Please join us for a moderate-paced hike on the wooded trails of Chester Woods Park in Chester. The route will be approximately 7 miles, and we expect to be hiking for about 3.5 hours. We will pause occasionally to enjoy the fall colors.
All trails are unpaved with uneven terrain, including turf, ruts, roots, rocks, gravel, and possible mud.
📍 Meeting location: Informational Stand by Boat Launch
Date: October 17, 2026🕘 Time: 9:00 AM (brief introductions; we’ll start hiking at 9:10)
Parking
Free parking is available near the meeting area.
Pace
The planned pace is about 25 minutes per mile. Note that pace may vary depending on weather, group size, and trail conditions.
Route: Clockwise — Bluffland State Trail / Dam Overlook Trail / South Sand Prairie Trail / Zieman Loop Trail / Prairie Ridge Trail / Dam Overlook Trail / Bluffland State Trail.
Optional: Post-hike lunch
For anyone interested, we’ll gather after the hike at:
Star Ocean Buffet 1320 Salem Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902
What to bring
Dress for the weather (layers recommended)
Wear hiking boots or supportive sneakers
Bring water and snacks as needed
Optional: lawn chairs for after hike socializing
Please feel free to post questions on Discord to the Hiking group page.
Important: All regular hikers must be RASC members. If you only plan to participate in the organized walks, then you do not need to be a RASC member or sign the waiver. If you would like to participate as a guest to try it out, please click on the guest waiver button below to digitally sign our waiver. To sign up for membership or to sign a waiver, go to https://www.rasc-mn.org/hiking.