Bluff Happenings

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with our Virtual Hiawatha Valley Earth Week April 22-28.  Friends of the Bluffs, the City of Red Wing, Red Wing ELC, Prairie Island Indian Community, Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, National Eagle Center, Sargent's Nursery, Red Wing Art Association, Red Wing Public Library, Red Wing Park Naturalist and more will be offering videos, educational information, and activities that can be done in your back yard, neighborhood and our surrounding community.  Activities and schedule of events/videos will be posted on the City of Red Wing website https://www.red-wing.org/ soon.

Due to the COVID-19 Outbreak Celebrate Earth Day-Hike the Bluff has been postponed

The CDC recommends that gatherings of 50 or more should not be held for 8 weeks.  The Friends of the Bluffs Board of Directors has decided to follow this recommendation.  We will be meeting soon to decide if we will reschedule. 

Join us on Saturday, January 25th for a Sunset Snowshoe Hike on the Billings-Tomfohr Conservation Area.  We will be meeting at the Neal Street Trailhead at 4:15 pm.  For more information email redwingbluffs@gmail.com

Start the New Year with a hike on He Mni Can/Barn Bluff to watch the sunrise!  Join us at the trailhead off East 5th Street on Wednesday, January 1st at 7:15 am.  Sunrise is at 7:47 am!  Dress for the weather, bring a hiking stick or Nordic Walking Poles in case the trail is icy and your camera to capture the moment.  We will be providing the coffee and hot chocolate!  Questions???  Contact David Anderson at redwingbluffs@gmail.com.

Saturday, October 19th is our 4th Annual Bluff Color Fest Trail Run/Hike.  New this year is a 3.1 mile run/hike to go along with our 5 mile run/hike and our 10, 15 and 20 mile runs.  All runs/hikes wind there way through the trees and bluffs of Memorial Park and will begin and end on the bluff side of Mississippi National Golf Links parking lot.  Registration is open and can be done on-ling at Active.com.  Registration may also be done in person on Friday, October 18th or on race day between 6:00-7:00 am in the lower level of he club house at Mississippi National Golf Links.  For more information, go to:  bluffcolorfest.com  

Inaugural Gathering to Celebrate Summer
Tuesday, June 18th from 5:00-7:00 pm
Memorial Park Upper Quarry

Please join us as we celebrate the start of summer with a potluck dinner and campfire in the Memorial Park Upper Quarry.  Bring a dish to share and your own dinnerware, Friends of the Bluffs will provide the refreshments.  After dinner take a hike on one of the many trails, play disc golf or bring your mountain bike and go for a ride.       

Join us, anytime between sunrise and sunset, on Saturday, April 20th for a hike and more on He Mni Can-Barn Bluff.  This historic bluff is one of the best-known natural features along the upper Mississippi River.  It is significant for its geology and its association with prehistoric and native people.  It is also significant for its association with the exploration of the Upper Mississippi in the early nineteenth century, and for its mid-nineteenth century through present day association with travel, industry, tourism and recreation. 

Schedule (As of April 13th)

·       5:30 am – 8:00 pm - Self-Guided Hikes

·       5:30 am – 8:00 pm - He Mni Can-Barn Bluff BINGO

·       5:30 am – 8:00 pm - Friends of the Bluffs Earth Day Gnome Hunt

·       5:45 am - Ethos Sunrise Yoga on the East Overlook

·       8:30 am – Ethos Sandbag Challenge

·       8:00-12:00 – City of Red Wing Park Naturalist Booth

·       9:00-10:00 am – Park Naturalist Guided Hike

·       9:00-12:00 am – YMCA Camp Pepin Bouldering and Rock Climbing Education

·       9:00 am - 1:00 pm - City of Red Wing He Mni Can-Barn Bluff Improvement Plan for 2019/2020

·       10:00 am -1:00 pm – Goodhue County Historical Society - "If This Bluff Could Talk" - Share your He Mni Can - Barn Bluff Stories.

