15

Just a random idea . . . not very well thought out . . . but when i think of Minnesota and environs, I think of canoeing, not hiking.

16

Boundary Waters.

17

I should note that if you go the boating route, make sure you have a guide, unless you have experience in wilderness boating.

18

If you are going to North or Western Minnesota in June, it still be pretty dang cold at night for camping, when an blast of cold air settles down from the north, and, the water in the lakes is sill very cold too. But its really really beautiful up there.

http://www.nps.gov/isro/index.htm

http://www.exploreminnesota.com/things-to-do/outdoors-nature/hiking/index.aspx

http://www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=10011

19

bzook's got it!!!

20

Solo,
that third link is a really really helpful one.

I hope TravellerLimbo has a chance to check it out.
Ya done good..

21

I went to the US last year and joined the Siera club before leaving Melbourne. I did a day walk (hike) in the Napa valley while I was staying in San Fransisco and it was really easy to organise and very enjpyable - met a great bunch of people, a ouple of whom I'm still in email contact with.

The real highlight for me though, was a 7 day camping trip I did into the Grand Canyon (Boucher and Hamner springs) with the Grand Canyon Field Institute http://www.grandcanyon.org/fieldinstitute/ I was one of 6 paying participants/volunteers and we assisted a botanist to collect specimens and a geologist to survey the springs.

Given that about 2MIL people a year vist the canyon and 98% spend <2hrs on the rim (on average) it was a really unique experience and totally the highlight of my month in the US. The walk is not for the faint hearted - very steep and not much of a trail at times, but totally worth it - the cost is kept down by each person carrying their own pack and providing their own equipment and food. Getting to the canyon wasn't difficult - I carpooled from Las Vegas with another participant after some emails prior to leaving. Again, IMet some really fabulous people from all over the country & Canada.

happy travels!

22

When (what months) are those mosquitos bad in Minnesota?

23

I don't know much about Minnesota in particular. In general misquitoes are a warm month thing, largely limited to summer and early fall n the North. They can't stand direct sun but can be a rally menace in the woods or at dawn and dusk anywhere.

Gnats are spring and summer,
Black flies, which exist primarily in Northern NY and New England are a spring phenomenon, their less painful relative, the horsefly is a summer phenomenon.

Basically nature involves bugs. Heck there's even a species of "winter tick." Deet works pretty well on mosquitoes, sassafras leaves repel gnats. Black flies are immune to everything so I resort to a face net when hiking up north in spring.

If you are "in" to the outdoors you learn to manage them.

24

*real menace

25

Oh chiggers are probably the worst, because by the time you've notice them it's too late.
Oh well, such is the price.

If nothing else, it gives you some great stories.