Hike Along This Minnesota Lake Then Go Wine Tasting At The Nearby Carlos Creek Winery
By Trent Jonas|Published August 23, 2023
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Trent Jonas
Author
Trent Jonas came to Minnesota to attend college - and never left. He's a Twin Cities-based writer with a BA in English and a MFA in creative writing, a Minnesota Master Naturalist, and the proud father of two adult children. With more than a decade of freelance writing experience under his belt, Trent is often out exploring his favorite topics: Minnesota's woods, lakes, and trails. Rhubarb pie is his weakness, so discovering new diners is also a passion.
Is there really any better way to relax after a morning or afternoon on the trail than sitting back in a beautiful setting with a glass (or a flight) of award-winning wine? Personally, I don’t think so! And that’s why the proximity of a western Minnesota state park to a nearby winery made me perk up and take notice. So, if you happen to be visiting the Alexandria area, be sure to save an afternoon for hiking and wine tasting in Minnesota at these nearby locales.
Lake Carlos State Park wraps around the north end of the body of water whose name it shares.
Combine it with the Red Oak Trail for a 2.8-mile loop that's beautiful in the summer but particularly stunning in the autumn as the leaves are changing.
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The trails at Lake Carlos are all relatively wide and level, so no matter which trail you pick or how long you hike, you won't have to worry about much in the way of rough terrain or elevation gain.
Lake Carlos State Park, 2601 County Rd 38 NE, Carlos, MN 56319, USA
Check out AllTrails+ for reviews of the trails at Lake Carlos, as well as interactive trail maps that you can use on your smartphone both on- and offline.
Once you've had your nature fix, head back toward Alexandria.
Nature and refreshments – I can’t think of many better ways to spend a day! How about you? For more information on Carlos Creek’s offerings, visit them on the web.
Have you visited Carlos Creek, or can you think of another hiking-winery combo that we should know about? Let us know in the comments!
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