Luther College completes walking trail

 Luther College Natural Areas Walking Trail, a five-mile hiking trail that traverses many of the restored native landscapes on Luther's 800-acre campus, has been completed and is open to the public.

The Natural Areas Walking Trail is a cooperative project of the college's biology department, sustainability program and wellness program. Project leaders include biology professors Eric Baack, Kirk Larsen and Beth Lynch; sustainability coordinator Dan Bellrichard; and wellness director Greg Lonning.

The campus land use committee approved the trail in April, and work began immediately to lay out the route through campus areas that are maintained to preserve the appearance and the eco-systems of the river-and-bluffs region's pre-settlement and early settlement bio-history.

During the summer a trail crew cut down trees, scythed underbrush, built rock and wood steps on the steep portions of the trail, and placed blue arrows along the trail to mark the route.

Trail crew members include land interns, Jason Hagemeier, a Luther senior biology and economics major from Sioux Falls, S.D., Max Molzahn, a Luther junior anthropology and environmental science major from South Milwaukee, Wis., and Kimberly Stocks, a Luther junior biology and environmental studies major from Dubuque, Iowa.

The trail is designed for walking, and may be suitable for some runners. In the winter, snowshoes may be used on the trail, but most sections are not recommended for skis.

For detailed trail description and map, visit website: http://www.luther.edu/sustainability/outdoor_recreation/trails/