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Renville County Parks

Hiking Trail Development Plan

August 2014

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Table of Contents

Subject Page

Parks Trail Development Overview 3-5

Renville County Map 6

Proposed Trail Maps

Anderson Lake County Park 7

Beaver Falls County Park 8

Birch Coulee County Park 9

Lake Allie County Park 10

Mack Lake County Park 11

Skalbekken County Park 12

Vicksburg County Park 13

Trail Design Standards 14

Park Trail Signage 15-17

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Parks Trail Development Overview

Anderson Lake County Park

Anderson Lake County Park is the least utilized of the seven county parks. The proposed trail design will

enhance the park area and is anticipated to increase the number of users. The trails would be contained

in areas of the park that are generally not affected by spring flooding. Trail development would include a

northern trail, a southern trail, and a center loop trail. The northern trail (red phase) would run along the

banks of Anderson Lake on an east-west axis. It would highlight the lake as well as the bluff line just to

the south of the trail. The trail would continue to the east and then to the south where it would connect to

the upper section of the trail system. The southern trail will follow the river and allow fishing access along

an existing snowmobile trail during the winter. The trail loop in the center of the park (blue phase) would

follow along an existing park easement road. The highest portion of the trail would align with the ridgeline

overlooking Anderson Lake.

Beaver Falls County Park

The recent addition of walking trails (highlighted in red) in the Beaver Falls County Park recreation and

prairie restoration area adds an element and style of hiking/walking trails that previously did not exist in

this park. The prairie restoration area trail offers a one mile, natural stone loop trail system that is easily

accessible from the parking area as well as the park road. It highlights a shelter, hand pump well, two fire

ring areas and a new vault style toilet. There are currently no additional walking/hiking trails planned for

development in the park. Beaver Falls County Park has an existing expansive equestrian trail system,

through its rolling hills, steep climbs, and descents, which continues to be the predominant trail use within

the park.

Birch Coulee County Park

Birch Coulee County Park has limited area for walking and hiking trails due to its small overall size. A

short loop trail (orange phase) will extend to the south from the upper toilet facility area along the ridge

line to the gate and pay box area. This phase will require the need for an additional bridge or stream

crossing (blue phase) along the trail on the southern edge of the park. The trail would then extend north

around the coulee with a loop trail to be constructed in the southwest corner of the park. The location of

the trail will allow it to be accessible in the winter due to its close proximity to the entrance gate. There will

also be a short portion of trail that would be constructed in the northern section of the park (orange

phase). It would extend from the small camping and fishing area along the creek and connect along an

east-west axis to the shelter area. The existing trail (yellow phase) that currently runs along the creek

from the walking bridge to the historical stone bridge will be improved and signs posted to match the

proposed new trails.

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Lake Allie County Park

Lake Allie County Park remains one of the most used of all of the County Parks. The proposed loop trail

(red phase) around the perimeter of the park will provide park users an exercise trail which should

alleviate some of the walking traffic currently crossing through individual campsites. The trail would run

between the existing campsites and the eastern edge of the park along the shoreline and would access

the dock and fishing area. On the north side of the park, the trail would access the playground equipment.

The western section of the trail would run along the existing dogwood hedge.

Mack Lake County Park

Mack Lake County Park is a moderately used park which offers a DNR boat access and great fishing

areas along the Minnesota River. A proposed loop trail would allow people to explore parts of the park

that are fairly remote and are not used on a regular basis as well as provide access to the river. The

proposed trail (blue phase) will run from the road bridge, along the lake to the northwest and will use the

existing snowmobile trail as its base. The trail will continue along the western edge of the park boundary

to the Minnesota Rivers northern banks. This trail will allow access to the most western portion of the

park previously only accessible through rough terrain and tall grasses. The trail then returns to the main

area of the park accessing the pay box and the historical cabin. The southern portion of the proposed trail

(red phase) travels along the existing snowmobile trail to the most eastern boundary of the park. The trail

then turns to the north and to the west and eventually reaches the main park road. An additional small

loop trail (red phase) in the southern most part of the park would start at the DNR boat access and travel

along the river bank to the southeast, then loop around and return along the same trail.

