Finding Faith ... in enjoying our local state park

On a bluff overlooking a bend in the Buffalo River at Buffalo River State Park outside of Glyndon, Minn.

It's human nature to overlook the natural resources in our own back yard. After all, we see them every day, and soon we take them for granted. But in August 2018, Shelley and I left the canoe home for one adventure, and made our way out to Buffalo River State Park, which is essentially in our back yard.

Buffalo River State Park, located just outside Glyndon, Minn., is part of the Minnesota State Park system. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website, the park was created to conserve a prairie bisected by the wooded banks of the Buffalo River. "Together with the adjacent Bluestem Prairie Scientific and Natural Area owned by The Nature Conservancy, it protects one of the largest and highest-quality prairie remnants in Minnesota."

I had been to Buffalo River State Park a couple of times before, twice on Scouting trips with my sons, and once because Shelley and I helped our nephew set up their wedding proposal there at pretty bluff overlooking the river. That was a fun day!

Our beloved husky, Cody.

And while on this trip we had to leave "Unit 1" behind, we took the opportunity to take along our beloved husky Cody, who absolutely loved his day on the prairie.

But the park is likely best known locally for its large human-made swimming hole, billed as the closest swimming lake to the Fargo-Moorhead metro area, according to the Buffalo River State Park. Every summer, hundreds, if not thousands, of people will pack up their families for the quick 20-minute drive out to the park to escape the Midwestern heat.

On our trip, Shelley and I spent several hours traipsing through the hardwood forests, the tall grass prairies and the bluff country of the park. While it definitely takes a different eye to enjoy the beauty of the prairie, you couldn't help be moved by it.

But I admit, I committed a dire mistake. Discounting the heat, and not thinking about how long we'd be out hiking, I didn't think for us to take enough water with us. And while the Buffalo River itself is a good water source, sometimes it wasn't accessible from the trails we were on. ... Worst of all, Cody really suffered because of the heat, and I feel bad I didn't plan better ahead. ... Lesson learned. Again. ... Sigh.

Some details about Buffalo River State Park:

The 1,068-acre park is located just off U.S. Route 10 in Clay County, 4.5 miles east of Glyndon and 14 miles east of Moorhead, Minn. Buffalo River State Park was established in 1937 and developed by the Works Progress Administration. Three buildings and three structures built in the National Park Service rustic style were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The park was originally focused on providing outdoor recreation amenities like the swimming pool, since there were few other opportunities in the area. It was expanded beginning in the 1960s as the quality and rarity of the surrounding prairie were recognized.

The 6,078-acre Scientific and Natural Area section is used for environmental education by local schools and regional colleges and universities. It is also a destination for viewing the spring courtship ritual of the greater prairie chicken.

As an unpaid spokesperson for the state park system, I can say how lucky we are to have them. Get out there and enjoy God's creation! #stateparklove #getoutdoors #outdooradventurelife