Welcome to the blog and my first post. My wife and I went on a day hike to Mille Lacs Kathio State Park in Onamia on the Saturday before Halloween. When we originally planned to go up there, who knew that we would be going after the first snowfall of the year, but alas, that is what occurred!

In the past, I have not done a whole lot of hiking in the snow, but I found the experience to be quite enjoyable. The fresh snow in the park was breathtaking and I recommend getting out for a hike in these times before the winter gets too bitterly cold, and everything gets all frozen over. The in-between time where the water stills flows, but snow is on the ground is truly one of the most beautiful times of the year.

Mille Lacs Kathio is one the largest state parks in Minnesota. It is well known for its fire tower that you can climb to the top of. From the top of the tower, one can see panoramic views of Mille Lacs Lake, the park, and even down to Onamia and to the casino further north on the lake.

The park has many miles of hiking trails, much more than we could do in one day, so we decided to bounce around and do a few stretches of the trails. Of course, with the fresh snow, it was a little slower going than what we could do in the summer months. I recommend parking at the Trail Center and going around the trails from this central spot for some time. There are some great views, easy access to the fire tower, and peaceful. Around this center of the park, you will have a high chance of seeing some white-tailed deer. We also hiked some of the trails down along the edge of the Rum River, and along the Landmark Trail near Ogechie Lake. Down on the Landmark Trail, we saw a bald eagle family soaring above the lake.

I would say beware that some of these trails can be a little muddy if you go around any rain or snow, so be sure to wear boots of some flavor. Those scared of heights might not want to climb the narrow stairs of the tower.Otherwise, the trails are easy to hike, the woods are peaceful, and the views are nice. Enjoy!