First Thursday Night Hike Archive

May 7. 2026

May’s Unplugged Outdoors will be at Sheldon Park at 7 PM.  It will last about an hour and cover about a 2 mile loop. There’s an uphill climb at the beginning of the hike and a downhill climb at the end. The mid-way point overlooks the high spot along the river. Hikers are asked to park in lower Sheldon Park near the shelter house.  There is no cost and no preregistration required.

  • Date: May 7, 2026
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: From Highway 3 drive South on Sheldon Park Road about a quarter mile to the entrance to Lower Sheldon Park. Drive down the hill.  You will see the shelter house on your left.  Park at the shelter house.
  • Estimated Miles: 2 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: an hour to an hour and 15 minutes
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:03 am.
    • Sunset:8:24 pm
    • Daylight: 14:20:44 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:21 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 6:28 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 8:55 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:13 pm (64.3° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Farmsted
    • Site of celebrations over the years
  • Natural History Points of Interest:

  • Date: April 16, 2026 (was postponed)
  • Time: 7:00 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: Park just inside the Gotch Park entrance along the road going south toward the river.
  • Miles:1.6 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: 45 minutes to an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:47 am.
    • Sunset: 7:44 pm
    • Daylight: 12:47:04 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:52 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 6:28 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 8:12 pm
    • Solar Noon: 1:20 pm (52.4° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
  • Natural History Points of Interest:

  • Date: March 5, 2026
  • Time: 5:45 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: The parking lot at the Three Rivers Trail Shelter House at the north end of Fifth Street North in Dakota City and along the street.
  • Miles: 2.2 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: 45 minutes to an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 6:46 am.
    • Sunset: 6:11 pm
    • Daylight: 11:25:42 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:28 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts:6:17 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 6:39 pm
    • Solar Noon: 12:28 pm (41.5° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Entire hike is along the old CNW Railway
    • Location of Humboldt College
  • Date: February 5, 2026
  • Time: 5:30 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: The parking lot at the Three Rivers Trail Shelter House at the north end of Fifth Street North in Dakota City and along the street.
  • Miles: 2.2 miles round trip
  • Estimated Time: 45 minutes to an hour
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 7:26 am.
    • Sunset: 5:35 pm
    • Daylight: 10:08:59 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +2:28 more minutes
    • Civil Twilight Starts:6:56 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 6:05 pm
    • Solar Noon: 12:30 pm (31.6° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Entire hike is along the old CNW  Railway
    • Caves where the pioneers sheltered during their first winter

Our first hike of 2026 will take place on New Year’s Day.

  • Date: January 1, 2026
  • Time: 4:45 PM
  • Who: Everyone welcome.  Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Registration: None. Check here for cancellations related to weather.
  • Parking Location: Along the Three Rivers Trail, north of Sumner Ave and east of the elevator.
  • Miles: Possible 3.5 miles round trip depending on the weather and the time availability.  We plan to  turn around at the 30 minute mark.  This will make the length closer to 2+ miles.
  • Estimated Time: 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Astronomical Facts:
    • Sunrise: 7:47 am, in the East-Southeast (121° from North)
    • Sunset: 4:53 pm, in the West-Southwest (239° from North)
    • Daylight: 9:06:40 H:M:S
    • Difference from yesterday: +0:46 more seconds
    • Civil Twilight Starts: 7:15 am
    • Civil Twilight Ends: 5:25 pm
    • Solar Noon: 12:20 pm (24.4° above the horizon)
  • Historical Points of Interest:
    • Entire hike is along the old M&StL Railway
    • Oakland Cemetery