Five Corners of Solitude

In my 30-plus years of wandering around the state with a camera, I have discovered a handful of places that I can visit and be relatively certain I will be alone with my thoughts. These corners, far away from hubs of activity, are areas where the bars on a smartphone will flutter between one and none. They offer a respite from the constant cacophony of electronic devices while enhancing mindful contemplation.

These destinations, all public lands or publicly accessible lands, do not require strapping on backpacks or balancing canoes across portages. Although those are worthy endeavors, I am often drawn to places that do not require a lot of foresight, where a person can drop in on a whim and simply have a walk around without extensive planning and gear gathering. Some of these places have paths, while others are in their natural state and invite roaming over hills and fields covered with prairie grasses and forbs.

These are a few of my “secret” places, chosen for their stillness, their engaging topography, and their photographic potential. There are many more out there. Have a look around and see what suits your sense of place. 

Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest
The Dorer forest consists of a sprawling patchwork of lands in or near the bluff country of southeastern Minnesota. Dramatic sandstone cliffs and hills loom over the Mississippi River. Spring-fed tributaries, like the Whitewater River, meander through the valleys. Trails are plentiful and follow ridges, creeks, and valleys. During the spring months, native forbs such as wild geranium carpet the forest floor.

Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie
Unraveling like foothills, this 1,744-acre remnant prairie managed by The Nature Conservancy is part of the prairie coteau, a glacially sculpted plateau in southwestern Minnesota that looks like nothing else in the state. There are no trails here, but a meander through the native grasses and random oak trees allows one to experience the land on its terms. Weaving through the folds swallows you up and provides a sense of how powerful the glaciers must have been.

Big Bog 
Encompassing nearly 500 square miles, the Big Bog stretches to an impossibly distant horizon and consists of a carpeted wetland peat bog interspersed with tamaracks, pines, grasses, and other plants. The Big Bog State Recreation Area is situated along the Tamarac River, which flows into Upper Red Lake, and has a boardwalk to access
the bog.

Ordway Prairie
Situated where the forest once met the prairie is the 841-acre Ordway Prairie in west-central Minnesota, preserved and managed by The Nature Conservancy. The glacially deposited hills are freckled with deciduous trees, wetlands, and erratic boulders. Throughout the growing season, prairie forbs like penstemon and stiff sunflower are in a constant flux. The partially forested landscape has no trails; overlooks from the tops of swells are majestic.

Chippewa National Forest
Autumn colors here are unrivaled. The lakes are crystal clear, and the blend of coniferous and deciduous trees gives the forest a distinctive texture. Giant white and red pine trees tower over hiking trails in the Lost 40, a 114-acre parcel of old-growth forest that has never been logged. Escape routes into the forest are many and can include a meander down a gravel forest road or a hike along paths that skirt undeveloped lakes.