Minnesota

Take the scenic route when traveling through west central Minnesota this summer

Published

1 year ago

May 28, 2023

Take the scenic route when traveling through west central Minnesota this summer

The Glacial Ridge Trail, first designated a state trail in May 1969, may not be the fastest way to travel to Glenwood from Willmar — but it is a much more scenic alternative.

Signs direct you along the Minnesota Scenic Byway through the rolling slopes to Spicer, around Green Lake into the Lost Valley area and to scenic New London and Sibley State Park.

From the park, it takes you north to the Timber Lake Trail on through the hills, swamps and lakes of Norway Lake Township. North from Sunburg, you drive past the Ordway Prairie and can stop at the Lake Johanna Lookout to survey the rolling kames and native prairie countryside. There’s also the Terrace Mill and Glacial Lakes State Park along the way, as well as scenic views of Lake Minnewaska.

Scenes from the annual fall festival and fiddlers competition at Terrace Mill, Sept. 24, 2017.

West Central Tribune file photo

The Glacial Ridge Trail consists of more than 200 miles of designated highways that wind through towns, past historic sites and near at least one famous author’s home — Sinclair Lewis.

But what’s most apparent to people who travel this scenic route is its distinctive landscape.

Thousands of feet of glacial ice covered west central Minnesota 10,000 years ago. When the last Ice Age ended, the glacier receded, leaving behind lakes, waterways, sand beds and gravel ridges. Some of the best of those features can be seen on the roads of the trail, which are marked with signs bearing an arrowhead symbol.

Available maps make the roads easier to follow, and show the locations of several points of interest, such as prime bird-watching areas, which have been added.

A hooded merganzer takes flight from the waters of the Middle Fork of the Crow River in April, 2022 in this Tribune file photo. — A hooded merganzer takes flight from the waters of the Middle Fork of the Crow River in April 2022.

Willmar, the southernmost point of the trail, marks the dividing line where the glacier ended. To the south is flat farmland; to the north, a mixture of prairie, lakes and rolling hills left behind when the glacier receded.

The so-called “Bonanza Valley” around Belgrade and Brooten is a broad sand plain that was deposited as glacial meltwater flowed north and east. The Crow and Chippewa rivers developed to carry the water away.

From Fort Lake Johanna, a former military outpost, there’s a view of a series of conical hills, known as kames, formed by glacial potholes filled with rock and gravel.

After passing through Glenwood and Starbuck and making a detour east to Sauk Centre, the trail ends at its northernmost point — Alexandria.

There are plenty of signs, so it’s tough to get lost. Still, it’s good to have a brochure with you, because the trail makes several loops.

Maps are available from the Kandiyohi County Tourist Information Center on East Highway 12 in Willmar and at the Glenwood Chamber of Commerce, 200 N. Franklin St.

Sibley State Park name change 003.jpg — A bee pollinates wild flowers in Sibley State Park on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022.

Here are some highlights to look for on the Glacial Ridge Trail:

Lost Valley, which is particularly scenic in the fall, at the trail’s easternmost end, winds up and down hills through a hardwood forest.
Ordway Prairie between Sunburg and Glenwood.
Terrace Mill is a restored grain mill in the town of Terrace, set in the valley of the Chippewa River. The mill hosts several festivals during the summer and fall.
A collection of old threshing machines is on the “boot hills” above “Threshing Rig Alley,” a two-mile section of road north of Sunburg.
Sauk Centre is the site of the Sinclair Lewis Home and Museum. Lewis’ novels include “Main Street” and “Babbitt.”
Attractions in Glenwood include the Bickle House, Morning Glory Gardens and Mount Lookout.
Four state parks lie along the trail: Sibley State Park, west of New London; Monson Lake State Park, south of Sunburg; Glacial Lake State Park, south of Starbuck; and Carlos State Park, north of Alexandria.

Good spots for bird watching are the area between New London and Sibley State Park; Eagle Lake, north of Willmar; Timber Lake Road, east of Sunburg; and the Ordway Prairie and Fort Lake Johanna area.

By
West Central Tribune staff report

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “West Central Tribune staff report.” Often, the “West Central Tribune staff report” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

The West Central Tribune newsroom can be reached via email:
news@wctrib.com or phone 320-235-1150.

