Details:
When it comes to outdoor recreation, hiking is a great way to see new spots and get movement into your day! If you feel ready to take it to the next level, join refuge staff for a guided intermediate hike on our Rapids Lake trail. For this program, we will teach you how to turn baseline hiking into a more intense activity by showing you around the Rapids Lake unit - an area packed with an interesting natural history.We will be walking for a distance of about 2 miles at a steady pace with no scheduled breaks. Experience in hiking is recommended to have before going to this program. If you are unsure about your skill level, you can join our Intro to Hiking programs held throughout the year. Registration is optional.Questions? Contact MinnesotaValley@fws.gov or call (952) 854-5900 (press 1 to reach Visitor Services).Date and Time: Thursday, August 28th, 2025 from 5:30PM - 7PMLocation: Meet us at the Rapids Lake Visitor Center.15865 Rapids Lake Rd, Carver, MN 55315Registration Information: Registration optional through Signup.com.Optional registration allows us to prepare supplies and materials for the program, send reminders, and allows us to contact you in the event of inclement weather!Activity Level: This staff led, intermediate-intense hike will be fully outdoors and will cover about 2-2.5 miles in 1.5 hours. There are no scheduled breaks, but we will always stop if someone sees something interesting in the landscape.What to Bring: We recommend that you wear closed-toed shoes and bring sunscreen, bug spray and a full water bottle with you.Accessibility: Restrooms are located at the parking lot. There are no water fountains or dedicated handicap parking. Trail is nature surface and mostly flat, with a slight slope to reach the Mazomani trail. Depending on seasonal trail conditions, natural surface paths may be muddy (summer) or snowy (winter) and may not always be suitable for strollers or wheelchairs. There are no benches in the trail area. Trailhead is a 0.1 mile distance from the parking lot. There are no benches or rest areas in the area.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to providing access to these events for all participants. Please direct all requests for sign language interpreting services, close captioning, or other accommodation needs at least ten business days before the event to Oscar Hernandez at oscar_hernandez@fws.gov.