Skalbekken County Park

An existing trail (marked in red) along the Minnesota River is the main walking/hiking trail in Skalbekken

County Park. The trail begins at the lower shelter house and provides scenic views from the river banks

as it meanders to the Odean Skalbeck historic log cabin. The trail also extends to the north along the

main park road and travels back to the main campsite/shelter/toilet area. A portion of the trail that

originally accessed the upper shelter area by traveling along the ridgeline from the historic cabin was

badly eroded and was closed to traffic. Future plans would be to reopen this section of trail by the

construction of a cribbed steps (blue phase) that would allow hikers to navigate the trail while protecting

the landscape. The trail would also extend to the Limbo Creek campsite/restroom (orange phase). The

trail would require a bridge to cross Limbo Creek to reach the riverside camping area. The trail would then

extend towards the eastern edge of the park along the banks of the Minnesota River. Skalbekken Park

has an existing extensive equestrian trail system winding through its rolling hills and ravines.

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Vicksburg County Park

Vicksburg County Park will serve as the focal point for the rest of the park trail system. The natural

landscape, rock outcroppings, elevation changes, and location of the park along the Minnesota River will

create some of the best trails and hiking opportunities in the area. The proposed trail development plan

for Vicksburg County Park includes multiple trails, some of which currently exist and others that will be

built. The current trail system contains a great base that can be expanded upon to create a loop trail. The

park has several destinations located along the trails, including an outcrop rock face and a scenic

overlook. The trail system can be split into four distinct areas, from the northwest to the southeast.

The first trail area (red phase) is located in the most northwestern section of the park, west of the main

park road, and will contain a small loop trail that will begin near the north toilet and run to the west along

the banks of the Minnesota River before reaching a turn-around and fishing area at the most western

boundary of the park. The trail will continue to the north along the parks western boundary and then turn

easterly following the edge of the park and tie back into the main park road near the north gate.

The second trail area consists of two phases (blue and yellow) containing some of the most scenic and

noteworthy attractions and sites of any of the county parks. The trails will center on an existing main trail

that runs from the main park road through the heart of the park to the northern boundary. On the west

side of the road (blue phase), the trail will form a small loop that will encircle the ridgeline and traverse a

hilltop known as the West Ridge. On the eastern side (yellow phase) of the main trail the trails will

highlight a large rock face known as Strawberry Rock. The trail will cross two areas known as Middle

Ridge and North Ridge. The northern most portion of this trail will include a scenic overlook viewing

deck near the foundation of a former park shelter. The trails will continue to the east and return to the

main park road.

The fourth trail area (orange phase) centers on and surrounds the main camping and shelter area as well

as the canoe access area. The core of this portion of the trail runs east to west along the river bank from

the canoe access to the middle campsite/toilet area. This segment of trail will also have several small

connecting trails that unite the river bank trail to the main campsite/shelter area. The trail will also cross a

large rock outcropping, with pond, along its northwestern section. A small segment of trail to the north of

the shelter area and park road connects to a pond.

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Renville County Map

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Trail Design Standards

Remove all brush & branches in clearing width

Natural surface tread to be grubbed & graded

2 3 5 Tread 2

7 9 Clearing

Natural Surface Trail Cross-section

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Park Trail Signage

6x6x7 Brown Treated Timber County Logo Bolt Steel Knife Plate 1 Deep Routed Recess 18x18x4 Sonno Tube

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Trail Markers

The universally recognized trail markers will be mounted on cedar tone 4 x

4 posts. In addition to indicating the trail route and reassuring users that

they are on the trail, markers also serve to influence the path taken by trail

users, thereby helping to avoid trampling of trailside vegetation and to

prevent erosion.

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Trail Interpretive Panels

30 or 45 Angle

Grade

Below Grade

18 to 24 below grade based on panel size and mount height

30.0

12 Sonotube

Drain Hole Drain Hole