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Related Topics:Featured Summer Fun things to do WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA

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Minnesota

Minneapolis man charged in shooting near Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Labor Day

Published

2 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

Minneapolis man charged in shooting near Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Labor Day

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. — A 19-year-old Minneapolis man has been charged in the shooting of three teens near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Labor Day.

The man is charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of drive-by shooting toward a person, according to the criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County on Oct. 23.

At 10:20 p.m. on Sept. 2, officers were called to Dugsi Academy at 1085 Snelling Avenue North in St. Paul on reports of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers found a teen boy suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. He told police he had been walking to a friend’s car in the parking lot when he heard gunshots. He said he ran toward the train tracks to escape the gunfire and thought he had blown out his knee, but he quickly learned a bullet had struck him.

The boy told police he did not see who was shooting and had been at the nearby Minnesota State Fair shortly before.

Officers later learned two more teens had been shot and were transported to different area hospitals. The criminal complaint says both victims told police they did not have any issues with anyone and were unsure who would have shot them.

A total of 53 spent casings were found beneath the Snelling Avenue bridge to the east of Dugsi Academy, charges say. An analysis found the casings came from three different guns.

Surveillance video allegedly shows several people exiting a blue sedan before firing their guns from the street and gravel area by nearby train tracks. The suspects then get back into the sedan before leaving the area.

A few hours later, deputies were called to a gas station in Little Canada for a drive-by shooting. Charges say surveillance video showed a blue sedan go out of view shortly before shots rang out. Five more casings from two different guns were recovered from the gas station. Further analysis revealed the casings matched that of those recovered from the shooting near the fairgrounds.

Investigators learned the blue sedan had been involved in a weapons incident on Aug. 27 where three men pulled a gun on security in Minneapolis. The sedan is owned by the man facing charges in the shooting.

Using license plate readers and phone location data, police were able to place the suspect in the area of both shootings around the time they occurred.

WCCO Staff

The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

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Minnesota

After a perfect October, Minnesota visits No. 24 Illinois looking for fourth straight win

Published

10 hours ago

October 31, 2024

Press Room

After a perfect October, Minnesota visits No. 24 Illinois looking for fourth straight win

Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) at No. 24 Illinois (6-2, 3-2), Saturday, noon ET (FS1)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Minnesota by 3.

Series record: Minnesota leads 40-33-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

After losing 38-9 last week to No. 1 Oregon, the Illini risk dropping out of the AP Top 25 with a home loss to Minnesota. The Gophers had a perfect October, beating then-No. 11 Southern California, UCLA and Maryland, and will become bowl eligible with a win over Illinois. Minnesota hasn’t beaten two Top 25 teams during the regular season since 2000.

KEY MATCHUP

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer vs. the Minnesota secondary. Altmyer is seventh in the Big Ten in passing yardage (1,667), seventh in passing efficiency (143.9), fourth in TD passes (15) and tied for first for fewest interceptions (3). He’ll be tested by the Gophers, who have allowed just five passing TDs this season. CBs Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson shut down Maryland’s dangerous passing attack last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Illinois: DB Xavier Scott. Named this week one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award that honors the nation’s best defensive back, Scott is tied for third in the Big Ten with three interceptions and has 29 tackles, two tackles for losses, a sack, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Minnesota: WR Elijah Spencer. In his second season with the Gophers after transferring from Charlotte, Spencer finally had a breakout game against Maryland last week with six catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He gives the Gophers another downfield threat in addition to Daniel Jackson, who had nine catches for 117 yards and TDs vs. Maryland after a career-high 10 catches two weeks earlier against UCLA.

FACTS & FIGURES

Illinois has been ranked for seven consecutive weeks, the most since the 2001 Big Ten championship team was ranked for 10 straight weeks … The Illini are the only Big Ten team with three wins over ranked teams this season. Their only losses are to No. 1 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State. … The Gophers beat Maryland 48-23 last week. It was the most points they’d scored in a conference game since 2019, when they beat Maryland 52-10. The 25-point margin of victory was their largest in a Big Ten game since a 31-3 win over Northwestern in 2022. … Minnesota safety Koi Perich leads the Big Ten and is No. 2 in the nation with five interceptions. The freshman also leads the conference with an average of 14.2 yards per punt return. … The Gophers last had a four-game Big Ten winning streak in 2021 — a streak ended by the Illini with a 14-6 win at Minnesota.

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