Hike 23 - Medicine Wheel Trail

Hike two of our Wyoming trip was on the Medicine Wheel trail. This was a bit of a relief after the incline of our Steamboat Point hike. Don’t get me wrong, I still took it slow, but I don’t remember thinking I was going to die. It was chilly, but beautiful.

We parked in the lot at the head of the trail, which was really just a dirt road. There was a small hut in which the rangers hung out, pit toilets, and a bunch of walking sticks for the hike. The hike was easy enough although I was still feeling the impact of our last hike up to Steamboat Point. While we were walking up the mountain, it did have a few ups and downs at slight inclines and declines which helped it not feel so strenuous.

The Medicine Wheel has been used by generations of Native Americans in ceremonies for health and healing and is suspected to be about 7000 years old.

Hike #: 22

Trail: Medicine Wheel Trail

Location: Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming

Trail surface: gravel road

Date: 8/26/19

As we came back to our truck, small snowflakes floated down upon us for a fleeting moment making this feel like a magical place. I know that may be the norm in the mountains in August, but it was a nice touch to wrapping up this hike.

Jo: ★★★★

Jesse: ★★★★★

Riley: ★★★★

Hike 22 - Steamboat Point

After a long day and a half drive we finally made it to the Big Horn mountains in Wyoming. Our first stop was a hike, one that Jesse did the year before, and he prepared me that it was short but steep. I could do that - steep would be a challenge, but it was short. How hard could it be? Lolz. In reality, I huffed and puffed my way up this mountain. Headache slowly creeping up , heart trying to beat out my chest, but I made it with a number of breaks in shaded spots and sips of water or Gatorade.

But I made it.

My 9 year old led the three of us. She and Jesse seemed fine even though she would later express how hard it was. Neither of them seemed to be breathing as hard as me which leads me to believe that I’m not made for these inclines. I suspected this when we were in Utah and I dragged behind the pack, also huffing and puffing away. I don’t do well in high altitudes, in heat, in pushing myself too hard, but I know that I can do this at my own pace.

Hike #: 22

Trail: Steamboat Point

Location: Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming

Trail surface: dirt, rock - very steep

Date: 8/25/19

In retrospect I can recommend this hike. Just make sure that you take it at your own pace as the view will be worth it when you (eventually) get to the top.

*Also my rating is probably more reflective of how I handle these hikes than an average person.

Jo: ★★

Jesse: ★★★★

Riley: ★★★

Hike 21 - Silverwood Park

Twenty years ago or so, I hung out at Silverwood park, a former Salvation Army camp, a couple times and I have to say, it’s like a completely different place now. In fact, I keep second guessing myself that I was really there so long ago. During my first visit, I only remember that there was a parking lot and a beach and nothing else really to see. Not long after I went back and explored a bit more by walking around the trails, but it was being worked on so trails and trees and fields were all torn up.

Last year I attended a wedding here and was blown away at the transformation. It’s hard to imagine that it was once so disheveled as it looks as if it’s been this lush for hundreds of years. Even though it was cold at that time, I knew I had to bring my family back to explore the trail at some point in time.

Hike #: 21

Trail: Silverwood Park

Location: St Anthony, MN

Trail surface: paved, with a few offshoots of dirt and wood chips.

Date: 7/21/19

The trail here is mostly paved, which usually results in a less favorable review (or authentic feeling hike), but there were a few trails of wood chips and a bridge that took you onto an island. The park was very well maintained which is mostly the case in the Minneapolis area, but this one seemed especially well taken care of. Plus, there were butterflies everywhere and that just added to the overall ambience.

An additional plus was that there were random sculptures along the trail (there is a walking tour online where you can learn more about each artist and their work). Riley can sometimes get bored on these walks so she seemed very appreciative of these points of interest… but so did Jesse and I. It felt very thoughtful to add these artistic touches in a way that wasn’t too disturbing to the nature around it.

As I mentioned above, this one was a winner for us. There was a lot of established trees, clean trails, interesting things to see, and it was a pleasant day.

Jo: ★★★★★

Jesse: ★★★★

Riley: ★★★★★