Column for 02-04-26        This is a reminder that we keep the Crow River Nature Park (200 Burr St. N.) open year-round.  The parking lot is plowed, the trails cleared, and, for us hardy Minnesotans, one unheated restroom is kept open and stocked.      The park gets a considerable amount of use in the winter.  And why not – it is incredibly beautiful down there this time of year.  The silent, sleeping, and snow-filled woods, the frozen river with sparkling flowing water in ar

Column for 10-29-30        We finished up our Trail Guard season last Saturday with a fun trip to Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center for team building, wall climbing, trip presentations, medallion awards, and good food. It was a nice celebration of another successful year - our 34th.        Prairie Woods is such a treasure!  If you haven’t been there, I highly recommend that you find a reason to go.  They have an incredible group of facilities and activities scattere

Column for 09-10-25        It was a tough summer for trail maintenance at the Nature Park – to say the least!  It’s pretty hard to spread...

Column for 04-09-25        Way back in 2003, Jimmy Jansen became the first Trail Guard kid to get on an airplane, fly a fourth of the way...

Trail Guards meets every Saturday morning at the Crow River Nature Park (200 Burr St., Paynesville) from early May to the end of October...

As we start our winter Trail Guard projects, we begin our 34th year of work and fun with hope, optimism, and sustained energy.  The...