Our Aitkin County, Minnesota Highpointing Page

Quadna Mountain: 1590+ feet

 

Introduction

Like Big Thunder Peak, which we had just visited, Quadna Mountain is an abandoned skiing mountain. It is located in Section 25 of Hill Lake Township. I visited there on November 21, 2004, just after completing the logical two-fer, Itasca County.

 

Approaches to the Quadna Mountain Trailhead

The easiest way to approach Quadna Mountain is from nearby U.S. Highway 169, from the north or south. To the east is mostly swampland.

We came from the north on U.S. 169. Following Mike Schwartz' suggestion, we passed the "Quadna Mountain" sign and continued, turning left onto Airport Road. We curved left, passing the red barn at 1/4 mile, and taking a right at a hairpin curve at 0.3 miles. We followed that for 0.1 mile

 

Parking

and parked next to an open gate.

 

The Trail Head

The gate is marked, prohibiting vehicle traffic, but welcoming foot traffic.

I couldn't get anyone to go with me, so I went alone.

 

The Trail

The trail was a decent gravel road all the way to the top, curving around its western slope. I walked up the road, arriving at the top in 15 minutes. That included a visual inspection of the tower area.

The Geological marker is either gone or hidden. I looked around for several minutes, but could not find it. It may have been in the tall weeds around the lookout tower.

The access road continues south from the lookout tower, past the HP, and south, probably in the firebreak shown on the topo map.

 

The Summit

The summit hill is a small rise about 400 feet south of the lookout tower area.

 

The Climb Down

I returned the same way, taking even more time to look for the bench mark and also checking out the ski lift towers, extending the total hiking time to 34 minutes.


The Route Out

We got back onto U.S. 169 and continued south to our home in Anoka County.

 

Our Progress

Family Member Count
Mark 71

 

Other Ascents and Trip Reports

First Ascent: Roy Wallen (Nov. 25, 1999)
Bob Packard (May 23, 2001)
Michael Schwartz (Oct. 19, 2001)
Dick Ellsworth
Bob Schwab
Trapper Robbins & Roxanne Everett
Erik Friel

 

Bibliography

.

http://www.topozone.com

Minnesota Atlas & Gazeteer by Delorme, 3rd Edition, 2001.

 

File Name:
Written by: Mark Ness
Last Revised by:  Mark Ness
on: