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Melissa | Hiking + Adventures + 📍Minnesota(@sweet_melissa_bee)'s profile avatar HD Profile

Melissa | Hiking + Adventures + 📍Minnesota

@sweet_melissa_bee

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MN Chapter @52hikechallenge Leader 🥾 🌱♻️ Wildkeeper Ambassador @keepnaturewild
Hiker, Naturalist, Park Keeper, Adventuring
Music & Joy in lil things
POSTS STORIES REELS
✨️ The finish line! My 3rd year completing the @52hikechallenge ✨️ This year started with so much heart as your MN Chapter Leader, @52hikechallenge_mn though our community faced plenty of seasonal changes and unpredictable trail conditions early on in the year, we're strong! Through it all, hiking became my absolute peace. It was my safe space to sort out thoughts, unload tension, and recoup the energy needed to keep going. My relationship with my body, my pace, and the earth has grown in profound ways since Hike 1. In April, a back injury debilitated me. Navigating the initial 14 weeks of recovery cracked open a level of self-love, respect, and gratitude for this physical body that I haven't experienced before. I am eternally grateful for the spirit inside that carries me through the miles with strength. I gained a new layer of confidence diving into solo car camping! Finding solace in the forests - from MN State Parks to the rugged mountains of Montana - has unlocked a freedom and escape I didn't know I needed. It has sparked my dreams all over again! Even with an injury, I crushed my goal earlier than ever because of my intentional "yes's" to community and outdoor stewardship - including adopting Lakewood Hills Park in White Bear Lake! This year brought a deeper spiritual alignment. I am no longer afraid to dive into my pathway through creation, knowing we are deeply aligned in mind, body, and soul to the earth. Giving back to our lands and building community is my focus and helping others feel seen. The cheering on, the planning, and the encouragement will continue - but I'm also learning to partner well and protect my energy! I am ready to receive and be fully, unapologetically me. No holding back. I'm focused on building those deep, life-changing connections! Seeing you make your outdoor experiences a stepping stone for new inspiration and friendships? That's my why! THE YEAR 3 RECAP: • Total Hiking Miles: 244.4 🥾 • MN Park Reserves: 7 • Nature Centers: 8 • MN State Parks: 5 • RegionalParks: 10 • Urban/Backcountry/National Trails: 8 • Group Hikes: 14 • Stewardship/Cleanup Hikes: 10 I want to see you out there on the trails! 🥾 I aspire to inspire by @sweet_melissa_bee
"Well don’t let me out of your sight" - and honestly, don't let trash out of your sight either! Happy @keepnaturewild Impact Day! 🌎✨ 🔹️Today is all about stepping up, doing good for the earth, and keeping our favorite places classy... never trashy. 🌱When people choose to leave their garbage on the trails, the world forces us to hold its hand and clean up after them. 🔹️ I’m more than happy to do the work, but let this be your friendly reminder to always #leavenotrace and pack out what you pack in! 💚 Let's all do our part to leave it better than we found it! by @sweet_melissa_bee
There is a deep peace that comes From knowing a piece of land intimately, learning the names of its trees, the flight paths of its birds, and the rhythm of its seasons. Adopting Lakewood Hills Park via the @cityofwhitebearlake was a choice I made from the heart. It’s my way of shifting from a visitor to a guardian of the 80 acres that have held me through many miles. I spent the morning on these trails for #hike20 of 52. While this is a personal milestone, it was also my first official 'thank you' to this soil. I’m not just here for the miles; I’m here for the legacy of this land. Bringing my experience as a naturalist and my roles as a @52HikeChallenge Leader and @KeepNatureWild Ambassador to this space is an honor, but the real work happens in the quiet moments between me and the trail. Stewardship isn't a program - it's a practice. Hike 20 Notes from the Field: 🌿 The Observation: The first wave of spring migration is here! I spotted yellow rumped warblers flitting through the canopy and the bright 'cranberry' plumage of purple finches returning to their breeding grounds. And, a gorgeous red tailed hawk! 🥾 The Work: 3 full bags of litter cleared from the trails, off trails, pond edges, watersheds, and all around, ensuring these migratory travelers have a clean habitat to rest in. And a whole cart, old trash, a few broken sleds and even old electronics! We all have the power to claim a piece of the world and leave it better. 🌏 What’s your 'why' for getting outside? - find your why to keep it wild and better than you found it! by @sweet_melissa_bee
🥾🥾Let's celebrate a great year, spent outdoors and on those Happy Trails - together! 🔸️What better way to close out the year by spending it with other 52 Hike Challenge Hiking Buddies?! 🔸️Whether you've participated in the @52hikechallenge in the past, took part in the #52hikechallege2026 this year, been a part of the hiking crew, NEED a hiking crew, OR are interested in learning more about the 52 Hike Challenge, come celebrate with us! 🧡 Our Minnesota hiking community matters, and so do you! Join us to meet/mingle and have fun with others! WHO: 52 Hike Challengers, Hiking Buddies, Friends/Family WHAT: Coming together to meet your MN Hiking Community, Find Your Happy Trails, Play some fun games, Eat some snacks, Win some prizes, and GET READY to consider taking the 52 Hike Challenge too! WHERE: REI - Bloomington, MN - Community Room Meet in the community room. The community room is located at the back of the REI store adjacent to the footwear department. 💠From the store entry doors, guests will enter our bike and ski area, main aisle leading to the clothing department. When you reach the fireplace, turn right to continue through clothing into the footwear department. Once in the footwear department, turn right, and the community room will be through the double doors at the end! 🔸️Some things to note: ✨️WE WILL HAVE SNACKS/BEVERAGES!! And SWAG takeaways! ✨️We will have some games and drawings for prizes!! ✨️You will be able to learn more about the 52 Hike Challenge and get some great hiking tips amongst really cool people! 🥾🥾 ✨️We will be sharing some highlights of the 52 Hike Challenge MN Chapter Year! Registration closes on Tuesday, December 8 to allow for RSVP/Headcount purposes and preparations! WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! Register NOW via the Eventbrite link the in bio! 🧡🥾🥾🧡 💚 52 Hike Challenge is powered by #obóz by @sweet_melissa_bee
BOO! 👻✨️👻✨️👻 Out here hiking and haunting because "Ghouls" just wanna have fun! ✨️Happy Halloween 🎃! Get yourself some treats and unhinged hiking buddies too! by @sweet_melissa_bee
Crisp, cool, and quite intriguing- Twas a gorgeous autumn morning where the leaves were quite literally throwing themselves at us! We hit the trail in Henderson, Minnesota at Ney Nature Center this day. The wind was putting on an absolute show, turning the canopy into a swirling sky and I found a perfect, massive leaf that became my instant trail mask. 😆 Ney Nature Center is nestled on 446 acres overlooking the Minnesota River Valley, this preserve features a stunning combination of restored native tallgrass prairie and historic Big Woods remnants. The trails here - like the historic Stagecoach and Ravine loops - tackle a sharp 225-foot elevation rise right up the steep river bluffs, tracing old oxcart routes from the 1850s - and it's SO COOL when the creek is flowing through! It was so incredibly refreshing to pace through the deep woods, conquer the bluff climbs, look at historic pieces of land and artifacts, and watch the season gracefully yield to what is next. Savoring it all before the branches go bare! 🍂✨ #autumnleaves #womenwhoexplore #hikingadventures #fallismyfavorite #hikevibes by @sweet_melissa_bee
Crossing state lines for leaf confetti! 🥾🍂 A windy, blustery autumn day couldn’t stop our hearts from heading over to Wisconsin! A hiking bestie @shantastic.life and I took on an epic road trip to WI for my very first time experiencing the famous Ice Age Trail! We tackled a rugged, 6-mile trek along the Straight Lake segment, which weaves directly through the stunning, interconnected Straight Lake State Park. The elements were alive, but watching the gale-force winds strip the canopy and turn the trail into a literal blanket of golden leaf confetti under our boots made every single step magic. We pushed through a technical path of rocks and roots, completely soaking in the unique forest colors along the way. (Full silence technical!) DEEP DIVE into the IAT: ⭐️A National Treasure: As a naturalist, I am completely fascinated by this path. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is one of only 11 National Scenic Trails in the entire United States, stretching nearly 1,200 miles entirely within the state of Wisconsin. ⭐️Tracing the Glaciers: The trail literally maps out the frozen edge of the last great continental glacier from 15,000 years ago. ⭐️The Straight Lake Features: This specific segment sits on the rugged St. Croix Moraine. The steep ridges and boulder-strewn paths we scrambled over are world-renowned examples of an ancient glacial tunnel channel, where a high-pressure river once roared completely underneath the ice sheet. We capped off the adventure the best way we know how: with an amazing lunch at @cafe_wren and a deep dive into the local thrift shops, where we scored the absolute best hidden treasures. Sharing these rugged miles, warm coffee, and adventures is pure medicine! Wisconsin COMPLETELY delivered for fall-core hiking AGAIN! by @sweet_melissa_bee
It's me, I'm "girls" 💁🏻‍♀️🥾🏴‍☠️🤪 When you're hiking with Melissa the Muggle 🐝 and your family in a new-to-you regional park, OF COURSE we're finding a geocache. Two, to be exact. 😂🧭 So onward to the side quest, peeps! 🏴‍☠️ We need to aimlessly wander into the woods for this adventure, a logbook and trinkets await!!! 🤣 But honestly? Time with friends and family outside, getting fresh air and playing your favorite game? Yeah. That does fix a little something in your soul. 🍂✨ Would you want to go geocaching with us? 🫶 #geocachingadventures #geocaching #womenwhoexplore #hikingminnesota by @sweet_melissa_bee
