The Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail (MDHT) began with a simple observation and a big idea. In 2018, Marty Walsh, working for Fillmore County Economic Development, noticed a clear demand in the community: people wanted more hiking opportunities in southeastern Minnesota.

By 2019, work began in earnest–laying the groundwork for partnerships and exploring potential trail routes through Fillmore and Houston Counties. However, like many efforts during that time, the project paused in 2020-2021 due to job transitions and the impacts of COVID-19.

In October 2021, Marty privately reintroduced the idea. With renewed energy and momentum, the trail vision quickly gained traction. By 2022, growing interest and support from both local residents and the backpacking community led to the creation of a formal organization, a pilot hike in the trail corridor, and deeper community engagement.

A major milestone came in 2023 when MDHT officially incorporated as a nonprofit. The project began receiving increased press and successfully submitted its first application to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).

In 2024, MDHT deepened collaborations with the Minnesota DNR, secured $426,000 in LCCMR funding, and hired Alexa Shapiro as the organization’s first Director. These developments marked the beginning of a new chapter focused on growth, capacity-building, and trail development across the Driftless Region.

And we’re just getting started. Learn more about current trail progress here, or connect with us to get involved.