January 2025: Trail Director Report

Written By MDHT

It’s been 90 days since we hired our first employee, and we’re proud of how much we’ve accomplished in just three months. While we’ve made significant progress, there is still a lot of work ahead to bring the Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail to life. The past three months have been a whirlwind of activity and connection as we work toward establishing accessible trail in state forests, parks, and local areas. Here's a snapshot of what we've accomplished and where we're heading:

Key Accomplishments

Trail Designation Progress

  • Met with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to kick off conversations about designating trails on public lands.

  • Initiated discussions with local city officials to understand the process for trail designation on city-owned properties.

Community Engagement

  • Hosted a community forum in Chatfield to gather input on the trail project. We heard valuable thoughts, ideas, and concerns that will help us build a trail aligned with the community’s vision.

  • Planned additional community forums in Caledonia and Whalen to ensure widespread input and engagement across the trail corridor.

MDHT’s Board of Directors, Trail Director, and University of Minnesota Extensions facilitator, Isabel Hout-Link, at the Chatfield Community Forum.

Exploration and Outreach

  • Spent time hiking and exploring in the trail corridor, including Beaver Creek State Park, the Norwegian Ridge Birding and Nature Trail, and Cabbage Rocks, among others.

  • Met with board members and project advocates, strengthening our relationships with key supporters.

Beaver Creek State Park outside of Caledonia, Minnesota.

Marketing and Communication

  • Began developing strategies to keep the community informed about trail progress and to promote the organization’s vision.

  • Started conversations about adding new merchandise to our store to support outreach and funding.

Organizational Development

  • Focused on building foundational policies and procedures for the organization.

  • Formed a development committee to plan an annual meeting scheduled for the spring.

What’s Next

Looking ahead, our priorities include:

  • Strengthening DNR Partnership: Solidifying our relationship with the DNR and exploring agreements for trail designation on public lands.

  • Community Forums: Hosting forums in Caledonia and Whalen to continue gathering insights and building relationships across Houston and Fillmore Counties.

  • Event Planning: Organizing guided hikes starting in late winter and early spring to meet our LCCMR grant’s event requirements

  • Marketing and Merchandise: Finalizing merchandise offerings and advancing marketing efforts to engage the community further.

  • City Collaboration: Continuing discussions with city administrations about trail designation on city-owned properties.

  • Strategizing: Creating a strategy for private landowner outreach and establishing a timeline for this work.

With your support, we’re laying the groundwork for an incredible trail system that will benefit our driftless rural communities. We encourage you to stay connected and follow along as we make progress. For the latest updates, follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter. Together, we can make this vision a reality!

MDHT