Recreation Program

Start Anywhere, Explore Further

At Gustavus, recreation is more than a trailhead—it’s a way to live well, together. Our calendar blends social recreation (game nights, Kitchen Lab pizzas from scratch) and maker/fix-it sessions with guided outdoor days across trails, parks, and waterways in St. Peter, and, when the calendar allows, regional overnights and Alternative Break trips that take your skills farther. We keep it simple and affordable with gear checkout and beginner-first instruction, so you can try something new without the hassle. Then level up through progression-based workshops (navigation, bike maintenance, camp cooking, cold-weather comfort) and step into leadership as you’re ready. Show up curious; leave confident.

Warm-Weather Activities

Biking
Birding
Bonfires
Canoeing the Minnesota River
Canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding on Lake Emily
Fly fishing
Hiking
Outdoor cooking
Outdoor games at Seven-Mile Creek Park
Pickleball
Rock climbing

Winter Activities

Cross-country skiing
Curling
Downhill skiing
Ice fishing
Snowshoeing

Social Activities

Bowling
Bread baking
Card games
Escape rooms
Photography
Pizza nights

Lending Program

Trying to go outdoors and plan a trip may be fun, but gear is something that is necessary, and not all of us may have the right equipment. The lending program is here for you! A considerable amount of equipment has been purchased for use in a lending program so you can go out on your own whether or not there is a planned event.

Email g-lending [at] gustavus.edu (g-lending[at]gustavus[dot]edu) if you have questions about the lending program.

We loan tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, stoves, hiking backpacks, cooking utensils, kayaks, and more!

Bikes are available to borrow for a half day, full day, or weekend.

Travel Trips

Itching for adventure farther afield? Explore new corners of Minnesota on Fall Break trips, when we expand our horizons on canoeing, caving, hiking, camping, and fishing adventures.

When spring rolls around, it’s time to roam to warmer climes. Look forward to longer Spring Break trips that range from hiking and camping the red rocks of Southern Utah, to canoeing the waterways of Arkansas.