·       10:00 am - 4:00 pm - Cannon River Watershed Partnership - Take the "Clean Water Quiz", Learn How to Keep our Rivers, Lakes and Drinking Water Clean and Win Fabulous Prizes

·       10:00 am-1:00 pm – Citizens' Climate Lobby Education Booth

·       11:00 am-12:00 - University of Minnesota Raptor Center Program - bring your own chair

·       11:30-1:00 pm – Citizens’ Climate Lobby "Climb Up for Climate" Hike and Picture

·       1:00-2:00 pm - University of Minnesota Raptor Center Program - bring your own chair

·       1:00-3:00 pm – Red Wing Public Library Writers Ink Hike & Write

·       2:00-4:00 pm – He Mni Can-Barn Bluff Clean Up

·       2:00 pm – 366 Sunrises Project at the Red Wing Conservation Clubhouse

·       4:30 pm – He Mni Can-Barn Bluff Trail Fun Run

Additional environmental activities and programs may be offered throughout the day and will be added as they are recruited.

Additional Earth Day Events

*Electric Car Show, hosted by the Red Wing Sustainability Commission outside the Sheldon Theatre from 4-7 pm

**Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Sheldon Theatre.  Tickets are required and may be purchased at  http://redwingelc.com/wild-and-scenic-film-festival-1

Join us on Saturday, February 16th

10:00 AM -12:00 PM

Memorial Park Snowshoe Trail.

Meet us at the trail head at Mississippi National Golf Links, bring your own snowshoes or borrow a pair from us. We will have a limited number of children and adults available.

For the adventurous types, challenge yourself to a time trial format 1 mile snowshoe race. Not interested in snowshoeing, no worries! Lace up your hiking boots and “Take a Hike”. After your walk/hike, enjoy hot chocolate and snacks around the campfire.

Start the New Year with a hike on He Mni Can/Barn Bluff to watch the sunrise!  Sunrise is at 7:47 am so we will be meeting at the trailhead off East 5th Street at 7:15 am. Dress for the weather, bring a hiking stick or Nordic Walking Poles in case the trail is icy and your camera to capture the moment.  We will be providing the coffee!  Questions???  Contact David Anderson at redwingbluffs@gmail.com.  

Earth Day Events

Saturday, April 21st

Earth Day - Hike the Bluff is on!!! The trails are mostly snow-free, but muddy in spots!  Put on your boots, grab your walking stick and come enjoy a hike on the bluff.

     

Registration Form

Sunrise to Sunset – Self-Guided Hikes

8:00 am – Trail Run with the Red Wing Trail Runners

8:00 am-12:00 – City of Red Wing “Putting Plans into Action” (Plans for the Bluff, Plans for the Riverfront Trail to Colvill Park and Prairie Restoration Information)

9:00 am-10:00 am – Goodhue County Historical Society “Pop-Up Museum” (Please bring artifacts and historical pictures to share)

9:30 am – City of Red Wing Carlson Kiln Tour 

10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Red Wing Public Library Story Walk

10:00 am - 2:00 pm - Citizens Climate Lobby

11:00 am – City of Red Wing Carlson Kiln Tour

11:00 am-12:00 – Goodhue County Master Gardener “Flowers on the Bluff”

11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Audubon Minnesota (Mississippi Flyway, Minnesota’s Bird-Friendly Community Program and Kid’s Activity - Great Migration Challenge) Canceled due to illness

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm – Sunrise Lady Ellen Lentsch

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm – Red Wing Public Library “Walk & Write” (For Young Writers in Grades 5 and up)

1:00 pm & 3:00 pm – Red Wing Park Naturalist “Guided Hikes”

Additional Activities:

Picnic on the Bluff – Gather the family, pack a picnic and enjoy lunch or supper on the overlook or in a Bluff Prairie!

Geocaching – Friends of the Bluffs will be placing a special Earth Day cache on the bluff for the day.

He Mni Can/Barn Bluff Bingo – Friends of the Bluffs Keychain/Compass to the first 250 children who complete a bingo.

We will keep updating this post with additional events and times as other groups join us. Keep checking back or subscribe to our blog to always receive our latest events news.