The third annual North Country Hiking Fest will be held Saturday, Aug. 29 at Itasca State Park. The all-day event will feature guided hikes, workshops, food, children and family activities and a free concert by Charlie Maguire. There will be multiple options for outdoor activities available for everyone.
At 9:30 a.m., social time with treats will begin. Visitors will also be able to watch the award-winning documentary "The Greatest Silent Sport" in the Brower Visitors Center classroom.
Photo tours of the local trail segments, a workshop on animals of the North Country, another on hiking with kids and a GPS geo-coaching session will take place later in the morning.
From noon until 4:30 p.m., guided hikes will be offered. The North Country Trail hike will go from the Gartner Farm Trailhead west to the Anchor Matson Trailhead; a distance of 5.5 miles. Alternatives include taking part in the Brower Trail Wildlife Safari geo-coach group hike, or you can choose one of Itasca's other trails to enjoy on your own.
Shorter afternoon family hikes will be offered from 1 to 3 p.m. They will include a hike to the Aiton Heights Fire Tower and a North Country scavenger hike on the self-guided nature trail.
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Social time and dinner will be held following the hikes. A cookout dinner featuring barbecue pork sandwiches will be served at 5 p.m.
Those up for a challenge are invited to play "North Country Jeopardy" at 6 p.m. The Charlie Maguire concert will conclude the festivities at 6:30 p.m.
The Hiking Fest is sponsored by Itasca State Park and the Laurentian Lakes and Itasca Moraine Chapters via a North Country Trail Association field grant.
For more information, call Itasca State Park at 218-699-7251 or visit www.northcountrytrail.org/llc .
