Pawsitively Intrepid

If you enjoy river views on your hikes, then you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to hike along the St. Croix River. The St. Croix River is a tributary of the Mississippi River and a National Scenic Riverway. There are five Minnesota State Parks situated along the St. Croix River. And luckily for those of us with dogs, all five are dog-friendly. From north to south, as the river flows, the Minnesota State Parks on the St. Croix River are: St….

Read More Read More

Less than an hour from the Twin Cities, is a beautiful Minnesota State Park along the St. Croix River. William O’Brien State Park is one of our favorite state parks for year round enjoyment. This might have something to do with the fact that it is also the closest state park to our new home. But trust us, even if we didn’t live close, William O’Brien would still make it near the top of our list.  Are dogs allowed at…

Read More Read More

Winter in Minnesota can be long and brutal. But true Minnesotans know how to make the best of the cold. One way to make the most of the winter, is to search out experiences that are unique to the season. And hiking to frozen waterfalls is a great way to find the beauty amidst the ice and snow. There are many waterfalls in Minnesota. And most of them freeze during our winters. But not all of them are an easy…

Read More Read More

Banning State Park is located just minutes off of I-35 near Sandstone, MN. This state park is stretched along the Kettle River, offering dramatic views of turbulent rapids. In fact, there are five sets of rapids, ranging from Class III to V, located inside this state park. Some of the hiking trails parallel this river, offering fantastic views of the rapids before leading you through the historic ruins of Banning Sandstone Quarry. And to top everything off, there are two…

Read More Read More

When a dog-loving, avid hiker moves to a new city, the first thing she has to do is find the local hiking trails. Every city has a great hiking trail within an hours drive, but the ones you really have to search for are the trails within 20 minutes of your house. The ones that you can hike on a weekly, if not daily basis and not grow tired of them. So now that the Pawsitively Intrepid crew has been…

Read More Read More

This past weekend, the intrepid dog and I are struck out on our first attempt at an overnight backpacking trip. We were joined by two good friends (one human and one canine). Although there were both significant pros and cons encountered on this 24 hour adventure, overall I would say that the experience was a success. Preparation for Backpacking with a Dog A few days before departure, I spent the afternoon attempting to pack a tent, a sleeping pad, and…

Read More Read More

La Crosse is a beautiful river city nestled between the Mississippi River and some lovely bluffland in Wisconsin. As a result of the varied terrain, there are many wonderful outdoor areas to explore with a dog in tow. Below are my top five trail recommendations for hiking La Crosse, WI. 1. Hixon Forest Hixon Forest is one of the highlights of La Crosse. The trails in Hixon forest are mostly wooded and range from low grade meandering trails to steep…

Read More Read More