office in St Paul’s office and let them know the date you were there and that you could not get the stamp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will mail it back to you with a stamp included. Some have even left their passport in the pay box outside the gate with a return envelope and requested a stamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Passport<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hiking Club Maps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of GPS programs like All Trails and The Hiking Project that help you plot out your adventure. But the one thing they are missing is the MN State Park Trails. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll need Avenza Maps<\/a> if you plan on hiking. It works by taking the same MN State Parks maps you used to and placing your GPS position on top of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This app is free. make sure to download your maps before you leave as some locations have spotty internet signals. Once on the trail, it uses your phones GPS, so no internet is needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This gives you a good piece of mind that you are on the Hiking Club Trail and not some offshoot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a game-changer for anyone directionally challenged or those that want a little reassurance when you come to an intersection with more branches than shown on the map. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: Track your progress with a Push Pin Map of Minnesota!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Avenza<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

How much does it cost to get into MN State Parks?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A daily MN State Park pass is only $7. If you are serious about it visiting the parks, I highly recommend getting a MN State Park parking permit<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It gives you unlimited access to the parks for the year. They cost $35. The permit expires on the Month you purchased the permit for the following year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you purchase a permit on June 1st this year, you have until June 30th of the following year to explore. It\u2019s a great deal if you plan to go to a park more than once a year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out more Minnesota State Park Pass Hacks, Tips, and Free Days<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Many MN State Parks Are There?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is the list of the MN State Parks where you can rack up your own stamps. There are 75 State Parks and Recreation Areas in total. Each time I visit a park, I give out trail descriptions and tips. Keep checking back to get a review of each of the parks as I cross them off my list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Afton State Park<\/a>
2. Banning State Park<\/a>
3. Bear Head Lake State Park<\/a>
4. Beaver Creek Valley State Park<\/a>
5. Big Bog State Recreation Area<\/a>
6. Big Stone Lake State Park
7. Blue Mounds State Park<\/a>
8. Buffalo River State Park<\/a>
9. Camden State Park<\/a>
10. Carley State Park<\/a>
11. Cascade River State Park<\/a>
12. Charles A. Lindbergh State Park<\/a>
13. Crow Wing State Park<\/a>
14. Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area
15. Father Hennepin State Park<\/a>
16. Flandrau State Park<\/a>
17. Forestville\/Mystery Cave State Park<\/a>
18. Fort Ridgely State Park<\/a>
19. Fort Snelling State Park<\/a>
20. Franz Jevne State Park<\/a>
21. Frontenac State Park<\/a>
22. Garden Island State Recreation Area
23. George H. Crosby Manitou State Park<\/a>
24. Glacial Lakes State Park<\/a>
25. Glendalough State Park
26. Gooseberry Falls State Park<\/a>
27. Grand Portage State Park<\/a>
28. Great River Bluffs State Park<\/a>
29. Greenleaf Lake State Recreation Area<\/a>
30. Hayes Lake State Park<\/a>
31. Hill Annex Mine State Park<\/a>
32. Interstate State Park<\/a>
33. Iron Range Off-highway Vehicle State Recreation Area
34. Itasca State Park<\/a>
35. Jay Cooke State Park<\/a>
36. John A. Latsch State Par<\/a>k
37. Judge C.R. Magney State Park<\/a>
38. Kilen Woods State Park<\/a>
39. La Salle Lake State Recreation Area<\/a>
40. Lac qui Parle State Park
41. Lake Bemidji State Park<\/a>
42. Lake Bronson State Park<\/a>
43. Lake Carlos State Park<\/a>
44. Lake Louise State Park<\/a>
45. Lake Maria State Park<\/a>
46. Lake Shetek State Park<\/a>
47. Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park<\/a>
48. Maplewood State Park
49. McCarthy Beach State Park<\/a>
50. Mille Lacs Kathio State Park<\/a>
51. Minneopa State Park<\/a>
52. Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area<\/a>
53. Monson Lake State Park<\/a>
54. Moose Lake State Park<\/a>
55. Myre \u2013 Big Island State Park<\/a>
56. Nerstrand Big Woods State Park<\/a>
57. Old Mill State Park<\/a>
58. Red River State Recreation Area<\/a>
59. Rice Lake State Park<\/a>
60. St. Croix Island State Recreation Area
61. St. Croix State Park State Park<\/a>
62. Sakatah Lake State Park<\/a>
63. Savanna Portage State Park
64. Scenic State Park<\/a>
65. Schoolcraft State Park<\/a>
66. Sibley State Park<\/a>
67. Split Rock Creek State Park<\/a>
68. Split Rock Lighthouse State Park<\/a>
69. Temperance River State Park<\/a>
70. Tettegouche State Park<\/a>
71. Upper Sioux Agency State Park<\/a>
72. Whitewater State Park<\/a>
73. Wild River State Park<\/a>
74. William O\u2019Brien State Park<\/a>
75. Zippel Bay State Park<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"75<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are my favorite State Parks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

MN has some amazing State Parks. Of my adventures, there are a few that are especially memorable. I spoke about them on Fox9 Morning Show<\/a> recently. Check them out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n