OUT OF THE GROUP CHAT & ONTO THE TRAIL ✨ It is always an incredibly special milestone when an outdoor connection successfully moves out of the IG DMs and onto the actual trails! Sometime ago, I met Kelsie @wildandoutdoorsysd through IG - A brilliant prairie-living pal who serves as the @womenwhoexplore South Dakota Ambassador, too! We finally made our adventure happen, meeting up at Lebanon Hills Regional Park alongside her hubs and her sweet young son, L, for a gorgeous 2.5-mile trek to witness the changing of the seasons. 🍁 Wandering through the woods, our naturalist eyes were completely spoiled by the vibrant canopy and tiny trail discoveries! From the perfect little fallen acorns to fresh autumn fungi tucked into the leaves. But the absolute highlight of the day? Kelsie and her fam took me on for my very first experience geocaching! We didn't find just one, but two hidden caches on our loop, and watching L track them down made the treasure hunt even more magical. Consider me completely hooked! ✨ It was a truly glorious day, and I am endlessly thankful for internet friendships that cross state lines, elevate your circle, and turn into something much more meaningful along the miles. 🧡 Supporting her in her @52hikechallenge is a joy this season too! by @sweet_melissa_bee
🥾 Lace up your boots & SIGN UP for our @52hikechallenge November Group Hike! Register via Eventbrite in the bio!! 🔸️🔸️Who: 52 Hike Challengers, Hiking Buddies, + Friends/Family 🥾 What: 52 Hike Challenge - MN Chapter | November Group Hike 🍂 The season is shifting - let's get out there and JUST HIKE IT!! 🔸️When: Saturday, November 14 10:00am-12:30pm 🍁 Where: Lake Elmo Park Reserve - Lake Elmo, MN 🥾 Trail details & ability level: Approx 4.5 miles of trail. The trail is rated easy and will take approx 2.5 hrs to complete. We'll pace ourselves to accommodate others and varying trail conditions. We honor staying together as a group as much as possible!  Being able to hike at/around 2.5mph would be good for joining this hike. We'll be mindful of weather conditions before this hike to ensure everyone's safety! 🔺️ If there is a cancellation necessary, we will do so within 24hrs of the day of the hike. 🔸️ What to bring: Your hiking 10 essentials - Bring Proper Hydration! Weather appropriate clothing via warm layers, sunglasses/sunscreen, a warm hat, close toed shoes/hiking boots, a daypack or similar, and a positive attitude! 🔸️ Due to a larger group setting, no dogs or pets unless they are working/service animals. Admission & Parking is $7 at the gate OR $30 for an Annual Washington County Parks Annual pass! • Meet: In front of the main parking lot and look for the group. (SEE 📸 No.2) BEST TO USE Google Maps! Use the Google Map Coordinates to the parking lot for the most accurate directions. -Google Maps Coordinates: 44.975391, -92.904579 🥾 Please join the waitlist if we've met capacity! We'll work to honor it if cancellations are received! 🤎 Please fill out the liability waiver before the hike, link is in the Eventbrite registration. ➕️ Contact us HERE on Instagram OR  you can connect with our 52 Hike Challenge Chapter on Facebook (linked in the bio) with any questions! by @sweet_melissa_bee
What an absolutely spectacular day for the official @52hikechallenge MN Chapter fall foliage hike! 🍂The Nerstrand Big Woods State Park trails were completely alive today, immersing the community in a deciduous display of golds, vibrant oranges, and deep greens. 🍂The wind was blowing just enough to keep everyone completely refreshed, which was a true gift given the incredible heatwave Minnesota experienced today! Definitely a wild anomaly for a mid-October afternoon! 🍂Winding through the towering, historic canopy, it was beautiful to see hikers pause along the trail to take quiet, intentional moments just to stop, take in the sweeping autumn views, breathe deeply, and observe the magic as this season shifts. 🍂The absolute essence of this community is built on those shared spaces of connection, laughter, and a mutual love for the land. Swipe through this recap to see the magic of the trails and the breathtaking colors shared today! 🚨 MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT GROUP HIKE! The autumn momentum doesn't stop here. The next official community trek is officially on the books Monday 10/12/26! 📅 When: Saturday, November 14th 📍 Where: Lake Elmo Park Reserve 🍂 The Vibe: Gathering together to experience the late-fall landscape, catch the crisp morning air, and keep checking off those challenge miles as a crew. Stay tuned to the main pages and Eventbrite for official meeting times, trailhead details, and RSVP links this coming week. Let’s show up big for Lake Elmo! 🧡 by @sweet_melissa_bee
Some people go camping, take a nice hike, enjoy the scenery and behave like normal adults. We apparently had other plans! 👻🤣 One gloomy weekend at Minneopa State Park. Two trail sisters. A couple of ghosts. Cliffs. A cornfield. Dancing. And absolutely no one around to tell us this had gone too far. GHOSTS ON THE TRAIL: PART II 👻 Different trail sister. Same bad influence? At this point, evidence suggests I may the the problem? 10/10 would haunt again! by @sweet_melissa_bee

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